What are your thoughts about going on vacations without your kids? My kids are 5 and 7 and I’ve taken them on one “actual” vacation so far, but I usually take a trip once a year with a friend or my boyfriend. I never thought anything of it until I recently invited a friend to Florida to universal studios and she said she wouldn’t go on a trip without her kids. Am I a jerk? Haha!
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I would NOT go without my kids.
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It’s okay to take a vacation without your kids once a year but I would also make sure to plan a vacation with the kids once a year as well.
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Listen, I’m all for kid free vacations AND vacations with my kid. If she’s stating she won’t go without her kids, why are you questioning it? Just let her stay home and you keep planning your kid free vacation? 
Strangers online don’t know her situation. Is child care hard for her to come by? As a kid free vacation is usually 2 nights minimum, maybe she doesn’t have childcare. Can she afford maybe only 1 vacation a year, and choosing to include her children in that? I wouldn’t fault her at all. Does she maybe think Universal Studios is very kid friendly, so why not? You’ll never catch me at Disneyland without my kid. 
Whatever her reasoning, it’s not really any of our business. She’s allowed to say she won’t go without her kids, and you’re allowed to say, “I love you & the kids, but this is an adult only vacation I’m planning. Maybe next time!” Neither one of you are jerks.
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Im going to bulgaria for a week soon without my kids lol and my sister is coming without hers too x it’s a girls holiday not a family holiday x
OK so the amount of times we have been on holiday with out kids out weighs the amount of times I’ve done it on my own.
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Ok so the vacation without the kids isn’t the ah part. The going somewhere for kids without your kids that’s the ah part. That’s the only part I don’t understand is going to a family place without the family.
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My husband & I go away once a year for our anniversary without our kids. But it’s usually not to a huge kid friendly place, more so a romantic setting just for us adults to do together.
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We never went on hoilday without our kids. Neither did my parents. It’s all about making memories with your kids. Go on hoildays without your kids when they are grown up
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I’ve been away a few times without my kids. I take them on a vacation usually once a year. And it’s always a ton of fun - buttttttt, vacationing with kids can be exhausting. I always joke that I need a recovery day after coming back from vacation with my kids.
I enjoy time away from my kids every so often as well. I’ve taken long weekends and gone away with my sister or some friends without our kids and let me tell you - it is the best. You come home relaxed, recharged and ready for anything.
So take that girls trip. Enjoy your time. Because you’re more than just a mom and you deserve time for yourself as well. As moms, we never take for ourselves. We’re pouring from half full or practically empty cups and doing everything for our families. I’ve learned that by taking just a little for ME, I’m a much better mother. My cup is fuller and it’s easier for me to take care of everyone else once I’ve taken care of myself. 
In my opinion which is what you’re asking for . Yes you’re an asshat. .
You’re kids should be your number 1 thought. If you need a "break " from your kids, you shouldn’t have kids. Yes I have kids. 4 of them. I’m a single mom so I wish I could take them on a vacation but I can’t afford it. So take those kids with you, cause when they get older they’re gonna look back and see you doing things without them and will resent you for it.
You’re suppose to be grown but you going to an amusement park without your kids? Are you nuts?
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No me and my hubby go to the beach for our anniversary and our son doesn’t go. This year we are thinking of taking him with us tho
I’d never go to Florida without my kids that’s a dream family holiday, I didn’t go on any holidays wothout my kids till last year when they where 8/12/14 and pretty self sufficient and even at that was only 4 days, I really couldn’t leave my kids any longer, I know people who do I just couldn’t personally, but was just wee city break, I would. N couldn’t ever go a big holiday like Florida or whatever without them, I also think of kids have only been away once on holiday and u go away yearly that’s pretty unfair I’d never go away if I couldn’t afford to go a family holiday also x
Going on a vacation for your anniversary is one thing but going to a family place without your family is kind of selfish, I agree with your friend. Your kids deserve to have those experiences too and they are old enough to take with you, they only get one childhood.
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The quality of a child’s mother’s happiness is CRITICAL to a child’s well being. If you have a safe, happy place for your children to stay while you are away (maybe let them have their own “vacay” at Grandma’s house or something different for them so they can look forward to vacay week also), and it would make YOU happy to have a kid free getaway, then do it! If your friend is happy knowing she doesn’t vacation without her kids, then she she should do just that. Mama’s, we have a right (and almost an obligation to our kids) to be happy. Be responsible about it and do whatever floats your blessed boat. 
Its perfectly normal to go on trips without your kids! You need time for yourself & also time for you & your partner. Dont let anyone make you feel bad about it!
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Some would some wouldn’t. It really depends.
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Nope not a jerk. Everyone needs personal “Me” time. I would still try to plan “family” trips with the kids for those memories and bonding time but it’s perfectly ok to do an adult only trip as well.
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Universal studios is a family friendly vacation I would take my kids to that
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I usually take kids for vacation at least once a year, and if I have extra that year then I take vacation by myself. I always can travel after they grown up but those years I have with them never will come back
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Absolutely go. You need your time. Hell do a solo trip to universal. Your kids are too young for that park anyways.
No you’re not a jerk. Everyone parents differently. I wish I would’ve done that when my kids were younger.
Every parent is allowed vacations without their kids.
I think the part that make you a “jerk” is how go on vacation every year and your kids have only been on vacation once and where you are going this year is very kid/family oriented. I’m with the friend, this is a trip I would want to take my kids on.
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Our kids were 7 and 9 before we even left them with family overnight. I think that was the only vacation we took without them until they were out of high school.
Everyone is different, you’re not a bad parent if you take vacations without the kids. Personally I could not go a week or so without my daughter, it makes me anxious. She is 6 & we go on vacation every year and take her with us. I’ve never been away from her that long, maybe when she is older I’d feel better about it. I was also the kid that never got to go on vacations so I like to make sure she gets the experiences I never got.
Here are my thoughts:
My daughter just turned 18. She’s busy with work, and college and a boyfriend. I’d love another vacation with her. The days are long, but the years are short when you are raising kids. Take your kids on vacation
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Nope.
Enjoy your time to reset and be human.
My son is 9 and my husband and I would never go on a trip without him.
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I don’t think it’s a bad thing to go away without your kids. I went away for 6 days without mine and I was honestly lost without them so it’s not something I could personally do all the time
I could never go on a trip and leave my kids, Espada universal they’d have so much fun
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Go and have fun! I’d love to go with my friend to a place like that and feel young again!
I raised 5 of my own children and 3 of an in-laws and I’ve never went on vacation or anywhere else without taking all 8 of them!
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As others have said everyone is different but there’s no way on Earth I can leave my five and seven year old to go on vacation for any a period of time. My son is seven and has never spent the night off anywhere I couldn’t be without my kids maybe you can if you can go and relax without your kids go for it. I on the other hand have anxiety when my kids aren’t around and there’s no way I can leave my kids my oldest is 11 and my youngest is seven and they’ve never been away from me ever
I love my kids dearly but I also love alone time. Me and my husband take mini trips every now and then usually no more than 3 nights. Those trips are for me and him. Big trips that are longer I take my kids. Not saying I wouldn’t take a big trip without them I just want them to have fun also
Nope,I take one with my kiddos and one without yearly…any others trips outside those they go as well. I suggest you make more memories with them on trips,if you are takin one alone too.Long as they are home with friends,family, or a babysitter you trust, don’t beat yourself up about it. Relax,enjoy rest well and reset mamabear❤
I mean, if I’m going to universal studios, I’m definitely taking my kids.
My husband and I go away at least once a year without the kids, we need a damn break. Honestly it makes us better parents in the long run. We take the kids on trips too, but for us that’s just a shit ton more work and stress, so kid-free vacations are needed.