My husband and I recently celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we finally did what we have
said we would do for years (you know, after baby number two, after we finished graduate school…after baby number three…). We went on a cruise, and it was just what we needed: a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. It was our first trip together without our kids for more than a day or two in our eight years of parenting. We got home from the trip promising we wouldn’t let another eight years go (or even a year or two) without another trip, just the two of us.
As we have found out, going on vacation without kids is a little tricky, with childcare being the biggest question. We feel fortunate to have parents willing to watch our kids; my parents graciously watched our kids for eight days. Leaving your kids for eight days (or any amount of time really) can take quite a bit of preparation. These tips and tricks helped me to feel the most at ease with leaving my kids:
ALL the Information
Like, more than your caregiver probably needs. But this is my bread and butter: I actually LOVE making schedules, writing our routines, documenting information. It is one of my funny quirks that I completely embrace. I compiled 
all the information in a folder to keep it all together. Here is what I included:
- A week-at-a-glance schedule. This is where I wrote all the kids after-school activities, school start and end times, and important extras like trash day and bath day.
- Basic daily schedule. Here I included wake-up times, nap times, meal times, after school routines, bedtime routines, etc.
- Contact information. I provided phone numbers for our neighbors, friends, carpool, and others who could be of help if needed.
- School information. For each of my kids’ schools, I included the name of the school, phone number, teacher’s name and email, and pick-up and drop-off procedures.
- Medical Consent Form. This form gives consent to whoever is caring for your child to seek medical care for them. Without it, the caregiver may not be able to do things like take your child to the doctor or make medical decisions if needed. Our pediatrician’s office had a form to use, or they are easily accessible online, which is where I found mine.
- Lists. All the lists. I left lists of things needed for various after-school activities, easy meal ideas, what I usually pack for lunch and dinner, ideas for snacks. While these might seem self explanatory, it’s always helpful to have already-communicated ideas when you’re under pressure or in the moment.
Paper Products/Basic Cleaning Supplies
I left a box on the kitchen counter filled with paper plates, cups, napkins, and plastic utensils. I also included a container of Clorox wipes. Trust me, this is important to include. Your caregiver will love you if they don’t have to do dishes every meal.
Contact Teachers and Find Rides
I contacted all my kids’ teachers and let them know we would be gone and who would be picking them up and dropping them off. Sometimes the schools require certain things if someone different will be doing it. I also found rides for my kids to their after-school activities if needed. This especially helpful if you have young kids who nap or go to bed early.
Snacks and Treats
I left my parents’ favorite drink and some snacks in the fridge for them. This is just a nice way to give them a boost during the time they are caring for your kids. And I know they were appreciated because they were all gone by the time we returned!
Give a Tour
Sounds silly, but it was super helpful. My mom (who we are fortunate to have, along with my dad, close to us all the time, anyway) came over a day or two before when my kids were in school and we went over everything and I gave her a tour of the house so she would know where everything is. Even if your caregiver frequents your house, they may not know things like where the extra toilet paper and paper towels are, where you hang up backpacks, or to wiggle the handle on the toilet in the downstairs bathroom if it keeps running.
A Heads Up When You Call or FaceTime
We found that the first time we called unannounced, it kind of sent the house into chaos. The kids were excited to talk, everyone was talking over each other, crying started, etc. So the other times we called we sent a quick text to make sure it was okay!
A Thank-You Gift
On the drive home, we bought a gift card to a fun restaurant and it was waiting in my parents’ email when they got home. They deserved it after eight days of caring for four kids!
It can be hard to leave your kids for an extended amount of time. I know I felt so anxious at first, but with these tricks and knowing that we left our kids in the most caring and capable hands, my husband and I had an amazing vacation. So plan the trip and get away!
