WWYD: re vacation

[k3am]

We had a (“free”) vacation planned for the 22-26, but it’s being postponed.



In the mean time... we’ve each got 3 days off work. WWYD? Find an alternate trip, go into work, send the kids to daycare and stay home, etc?



I’m really torn on this one. And if the suggestion is an alternate trip, any suggestions near the Bay Area that don’t involve snow and that the kids would enjoy as well. (ie: Napa is not happening with a 4-year-old and 9 month old)

[mommyatty]

It depends on how badly I need the time off now and how much more vacation time you get.

If you need the break, maybe Monterey? Aquarium, etc?

[tas1883]

2 days send the kids to daycare. Day 1 use it todo household projects that can actually get accomplished without the kids helping. Day 2 go on a day date while the kids are at daycare. Day 3 do a staycation and take the kids someplace fun for the day.

[k3am]

I have the vacation to take it and then I need to start saving up my days for my forced two-week vacation in August. My estimates, I'll have 80 hours by June, so it should be fine.

[2chatter]

I'd take the time off in that case. What are some of the things you always think would be nice but never do? For instance, locally I want to cabin camp and fish at a local State Park, I want to spend a weekend in Austin with the kids (airbnb) and I want to dutch oven dinner in the fire pit. Anything on your list you could leverage this time for?

Also, I sometimes browse airbnb for ideas.

[k3am]

2chatter, this is where I really struggle. I have a lot of trips I’d like to do with just DH and I. Kid related, I’m really at a loss. Disneyland is on our list of places to take them again, but after our subpar Christmas time trip, I want to go at a time of year that won’t be so crowded. And while the calculators don’t forecast it as “Forget about it”, it will likely be packed.

Trips away with the kids are hard. DS goes to bed at 6. DD isn’t far behind at 7:30. And she’s not one of those kids who can stretch it out for special occasions. On NYE, she was a hot mess - we ended up setting up a cot for her and she slept through the festivities and shouting while we celebrated the ball dropping.. on the east coast (9pm. She was down by 8:15).

I know that eventually, they’ll be older and easier to travel with (or without, if we can leave them behind), but right now, it’s just… effort. (Which is probably why I wasn’t looking forward to the trip we had scheduled). Even sending the kids to DC while we take a day off doesn’t feel relaxing since I’m still tied to the pump every 3 hours..

[helenahhandbasket]

If this was me I'd maybe take one or two of those days as kid free mental health days (send them to day care) and have a nice day date with my SO.

The other day(s) I'd do a day trip with the kids- zoo, aquarium, museum- somewhere that would typically be mobbed during the weekend.

[helenahhandbasket]

And it's so much easier to travel now that my DD is 5, but I'm still pooped afterwards and I just have the one! So I feel you on not exactly enjoying traveling with kid(s).

[rere26]

I'd probably work and save vacation for when I really need it our have something to do. I am a vacation hoarder though want to make sure I have plenty to cover all trips, holidays, or field trips that pop up through the year.

[erinshelley21]

I like tas1883 suggestion.

[brachysira]

In the Bay Area, it seems you could do plenty of day trips as day 3 and have a great time without the crowds. Mini-trips--beach and southern CA things, camping in the redwoods, north to lava caves. If it's easier not to pump, keep the little one home and send the big kid.

[supertrooper1]

Mar 2, 2017 15:55:52 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

If you need the break, maybe Monterey? Aquarium, etc?

This is my suggestion. Stay at the Spindrift Inn, go to the aquarium and visit Dennis The Menace park. 

[enigmaticdrscully]

Mar 2, 2017 17:53:52 GMT -5 rere26 said:

I'd probably work and save vacation for when I really need it our have something to do. I am a vacation hoarder though want to make sure I have plenty to cover all trips, holidays, or field trips that pop up through the year.

I would do this too (and am). I had requested vacation days for MH's spring break the last week of March, and when he decided he had too much school-related work to go anywhere far (we're on the West coast and I wanted to see friends in NC), I gave back all but one vacation day, which we'll use to go away for a long weekend semi-locally. The "send the kids to DC" plan definitely loses its appeal when you're BFing.

[sandandsea]

I would probably work to save the pto but if you don't need to then I'd send the kids to school two days and have a grown up days then, a family day one day. Naps, midday movie and lunch dates sound pretty amazing.

[ECB]

I'd stay local and do some combination of what's been suggested - take some time for you and your DH. Hang at home, go out on a daytime date, or what have you. Due to my job, DH and I have been able to meet for lunch a lot over the past few years and honestly, I love it. I love meeting him during the day, having an adult lunch somewhere and just relaxing. Even better if I don't have to go into work at all.

[Widget123]

If it were me I would visit my parents who live a few hours away and camp out on the couch while my Mom and little brother did most of the work entertaining my kids. Those are some of my favorite trips... but this may not be a real option for you.

[librarychica]

I vote that on date day you and H book a treatment at a hotel spa and the lounge around the facilities all day. My H and I did this for his birthday last year and it was like going in vacation for 6 hours.

[mlee116]

I recently had a few days off of work with no plans to go anywhere and we did a combination of things. Day 1 we went to the zoo, Day 2 we stayed home and grilled out/planted veggies and relaxed and then Day 3 DH and I took the kids to DC while we had a date day. We went out for a nice long lunch and shopped for the kids warm weather clothes. It was so nice to get that done without having them in tow.

[k3am]

Well, apparently it's a moot point because DH already gave back his days and booked meetings. Womp womp.

Somehow me telling him I didn't think dropping DD off with his parents and going to Tahoe was going to happen translated into we'll do nothing. (If we're doing a snow trip, she's coming too. And my knee is not good enough to snowboard again yet. And I gave back all of DS's snow clothes that I borrowed for our last trip. And if DD going to his parents, what exactly are we doing with DS while we board? It wasn't thought through.)

[k3am]

Mar 3, 2017 8:24:50 GMT -5 librarychica said:

I vote that on date day you and H book a treatment at a hotel spa and the lounge around the facilities all day. My H and I did this for his birthday last year and it was like going in vacation for 6 hours.

This is my dream. It will never happen as a couple. DH does not like people touching him. Unless they're scratching his back (ew). Do they have a back scratching treatment?!?!

[k3am]

Mar 3, 2017 7:58:07 GMT -5 Widget123 said:

If it were me I would visit my parents who live a few hours away and camp out on the couch while my Mom and little brother did most of the work entertaining my kids. Those are some of my favorite trips... but this may not be a real option for you.

This is a nightmare for me. With either set of parents. 

[2chatter]

Widget123 's thing would be nightmare material for me too but I liked it because -- it's amazing. I have friends with this kind of relationship and I always wish I could go home with them too.

My inlaws are great, just 80ish, so...they aren't going to get down on the floor and play or make us awesome food.

I hold out hope that once the kids are bigger BIL and SIL will host them at least very occasionally. I always went to my aunts and uncles as a kid and loved it.

[k3am]

MIL and FIL always want DD for the weekend. We send her because it makes them happy, but she's so, so very bored there. They basically eat and watch TV the whole time.

[Widget123]

My mom still has some great old toys from the 80s- early 00s that keep my kids entertained. She also has VHS tapes with cartoons- no cable. Also her cooking is the best; puts a lot more effort into it than I usually do.

[librarychica]

Mar 3, 2017 12:16:41 GMT -5 k3am said:

Mar 3, 2017 8:24:50 GMT -5 librarychica said:

I vote that on date day you and H book a treatment at a hotel spa and the lounge around the facilities all day. My H and I did this for his birthday last year and it was like going in vacation for 6 hours.

This is my dream. It will never happen as a couple. DH does not like people touching him. Unless they're scratching his back (ew). Do they have a back scratching treatment?!?!

Whaaat??? I'll come spa with you then.