Brayden is almost two years old, and I have never been away from him a whole night. He was 11 months when I first thought it might happen. My sister's labor was at night, and I was sure I would be there all night with her. Her labor went fast, however. I'm sure she appreciated that, and I did too. I was there to support her and be present for my niece's arrival, of course, but I have to admit I was relieved that I was home by 1:00am.
Just after Brayden's first birthday, Harry Potter came out. I went to the midnight showing, but I made Adam stay home with Brayden. I put him to bed, then left at 11:00pm and was back by about 3:00 am. I'll be doing the same thing when the last movie comes out next month hopefully.
Soon after that, I won movie tickets and a free night stay at the Castle Creek Inn. This was in July, and the stay didn't expire until the end of November. I planned on being ready by then, especially since we spent our wedding night (and our 5th anniversary) there. On a whim, I gave the voucher to a friend who took these amazing pictures of our little family. She used them immediately, and her son is just three weeks older than Brayden. I don't know why I gave them up so readily when I was planning on using it later, or why she was ready and I was not.
That's when I started to wonder if something was wrong with me. Ten months later, and I'm still wondering. I don't think I know anyone who has gone two years without a night (or more) away. I'm not bragging about it at all. I'm actually wondering if I am too attached.
I think Brayden would do fine. The people watching him might not get a full night's sleep, but he would be fine for one night. Adam would do fine. Adam has spent multiple nights away from him. It's me who isn't ready.
Am I alone in this??
6 comments:
my poppy girl is 26 months old, and i've never spent a night, or even a whole day, away from her! no one has ever put her to bed besides me, and it's become incredibly important to me to do so. i'm not sure when i'll be ready to be away from her for more than a few hours, but i don't feel the least bit guilty for being an attached parent. poppy is a very secure, social, and incredibly happy kid, and i feel great about my decision to stick close by her side during these formative times. i say, go with your gut! if it makes you uncomfortable to be away, then just don't. but if another chance comes up, and you feel good about leaving for a night sometime, don't feel bad about that, either. happy mamas = happy kiddos! and no, you are certainly NOT alone. (; xo!
Peanut just turned 27 months today and last week was my first "night away" from her. We went with friends to see the Green Lantern premier and I took her to my in-law's, nursed her to sleep, left, and then woke up at 8am to go get her. It was more of a starter night, but honestly, I think I was more worried about it than she was. She was all excited to sleep at Oma and Opa's.
My boys are almost 5yo, almost 3yo & almost 1yo. The only overnights I have had away from them was for an emergency hospital stay.
These early years are intense, but they go by fast. They'll be plenty of time later to be away. Only you know your family's dynamic best. Some families do well with overnight's away while others do not. Go with your instinct while listening to other parents' experiences and ignoring advice (including this, of course ;)
The only night I was away from my 6 year old was the night after her brother (now 4 years old) was born. Other than that, I have never left either of my children overnight. Not sure any of us are ready for that. Not sure we need to be. What's the rush?
Even though Ella goes to bed VERY easily, I still really like to be the one to put her down (I even don't love it when Bart is the one to put her to bed, although she does fine with him).
And while I didn't think too much of leaving her for four days when I went to BEA, I think I would have felt very differently had Bart been with me.
My SIL started sending her kid overnight with the grandparents at 10 days old and thinks nothing of leaving her for a week's vacation, so obviously some people are more comfortable with it than others!
The first time I was away from Munchkin overnight was when I was in the hospital giving birth to Sweets. Munchkin was just 3 weeks shy of 3 years old. At a little past 3.5 years, we started letting her spend the night with her grandparents once per month (at their repeated request, since they were already so used to keeping my SIL's much younger baby). I have never yet been away from Sweets overnight (26 months).
At first, I used the excuse that Munchkin was still nursing at night, and that's why I didn't want to leave her. But it still took me over a year after she night-weaned, so it turned out it really wasn't about that! Sweets is practically night-weaned now, but I'm not ready to be away from her. I just don't *want* to be away from my kids overnight, and I think that's okay. I am away from them enough during the day at work!
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