Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?

I'll just put this out there and say that Steve and I have just booked a 7 night child-free holiday in Cuba for our 10th wedding anniversary. I cannot WAIT for 24 hour all inclusive luxury. I am very much in the sensible camp when it comes to going away without the kids.

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?
Varadero Beach

Going away without the kids isn't a new concept to us - we enjoyed a proper honeymoon in Mexico in 2008 and a long weekend in Marrakech in 2012. So it seems we have the itch to travel without the kids every 4-5 years and that's an itch I'm willing to scratch.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE going on holiday with the kids, especially now they are older and it isn't as hard as travelling with 3 kids under the age of 5 (still can't believe we did that!). We do have lots of fun and I love creating lots of special memories with them. I can't wait for our holiday with them to Spain next month but it will very much be a different kind of fun to our planned trip to Cuba.

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?
2011 - the year we took 3 kids under 5 to Spain

A holiday with the kids is VERY different to holidays without. Even if they are in kids club or one parent gives the other the luxury of a bit of 'me time' they are still very much there. Sometimes there's no escape! LOL

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?

Steve and I invest a lot of time in our marriage. We don't want to be another divorce statistic and every week we actively spend time together and I do think this is one of the reasons we've survived so long. Now I'm not about to say you must book a holiday to keep your marriage alive, far from it. It is exciting having something to look forward to that's just for us though. 

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?

H, H and J honestly don't mind at all that we are going away without them. They are heading to Grannie's caravan and Grandma's house for the week over Easter and they will have a fab time - probably better than if we were at home nagging them to be honest. You know what grandparents are like for spoiling their grandkids. 

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?

Meanwhile Steve and I can't wait to take a private tour of Havana, soak up the history, drink rum all day every day, enjoy a meal together instead of having to constantly see to the kids, stay up late and dance the night away, have a siesta......you get the picture. 

Typing this I know it sounds kind of selfish but I honestly think it's ok to be selfish sometimes. I know that a lot of my best friends wouldn't dream of escaping abroad without their kids but that's fine. I respect their opinion and they respect mine. We are all different and raise our children in different ways and I guess that's how we are all unique. It took me around a month to actually press 'confirm' on my booking as I was humming and harring for so long. I don't feel guilty about leaving the kids at home at all but I do feel guilty about spending so much money on myself and Steve. I've made peace with my decision now though and as Cheryl Cole would say, 'We are worth it'.

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?


What do you think? Have you travelled without your children? Would you consider it? 

Child Free Holidays | Selfish or Sensible?




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11 comments

  1. Very interesting! We went on honeymoon when C was almost 4 for 10 days and he had the most wonderful time with his grandparents that he still talks about it now as they went away to Blackpool!
    I think it's essential to invest time into your marriage and we have had a long weekend away in the Cotswolds for my 30th which was the first time we left the three for more than a night. It was lovely. It's hard as when you say it sounds like you are selfish and that the kids miss out but I think everything in moderation. Fair enough if you were going away every month and never taking the kids but I think child free holidays are really good and I know we had negative comments when we went on honeymoon - but we came back with twins!!! x

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  2. I think it's very important to have time to focus on your relationship & remember the people you fell in love with in the first place. There's nothing selfish about that :)

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  3. I am so jealous! I've only done a couple of child-free long weekends but that's mostly for practical reasons and lack of childcare if I'm away. But selfish? No. My daughter is the centre of my world but I don't think that means she should get 100% of my time and attention 24/7. You obviously spend lots of time with your three as well, they've got a fab weekend with grandparents ahead - enjoy the sun and rum!

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  4. So it's a little different for me but I love holidays without the kids, it's my time to breathe and focus on me and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Parenting is hard work and happy parents make happy children, I think if it makes your marriage stronger then it's definitely a positive thing to do.

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    1. Yes - time to breathe and focus! You've hit the nail on the head x

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  5. Small person has a holiday with his Grandparents in the summer holidays. So even though I'm not away, it feels like a little break. And once or twice a year I have a weekend away at a trade show, and I always manage a grown up night out then too.

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