When our 3-year-old, MJ, was 8 months old, Mr. P and I went on our first weekend trip, leaving our little one at home with his parents and mine.
It was incredibly stressful. I constantly worried about her when we were in Florida and called my dad at least twice a day to check on her. Even worse, I was positive my friends and family thought I was an awful mother for leaving my child for four days.
However, at the end of the day, my dad, Big Al, assured me of two things. One, he and my mother had managed to raise my brother and me without any major disasters. And two, because children devour your time 24/7, it’s essential for parents to take time every once in awhile to reconnect and revisit why they fell in love.
To help parents ease their concerns about leaving their little ones with the grandparents for a few days, I turned to my in-laws and my parents for their suggestions on making the weekend easier on everyone.
The biggest tip of all? Relax! This is your special time to spend with your special someone. Read books on the beach. Order multiple bottles of wine at restaurants with cloth – not plastic – tablecloths. Heck, just lounge around your hotel room naked for three days without worrying about a 5-year-old barging in.
The weather is gorgeous, and summer is right around the corner, so there’s no better time to plan a weekend getaway for you and your honey.
Big Al says so!
By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting
Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
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