tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post5407377476360705211..comments2023-10-17T08:29:42.738-04:00Comments on Empty Nest: Family-less VacationsEmpty Nesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14060983954463697344noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-62767100261498267482013-11-06T20:41:30.020-05:002013-11-06T20:41:30.020-05:00Oh man. I had a ton of guilt when I took my first...Oh man. I had a ton of guilt when I took my first vacation alone. My time away had nothing to do with difficult kids, but everything to do with needing to do something for myself for once. I went from being a kid, to a single parent at 19, to a wife at 26, to a mom of three more kids. I have never had a moment alone. I hadn't had a day without one of my children on my leg in 23 years...Jessica Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861658300112079021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-9366241465153238562013-11-04T23:37:42.996-05:002013-11-04T23:37:42.996-05:00I don't think I ever had the desire to take a ...I don't think I ever had the desire to take a vacation without the rest of the fam. And right now, at this stage of my life, my dream vacation would be to have ALL the extended fam for a week at a holiday cottage in England or Wales. sigh. Won't happen, but fun to dream.<br /><br />I commend you for not taking over your girls' lives but still being so very involved. Some people don&#Cranberry Morninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758563068581561194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-6311086439586086362013-11-04T13:03:28.697-05:002013-11-04T13:03:28.697-05:00Bill- I enjoyed trips with my mother but we always...Bill- I enjoyed trips with my mother but we always took the girls along with us. I had no idea what time to myself was back then. But I'll tell you this- right now, I cherish my alone time! I love my alone time! I will fight someone for my alone time! LOL The husband never had any trouble taking time away from us. I guess it just boils down to individual preferences. <br /><br />Mimi- All I&#Empty Nesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060983954463697344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-34789471846210541852013-11-03T18:04:31.671-05:002013-11-03T18:04:31.671-05:00I have to confess to taking small, 3 night, vacati...I have to confess to taking small, 3 night, vacations away from the family. Not sure if that counts as a vacation, but it was a good way of recharging.<br />I couldn't do longer, though! Even still, a couple of friends want me to go with them for 2 weeks: 2 whole weeks, NO WAY! Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08100985140335023467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-84036621953342405352013-11-03T16:11:16.754-05:002013-11-03T16:11:16.754-05:00Very interesting post. You are talking about more...Very interesting post. You are talking about more than just a "girls night out" which I consider a good thing for the whole family. Yes a full vacation is at a different level.<br />Now I noticed I am so far the only male in the comment section. I do wish other guys would read this post. I was thinking back over the child rearing days and while I didn't really take a family-lessBill Lislemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187273560129198423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-11768375750400418182013-11-03T15:30:56.701-05:002013-11-03T15:30:56.701-05:00JP- Maybe it's a new generation...I don't ...JP- Maybe it's a new generation...I don't know. I get it under certain circumstances though.<br /><br />Suzanne- It is an exhausting job. But the best one ever! :)<br /><br />Terri- Yes! A day trip is always fun. But I"m with you, longer than that doesn't interest me either.<br /><br />Gail- Thank you. I do feel blessed. <br /><br />Deb- Now THAT'S a situation that I can Empty Nesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060983954463697344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-88120796935182695192013-11-03T14:00:52.479-05:002013-11-03T14:00:52.479-05:00I would never have done that either when my kids w...I would never have done that either when my kids were around. Now I wouldn't mind it so much. I've actually been thinking of leaving for two weeks at Christmas to see if they would miss me. My guy is still on the couch asleep most nights! I'm still having issues with control with our daughter living here and this is what I am working on right now. Debby@Just Breathehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685398064340027809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-68128716219123648472013-11-03T11:10:40.600-05:002013-11-03T11:10:40.600-05:00My mom has a good friend who would take a weekend ...My mom has a good friend who would take a weekend getaway with her husband every couple months. The idea was to keep the romance alive in well in their relationship. It worked out very well for them. The kids stayed with the grandparents for two nights and the parents got to reignite the spark in their marriage. As far as I know they are still doing this... even though the kids are long gone.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-48857456665717968562013-11-03T00:28:50.767-04:002013-11-03T00:28:50.767-04:00I remember my first 'get a way'. My middle...I remember my first 'get a way'. My middle son started crying two seconds before he was born, and didnt stop until he was 2 years old. We're talking screaming couldnt console, nerve grinding crying. Only slept three hours at a time, and had to be bounced 29 hours a day. It was so bad that even grandma couldnt always handle it. One day my husband and mom teamed up and sent me to a Debsdailylifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01520412949675963572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-58327301015728425782013-11-02T22:23:57.163-04:002013-11-02T22:23:57.163-04:00You and your lovelies are very blessed.You and your lovelies are very blessed.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04219479223227928561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-15157255140968710152013-11-02T21:16:30.812-04:002013-11-02T21:16:30.812-04:00Well, I've never taken a vacation with our boy...Well, I've never taken a vacation with our boys, but they were older when I entered their lives. I don't think I would enjoy a vacation without Joe, though. I am blessed that he is my best friend, and we enjoy the same things. We travel well together and have lots of fun together. I have friends who go on mini vacations with their girlfriends. Doesn't interest me. A day trip - yes, Terri Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15333024343069943295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-28639147686836667302013-11-02T20:24:14.255-04:002013-11-02T20:24:14.255-04:00Yes, I hear you. I couldn't conceive of going ...Yes, I hear you. I couldn't conceive of going on a vacation without my daughter. In fact, mother-daughter trips down south were an annual tradition for several years. But I don't begrudge anyone who needs that time away. Being a mom is tough, and sometimes, it's an absolute must.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14338842363838097079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-39573742572625022882013-11-02T19:31:11.337-04:002013-11-02T19:31:11.337-04:00One of my step daughters goes on vaca every year w...One of my step daughters goes on vaca every year with her girl friends (some single) to a tropical location....YIKES! I never went anywhere without my kids!!!!!...:)JPjp@A Green Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217268829093983376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-72206436286752475412013-11-02T18:57:24.804-04:002013-11-02T18:57:24.804-04:00Barb- Yeah. I do wonder how it would have been had...Barb- Yeah. I do wonder how it would have been had the lovelies been difficult. I know, too, that my parents had no trouble leaving us to go on trips...that's probably part of why I didn't too. I did so much the opposite of what my parents did. Thanks!Empty Nesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060983954463697344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600608370084874699.post-75576551076411110652013-11-02T18:11:01.021-04:002013-11-02T18:11:01.021-04:00Trust me in that you were very blessed to have fou...Trust me in that you were very blessed to have four lovely girls. My son was a handful until I moved to South Carolina in 2008!! I began taking little mini vacations alone when he was about 15. Between his behavior (ADHD) issues in school and my very stressful job at that time, I needed it. It helped me cope tremendously. I'm grateful to Rich for encouraging me to go. It gave him time with BBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432729957196570774noreply@blogger.com