WWYD - vacation during the school year

Avatar for teri_b
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
WWYD - vacation during the school year
10
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 9:10am
I'm weighing pros and cons and this is all coming out a wash.

Background - I'm divorced and my ex has remarried - between us we have 4 kids. 1 is 'mine', 2 are 'ours', 1 is 'hers' (new wife). 2 of the boyz live with me (11yo Josh and 5yo Ryan). Our middle son and her daughter live with them (8yo William and 7yo Carly). Yes - wierd, but it works.

He emailled me yesterday to tell me that they're planning a trip to Florida the first week of March. Originally there was only room for 'their' two (William and Carly). I emailled him and said "That's fine - but I'm leaving it up to you to explain to the other two why THEY can't go. When I sent this I was thinking that it was spring break week.

So - he calls me last night. They've figured out a way to get all the luggage and all the kidlings to Florida for vacation. *BUT* I have to be willing to pull my boys out of school for a week.

WWYD? I'm torn. Part of me doesn't want them to miss school. But the other part of me knows that it'd be a great experience for them. (Nevermind the fact that I raised a stink about it yesterday when I wasn't thinking clearly).

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 11:40am

I can totally understand your dilemma.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 11:49am

I agree with Kootya.

Avatar for teri_b
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 1:16pm

I talked to Josh's teacher and

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 2:08pm

If this were us, we'd take ds out of school in a heartbeat ... oh wait... we DID take him out of school... permanently lol! When ds was in school, we never had a problem taking him out for exciting vacations, etc. But we are big into learning experiences and I think this sounds like a great one. How excited will your 2 be to take this trip? Will the change in routine really mess with them?

Yes, since you ex and his wife are used to en masse and spectrum kids, I would say go for it. And what a cool bonding experience for the mixed family to all share, including the grandparents. Plus -- HEY! You get a free week out of the deal. Win-win!

Sara

Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 2:57pm

I totally agree w/ Sara. I'd do it in a heartbeat. What a great experience for your kids and their extended family, esp since there will be grandparents coming and everyone knows how to handle spectrum kids. How often does a chance like this come? worth the hassle and everything.

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 3:28pm

IMHO, pack em up and ship em off. Seriously, it sounds like a fabulous idea/experience, and hey a week to yourself with no kids.....man I'm jealous, lol.;)

Dee

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Registered: 02-20-2001
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 3:47pm
I personally would take the kids out of school and I plan on doing it next year!!

 


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Avatar for teri_b
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 4:26pm

They're not doing Disney/theme parks.


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 01-08-2008 - 6:47pm
LOL psssssssssss I wanna go too!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2008
Wed, 01-09-2008 - 8:06am

I would say your primary consideration - which only you can answer - is whether the kids will get something positive from the experience, and whether that will outweigh any potential negatives. In my experience, my Aspie always surprises me in how much he gains from being taken completely away from his safe environment - he absolutely thrives at cub camp, visits to grandparents, trips out - and in fact *small* changes to his routine - like different weights of coats for different seasons - have a far greater negative impact on him. So I would say, without knowing your kids, that the potential for a fun trip with grandparents and siblings is likely to do them the power of good, and far outweigh missing a week of school. I can't see that it is any more disruptive to routine than taking them in the school holidays would be, unless falling behind in class is a huge issue for anyone.


If your gut instinct is to go for it, then go for it, and don't feel guilty or provaracate about it. The very worst that can happen is that everyone has a miserable time and you think - well, we won't bother doing that again! But the potential for everyone having a good experience is fairly high, I'd say, including you - if I read this right you get a week kid-free? hey, grab that book, bottle of wine and hour-long bubble bath, baby, or hit the mall/cinema/park unencumbered :-)


Kirsty, mum to Euan (9, Aspie) Rohan (4, NT) and Maeve (2, NT)


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