[Studybug]

HI there

My brother's engagement party is coming up next month and it's a child-free event.

We've been discussing what to do with DS (2yrs 2mths old) for the night. They live (and the party is) 10 hours away so everyone we know in that area is family and attending. They sent a flyer for a nannying service but we can't really afford the cost and DS probably wouldn't deal well with being put to bed by a stranger therefore we wouldn't deal well with it either... So one of my sisters who has recently moved near us, and isn't going for a good reason, has offered to look after DS for the weekend whilst we attend which is a lovely offer. Another option would be for DH and DS to stay home whilst only I attend, and I just realised that DH and DS have not yet had a night at home without me. It's been just DS and I for up to a week at a time on several occasions but never those two whilst I go away or such.

So, just curious, when was the first time you went away and the kiddies stayed with their dad? Is it unusual that DS is 2 and this hasn't happened in our family yet?

Cheers!

[RatbagBob]

DD was 2.5 when I had to go into hospital unexpectedly with a perforated appendix. DH had to look after her for 3 days that week and another 3 the week after following complications.

[liveworkplay]

Hmmm, I think it was when my 3 were 7, 5 and 2. I cannot think of a time when I have left them alone with DH except that time. I was away 4 days.

[Mamabug]

DH has had sole care for our kids for one or two nights at various ages, the youngest being seven months (one night, expressed EBM). Hasn't had all four yet - strangely it is harder for me to escape the more kids we have!!!

I don't think it strange, unless it has been a deliberate choice on your behalf to not leave DH and DS overnight.

[AvadaKedavra]

DH took care if DS in his own from the first week. I went to a week long conference when he was 7 months and DH had him for the whole week.

Amongst my female friends with kids, all work and have to travel for work, and so dads have bubs overnight from whenever mat leave ends (anywhere from 3-12 months), and dads also do 50/50 of other care (childcare drop off/pick up, dinner, baths, weekend activities etc).

[janbabe]

I left my kids alone with my man since birth. I trust him. He knows what he's doing. He is their parent, after all. This is, of course, working around any breast feeding needs

Same here.

[LynnyP]

No, not really strange. I tend not to leave my children at night until they are 2.5ish. Since I went back to work we take some of our holidays apart so take our daughter away by ourselves for a week or so at a time during the year. Last June my husband took two six year olds away camping for a week by himself.

[doctorseuss]

Just 6 months ago i had a weekend away with my mother's group. DD1 was 4 and DD2 was 2. Oh and when I had DD2 in hospital, DD1 was 20 months.

[Pocahontas]

Overnight ... with DS1 he was about 18 months, with DS2 I can't remember but probabbly a similar age. It's about that age when both times I really felt some alone time and the opportunity arose.

[soontobegran]

My DH took full care of our children when I went into hospital to have a new baby so the first one was just over one year.
When I had # 4 he had a 1, 2 and 3 year old and did a really amazing job. I was never worried about them being in his care