Going out of town with my husband and without my child is one of the most liberating and simultaneously stressful things I’ve gone through as a mom. When planning a sans-kids trip, the prep almost seems more stressful than the benefit of the trip—but it’s oh-so-worth it to rekindle your friendships and connection with your partner.
Here are my top five must-dos before you leave your kids for a weekend or a week or a month:
1. Fill out, print, and sign a medical authorization form.
If neither parent/legal guardian will be available to administer health care in the event of an emergency (or even just routine childhood crud like strep or an ear infection), this form is solid gold insurance that you won’t be turning around mid-trip to care for an ill kid.
I’m not a legal expert, but my pediatrician looked it over before our first big trip and gave it a thumbs up. It has all the info she would need to treat our kiddo at her office or at the emergency room.
2. Get your insurance, will, and guardianship plan in place.
It’s not the most fun part of the planning process, but double check to be sure your life insurance policy and will are up to date, in addition to having a long term guardianship plan in place. If you have legal counsel who helps maintain those documents, let him/her know about your travel plans before you leave. Don’t know where to start with all of this? Check out this article on ParentMap—they lay it out in easy-to-understand plain English.
3. Stock up.
Stock the pantry, fridge, and freezer with go-to foods you know your kiddos will eat. Be sure to fill any prescriptions or over-the-counter meds and leave detailed instructions on how and when they can should be used. If the kids are spending time at a house other than yours (i.e., with a grandparent or aunt/uncle), save some stress and time and order diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. on Amazon and have them shipped straight to their door. It would be fun to include a new toy, game, or activity as well!
4. Too much info is a good thing.
Kids draw comfort from routine, and a stay without Mom and Dad, whether in their own home or in someone else’s, will be smoother if the caregivers have an idea of your child’s normal schedule and routine. Important times, activities, and daily routines can be noted on a calendar or chart.
It’s good to prepare your kids for a little bit of a different schedule, but if Grandma knows your two-year-old MUST be down for nap by 12:30 P.M. or your six-year-old needs about 45 minutes to calm down before bed, everyone will be happier.
Also make note of—and don’t forget to pack—favorite love items, blankets, and rules about where they can and can’t be. Our daughter’s pacifier and lovie are ONLY for bed, and the first thing she tried to pull on my mom the last time we went out of town was bending the rules for having that dang paci out and about.
5. Make a communication plan.
Make a plan to communicate your travel with your children in the way that’s best for them. One of our friends has worry-wort kids, and she simply tells her kids (ages five, seven, and nine) they are going to “Camp Nana and Paw” for the duration of their travel without emphasizing that Mom and Dad will be traveling. Another family friend tells her pre-teen daughter her travel plans in detail—from flight times and numbers to hotel address and prescheduled call times.
Talking to your kids while traveling can be awesome AND stressful. If you call and your child doesn’t want to talk, don’t take it personally. It just means that they are having a great time! When you do have a phone or FaceTime conversation with them, keep it short and centered on them. If it seems that talking to them is upsetting, send an email update or talk to the caregiver and relay info to and about your kiddo through them.[hr]
What are your best tips for traveling without kids? Share them in the comments!