Hey guys!

Thanks for everyones opinions, I dont think there is a right and a wrong but i think i have decided. If we where planning to just do adult things i would leave them with my mum and dad. But bec we are going to do family things as well im not going to go. I will book for the end of the year for family holiday and maybe in the next month or so the kids and i can go for a short holiday to tassie.

So thanks everyone! Arna omg thanks for offereing to look after my kiddies but my youngest would really stress you out lol even though she is a loverble kid but just full on haha.

Once again thanks

Hugs and kisses Tee

Well, personally, i would be taking the kids with me.  You can always plan to have family days as well as child free days.  There are accommodation places in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast that provide child care services, so you should check that side of things out.  I don't see why it can't be a win/win situation for you, your kids and your friend.  You could always bring the girls to us for a few days.  Would force me to get the extra beds I've been putting off getting.  We have 4 girls, ranging from 5 down to 11 months, so they would love to have play mates! lol  Wonder if hubby would cope though! lol.

The Sunshine Coast also has a lot of family accommodations and is close to Brisbane and Australia Zoo.  Do some research about it all, and remember, these areas are suffering terribly from lack of income due to the weather patterns here over the last few months, so you might get a really good bargain.

I agree with Teisha... if you have the money to pay for tickets for your children and the accomodation, I would explain to your friend that you would rather not leave the kids at home on their own, give him the money for you and your husbands tickets, and just go for the holiday as a family.

You would certainly enjoy yourselves a lot more if you were happy about going in the first place. You won't enjoy yourself if you go without the kids and feel guilty the whole time - you might of well have just stayed at home!

Maybe you could organise to meet up with your friends whilst you are up there for a day so you still get to see them. I'm sure 1 day with children around would not ruin their 'adult-only' holiday!

Only because I saw your response to Lui's comment. You really will not enjoy this holiday if you go without them. I have older children but I could never force my friends to go without there children, especially if you are going to Australia zoo, and they are so little and it is 8 days! If they don't understand that then I wouldn't want to go. If you can afford to pay the extra for them but these friends really only want adults I would speak up soon so that they can find someone else to fill the spots. Hope you can work it out but since it is your friends tickets really and you wouldn't enjoy it without the kids then he could find another couple and you guys could go on your own family holiday another time.

ok i wouldn't even think about going because you will be like 2 states away and its along way away from home. What would happen if the girls were to get sick? Air fares aren't very cheap at all, so you may have to find an alternative solution in getting home if you dont have the money to fly. When kids are sick they always want their mummy unless of course they don't have a mummy in their lives.

just my opinion though sweetie... as i wouldn't think of going if i were in the situation!

Hey Tee! I know exactly how you feel, I don't know if I could leave my kids behind either - we are going in July or August & taking them with, but the mil lives on Bribie Island & she would kill us if we didn't take them cause she's only met them once, LOL! I had the opportunity to go overseas in September this year but couldn't take the children & I wasn't sure I could do it without them or James (he won't go overseas)...in the end I had to decided between a family holiday or my overseas holiday & I chose the family holiday with hubby & kids. Maybe you should give your friend the money he paid for your tickets, buy tickets for the kids & get some accomodation & just have a family holiday all by yourselves, just the 4 of you! That's what I'd be doing I think.

Luv ya

Teshia xxoo

Hey i love my kids lots,but my husband and i try and get 4 days a year where we can fly back to tassie to see family and friends i love it i hate coming back.... When was your last holiday with just your husband .....maybe you deserve it they dont come around often........ if you have someone to look after them then take the offer but i guess if you dont then maybe yeah take them who cares what they think..........go for it......... you will be happy you went

tassie

Hmm, now I do go away for 7-8 day's a year without my children. I love my girls very much, but there comes a time when I have to put Hubby and I first, to recharge our batteries, appreciate what we have as Parents and give the girls a taste of independance. Has it worked for us? Yes. I was very angsty about doing it first time, I did enjoy the break but was feeling a little lost without first Ruth and now Caty. However they had a blast with Aunty Flo looking after them, and were kept so busy we were back before they could miss us. However Caty was two and Ruth six the last time, and they are extremely close to Aunty Flo. She does not have children of her own but would lay her life down for both girls. So I was happy to leave them with her.

Go with your instinct, not all kiddies are ready to spend time without Mum, you know your children better than anyone. Trust yourself.

Luv,Winnie.xxxx

I gotta say I would feel exactly the same as you.

It sounds exciting and in theory could be fun having an adults only holiday without having to worry about entertaining the children and organising baby sitters etc

BUT

You are the type of parent that takes the role as a vocation not a hobby. To be honest I couldn't go and leave mine even now, yet alone when they were small

You are only answerable to yourself on this matter, so go with your own conscience and gut instinct

xxx

honestly Tee, if I felt as bad as you, I would not go...
my daughter means the world to me, and I could not stand to leave her unless it was a really good reason...
I think that maybe deep down inside, you know what you want to do, and that is, stay home with the kids...

just think about this way, you already know you're going to feel bad about leaving them behind...
so if you end up going without them, you'll feel even worse..

if this friend is a good a friend as you both believe, then he will understand...
I sure would if that were my friend's reason for not going on a trip...

plus, even if your hubby's friend were to get angry with you, it is better that he gets angry for only a little bit and YOU feel a lot better because you're not leaving your kids...
than to go and make your friend feel better, but leave yourself AND your kids feeling horrible...

but just remember, at the end of the day, it's your decision, and you should listen to what your heart is telling you :)

I KNOW you have it in you to make the right decision :)

good luck Tee !

xox

Can you afford tickets for your kids Tee?  If so, sound your friend out and see how they would feel about you bringing your kids.  The only way to find out is to be honest, and hopefully your friend will understand your situation and you guys can come to a happy conclusion.