Ottakee Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Would you travel on your own or just you and the kids? I ask as someone today commented on the fact that I flew to Florida with my 2 girls (older but special needs) to meet their biological siblings and drove all over on my own. I take precautions and am thankful for lane assist GPS (we are in bigger cities). This is our 2nd trip here and last year I also took the girls to New Mexico and Texas...places we had never been. Other than wishing I had a good copilot at times, I really didn't think it was that difficult. With a good smart phone and a good GPS I would do something like this again. How about you? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have & I do. And I hope I always will. :) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes, often, with DH's blessing. It's always more fun when he can come, too, but if we waited for him to always be available, it would severely cut down our options. He is on board with this; I might feel differently if he were not. :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Oh yes. Frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Absolutely. I did my "Grand Tour" alone, traveling where whim took me for many months, so any fear I'd ever had of going it alone was tamed on that trip. These days I don't go alone, but with DS. We travel just the two of us quite often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk8ermaiden Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Absolutely. In fact, a few years ago, when DD was 3, we took a cross country trip on Amtrak. It was fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 (edited) Yes. It is more fun for me to travel with DH, and I hate driving in large cities, but I have traveled on my own and would not hesitate to do so. Edited December 7, 2016 by regentrude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 Dh does give his blessing. He isn't a huge traveler and I am enjoying it. He also doesn't mind staying home with the boys as esp this trip they would just not enjoy. I am not sure I am up to a 12-13 hour drive in one day alone with all 5 kids so hoping dh can join me for that trip. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have and would not hesitate, assuming I was normally able to handle everyone's needs on my own. When I travel with my kids, I'm usually also with friends, which is nice. But it isn't necessary. My pre-kids job had me traveling about 50% of the time, usually on my own, and I generally enjoyed it. I usually don't use a GPS but rather printed maps / directions. That said, it's nice to be able to fall back on GPS (on my iphone) when something doesn't go as expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I love traveling and willingly do it alone or with just the kids. It's all good. When they were little, I took a two-week jaunt across the country with the two kids. It was such a lovely time! And since then, we have had many more road trips. Through high school with dd it was often for speech tournaments or college visits. Now I am starting the college visits with ds and treasuring our time together. When I am the sole driver, I just make sure to take active breaks. About every two hours we pull over for a walk and perhaps some frisbee or kick a ball around. Often I hit a slump mid-day. When that happens, I pull into a rest area and sleep with the seat reclined for about fifteen minutes. Then a brisk walk and I am good for the rest of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes, have done on my own and with ds alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justme824 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Absolutely! Last year I took my three kids (then 1, 4, 11) on a 3-week road trip and it was awesome. We did meet up with my husband midway for a about 5-days, but the rest were just me and the kids. This coming spring I'll be driving them across country and back, meeting up with my husband in Nashville where he'll join us on the road for a couple weeks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 DH rarely gets permission to take vacation time (even on the mandatory companywide closure week he has to work from home) so he hardly ever comes with the kids and me. I flew with them to Tokyo for my brother's wedding last spring. I didn't drive while I was there but I schlepped around with them on public transit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have taken the kids on a couple of small trips with just me and them but only because I've not had the opportunity to go on a longer trip. I'd be ok with it. I'd just make sure the car (if it's a car trip) was up to date on oil changes and the like and I'd be sure to have my AAA card at the ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I travel often on my own for business. So does DH. inhave often travelled with one or more of the kids without DH. I have no problems traveling alone, especially these days when I can carry a cell phone that works everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebcoola Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes I have traveled by car, rail & plane alone with the children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have quite a bit. The part that makes me nervous is driving on the interstate in the middle of nowhere. I have 4 kids (some still in car seats) and me. If we break down, how will we get to a town? I'm not leaving any of my kids alone and most vehicles don't seat 5 extra people. The last two road trips I took alone had extreme temperatures and that made it more difficult. One was so super hot and the other was freezing. It was fine, but I would normally leave my kids in the locked car if I just have to run to the bathroom. No way could I do that in those temps. The time it was cold we stayed in a hotel and the logistics of loading and unloading the car were hard, but it was ok. It so far doesn't feel like vacation when I take my kids alone, but we have lots of good memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Of course. I have been traveling by myself since I was 16. And I have been driving for over 30 years. The idea that I would need my husband's blessing to do so seems weird to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes. I travel with one or all of them a lot. My dh has traveled with them by himself too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I've done both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes, for the past 3 years, my DS and I have taken a 2-3 week road trip in the summer. We were gone for 2 weeks for spring break last year. I would rather travel with my DH, but it is hard for him to take off so much time at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 (edited) Would you travel on your own or just you and the kids? I ask as someone today commented on the fact that I flew to Florida with my 2 girls (older but special needs) to meet their biological siblings and drove all over on my own. I take precautions and am thankful for lane assist GPS (we are in bigger cities). This is our 2nd trip here and last year I also took the girls to New Mexico and Texas...places we had never been. Other than wishing I had a good copilot at times, I really didn't think it was that difficult. With a good smart phone and a good GPS I would do something like this again. How about you? Yes, I've traveled with my kids, as has dh; we've also each traveled solo sans kids and of course sometimes we're all together. When I encounter people who comment on me travelling alone with kids in tow, its usually because the people don't really travel at all. Lots of people in my suburb rarely even go into our local city, though it's only 20 minutes away and has world-class museums, great shopping, and all kinds of other things to do. I think if you're a traveller, you generally have some travel skills. You know how to use a map, feel reasonably good about winging it on public transport, are willing to seek out help, perhaps even from a stranger, if you need it. You are willing to get lost and figure out how to recover from it. There are all kinds of little things travellers might not even realize they have learned. For example, it didn't occur to me that just because I knew how to park in a city parking garage, that my FIL probably did too. He didn't, and we had an awkward family moment around his discomfort.) If you don't have the skills, *and* you are caring for young children, it can be a steep learning curve, which is more complicated if you have kids in tow. Edited December 7, 2016 by justasque 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Why wouldn't I? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 For sure, do it often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 (edited) I'm comfortable traveling alone or alone with my kids, though I generally prefer it when my husband comes along too because I enjoy his company. And of course when our kids were younger, it was certainly easier having another adult. Now that our kids are older, I sometimes take trips alone to meet up with old friends or our kids who live out of state. However, I do understand that some people aren't comfortable with that. We currently live in a rural area, 150 miles away from a big city. I have several friends here who would never even consider driving to the "big city" because they are too afraid of driving on city freeways. They also wouldn't feel comfortable flying alone, or staying in a hotel alone. They're just not used to it. When I had to drive my family hundreds of miles to Chicago, many people here were so very worried for us! My dh was sick and wasn't able to help at all, and it was up to my older dd's and me to navigate it all, but of course it was fine. I think when you're from a rural area, you're more likely to run into people who are uncomfortable with traveling. Edited December 7, 2016 by J-rap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturegirl Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes, I have and will continue to do so. When I was 15 and my sister was 12, my mom took us on a driving trip around the perimeter of the country last lasted seven weeks. My grandfather was sure that we would all be murdered in our sleep, but we are all still alive and well. Sometimes taking off just you and the kids is the only way to make sure traveling happens. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes, I've traveled with my kids, as has dh; we've also each traveled solo sans kids and of course sometimes we're all together. When I encounter people who comment on me travelling alone with kids in tow, its usually because the people don't really travel at all. Lots of people in my suburb rarely even go into our local city, though it's only 20 minutes away and has world-class museums, great shopping, and all kinds of other things to do. I think if you're a traveller, you generally have some travel skills. You know how to use a map, feel reasonably good about winging it on public transport, are willing to seek out help, perhaps even from a stranger, if you need it. You are willing to get lost and figure out how to recover from it. There are all kinds of little things travellers might not even realize they have learned. For example, it didn't occur to me that just because I knew how to park in a city parking garage, that he probably did too. He didn't, and we had an awkward family moment around his discomfort.) If you don't have the skills, *and* you are caring for young children, it can be a steep learning curve, which is more complicated if you have kids in tow. I think this is totally true. I posted that I was nervous taking my kids to Germany. I'm not actually nervous about Germany, but I don't speak German, have never been to Europe, etc. Learning it all while also taking care of kids makes me nervous. I was nervous going to Chicago with them alone, but it was great. Lots of people thought I was crazy to do that, but they are people who live in my suburb and rarely(if ever) go to the city (maybe 20 minutes away). Or they go stay at their mom's house if their DH is away for the night. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I probably would too if my mom lived close. I love going to my mom's. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yep. No issues. Never occurred to me not to travel on my own or just me and the kids when the need arises. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Sure. I used to take my kids on vacation by myself all the time. It is just a regular part of life for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 (edited) Oh, heck, yeah. I have travelled up and down the eastern seaboard with just my kids and I since DD was a few months old! Edited December 7, 2016 by reefgazer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I prefer traveling with my husband most of all, he's my favorite person in the world. But I've done both short and long trips alone and with the kids without him, it's no big deal even when they're little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 When we lived in Asia, I would bring my boys to the UK regularly on my own, travelling on public transport on arrival. Husband didn't have enough time to come both to the UK and to Texas to see his parents. It was fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Quite often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I would. I rarely do, because money, but when I was an exchange student in Thailand I've taken a bus alone to go from one province through another to a 3rd province, twice, and I've been a truck driver (48 states + Canada, though they didn't send me to all 48), and I've flown to NYC to apply for my passport alone (and wandered about the city while I was there). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes. I started with with driving long distance to relatives, so one I got there it didn't seem odd. Then we did beach trips and no we do all sorts of trips. Basically, if I didn't, the kids wouldn't go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Ummm . . . . of course. I guess I don't really understand why it's even a question? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 Of course. I have been traveling by myself since I was 16. And I have been driving for over 30 years. The idea that I would need my husband's blessing to do so seems weird to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk It isn't getting his permission but rather his support of the idea because as a team this affects him as well....our finances, he is left home alone with 3 other kids with special needs, etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 It isn't getting his permission but rather his support of the idea because as a team this affects him as well....our finances, he is left home alone with 3 other kids with special needs, etc. Financially, it wouldn't matter if I got myself a fancy new $$$ whatever, or traveled alone or with the kids. So, then the question would be, would I leave my spouse alone with the kids. Which, well, depends on circumstances, but yes, I would. They're spouse's kids too. But I wouldn't just up and leave alone on vacation during a busy time at work for my spouse. But if it's relatively quiet (spouse can work from home), or spouse is taking time off, sure, why not? Spouse has left me home alone with the kids while traveling - I'd be happy to return the favor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 All the time. Pre-kids, I traveled around the US and Europe on my own, no friends, no tour guide, usually no real itinerary. Once I had kids, I often flew or drove long distances with them on my own if DH was working (or now, when a bad back keeps him from long trips). I tend to plan more with kids in tow, at least when they were young. Now that they are teens, I can have a looser schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 No. Hubby and I both love traveling way too much. We started traveling together before we were married way back in our college days. Neither one of us would want to be left at home, so we only travel together (aside from a rare trip to parents or a rare work trip). We can easily plan our trips around times he must be here to work (or I must be here to work), so that's what we do. Going together has given us oodles of fun couple and family memories. It wouldn't be nearly as nice if we had split up to take the kids places - or even if either of us traveled places alone. It's far more fun, rewarding, and lasting when we go together and have shared memories ever after. If our situation were different and he didn't want to travel - or something happened and he weren't around - then yes, I have no qualms going by myself. I suspect he'd say the same. But IRL, we absolutely love that we enjoy each others company and doing things like traveling together. I guess perhaps it's that soulmate thing. When our kids were home we only took our annual anniversary trip without them. Every other trip they've gone along with us from babyhood on. No regrets at all. Now that we're empty nesting and go places just as a couple one of the things we really miss is exploring with our kids. All of us share our experiences verbally, of course, but that's definitely a step down from sharing them IRL and then being able to enjoy talking about places. I honestly can't fathom traveling without hubby as long as we're married (again, not counting trips to parents or work trips when those are needed and we can't both go for one reason or another). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 The ages my kids are now, yes. Alone, yes. When they were younger? NO!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 It isn't getting his permission but rather his support of the idea because as a team this affects him as well....our finances, he is left home alone with 3 other kids with special needs, etc. OK. I don't take trips that don't fit our budget. Dh is in on the planning finance wise. So when I saved for a trip to universal studios a year and a half ago he was aware of the plan and he wanted dc to have the experience. When I upgraded camping equipment he knew it was for beach trips he doesn't go on. He wants to kids to have fun experiences, he knows I try hard to make trips economical, so a few camping things make that easier and he was happy with that. If I leave our ds who is intellectually disabled home I help dh plan for it. I help him figure out if he needs care help while he goes to work, ect. And make contact with caregivers who might come hang out with ds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have and do. DH has long-standing medical problems. If he's able to travel, it's only once a year if that. Even locally, he doesn't get around much. Last summer we went by plane to visit relatives on the other coast. In a few weeks we have two trips planned by train into the city to go to museums we haven't hit in awhile. It's all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I would and do. I have family members and friends that never travel or really do anything alone with their kids. If they go to the aquarium or zoo, it's on a day off for their dh. That's not my style at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I would and do. I have family members and friends that never travel or really do anything alone with their kids. If they go to the aquarium or zoo, it's on a day off for their dh. That's not my style at all. They may be like us where hubby really wants to go to the aquarium or zoo... it hardly seems fair to go without him when that's the case. "Sorry honey, we need you to go to work so we can have fun!" If he doesn't want to go, then that's different, of course. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Would and have on many occasions. Heck, I flew from Africa to the US for college all on my own and traveled all through my 20s to various countries, on my own. Since kids we haven't been able to afford to go overseas much but I have flown and driven places with them on multiple occasions without my husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have and do all the time, even internationally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundAbout Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Yes. My husband is a retired military officer who did 5 deployments in the first 6 years of my son's life. If I had waited for my DH to be home to travel I would have been stuck at home for 6 years. Instead I had a great time visiting family (including international flights when DS was a baby), meeting DH in Hong Kong while he was there on a port call, camping with friends, and flying across the country to stay with my best friend for weeks. I was less inclined to do really long road trips just because my son's age at the time made it no fun, but now at age 9 would not be a problem. Flights were never a big deal. It wouldn't even occur to me to limit solo travel without kids. Before we had DS I had to travel quite a bit for work and graduate school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted December 7, 2016 Share Posted December 7, 2016 Absolutely. Why would a fully functional adult not be able to travel alone or with children? 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.