How long has it been since you and your spouse took a getaway trip together? That doesn’t mean you two plus your little rascals but just you and your partner — and no tagalongs. Of course, you love your kids, but as parents, you deserve a few days without endless rounds of I-Spy or carpooling from another princess birthday party to a little league basketball game.
Even a short weekend trip can make all the difference. You can jump back into your week feeling more in touch with your spouse and ready to tackle all the crazy parts of parenthood. If you don’t know where to start when planning a kid-free weekend, check out these six tips to get started.
1. Pick a Parents-Only, Kid-Free Vacation Destination
You’ve had plenty of theme park visits, and educational destinations are a regular occurrence for you — and maybe you enjoy waiting in line for roller coasters and learning about historical landmarks. But you probably could use a quiet and mess-free trip with your partner, too. When you’re planning your vacation, select a place that you can let loose and relax as a couple.
Brainstorm places that you won’t be able to take your kids to anyway and that you’ve been dreaming of visiting. You’re going to have plenty of chances to visit the same kid-friendly beach you always go, so explore a new destination where you can make unique memories with your spouse. Whether that means going to a spa or on a cruise, find a destination that you and your partner can be comfortably alone.
2. Plan Your Favorite Couples Activities
Before you started your family, you and your spouse probably had favorite hobbies that helped you get to know one another and develop a strong bond. Now that kids are in the mix, you may just want to collapse on the couch rather than get back into salsa dancing, rock climbing or biking together. Spend your vacation rediscovering these interests and your spouse.
Depending on your destination, you may want to try new, exciting activities. Knock off some bucket list items by snowboarding for the first time or learning how to surf. You and your partner can laugh at each other’s mistakes, and don’t be surprised if you return from your trip with a renewed connection.
3. Decide Who Will Watch the Kids
If you and your spouse’s parents are involved in their grandchildren’s lives, this may not be difficult to set up. However, figuring out which set of grandparents is available for the job can be confusing. Coordinate with your family members to place your kids in the best care at the most convenient time.
For parents who have close couple friends who also want to take a kid-free vacation, you can organize a swap. One weekend you and your spouse can keep their kids while your friends take a vacation, and the next weekend the roles are reversed.
4. Set a Reasonable Budget
Now, you’re probably itching to treat yourself to a few things on your trip, but remember — don’t blow your kid’s whole college fund. Hotel rooms, restaurants, activities and souvenirs tend to add up. Decide before you leave how much you’re willing to spend on your vacation.
It’s important to be upfront about your budget with your spouse. Even if you plan the ultimate trip, you could end up like last year’s vacation crowd without a conversation about finances, as 74 percent of people admitted going into debt after a vacation in 2017.
Jennifer Landis is the woman behind Mindfulness Mama, where you will find a combination of articles on all of the things I know and enjoy like healthy food, yoga, exercise, and parenting. Follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, Faceboo
Photo by Toa Heftiba