Is anyone else completely sick of the use of the term the Mommy wars? Even more so, I am sick that there is such a thing as mommy wars. Can’t we all just parent our children and support one another?
Of course, there is yet another controversy to fan the flames of the tragedy that is the Mommy wars. This time the topic of discourse is at what age do you leave your newborn to go on vacation?
A Canadian journalist, Rebecca Eckler decided to write about her decision to take a vacation to Mexico and leave her 10-week-old newborn son with in the care of her fiancé’s mother and the nanny. Her readers did not approve.
When did I first leave my girls overnight with someone other than my husband? The first time and only time that I ever left my children overnight with someone other than my husband was on my 38th birthday. Yes, I know, you are shocked at how old I am.
What made me wait so long? Plain and simple answer, I am slightly extremely over protective. I know this. It had absolutely nothing to do with not trusting my mom or my mother-in-law to care for my girls.
Well, in my mind, maybe a little bit. But it was totally more me than them. I didn’t (I still don’t really) trust anyone else to care for my child the way that I would. I think that is pretty standard, right? I also felt more comfortable leaving them knowing that my children could communicate their needs to the caregiver.
Eventually, I forced myself to leave them overnight, but it was hard for me to leave the house and then the drive way and halfway there I wanted to turn around and come home. But once I got there, let myself relax and enjoy the company and the time alone; it was a magical evening.
Yes, I said magical. You try being surrounded by little people for 5 years non-stop and see how magical a few hours of adult time truly can be.
We went to a show, had dinner and adult conversation followed by drinks and a lot of dancing with friends whose bodies were much older than they had realized.
By the time we were back home with our girls, I was elated to see their smiling little faces. Honestly, all I wanted to do was snuggle them for hours. There is nothing quite like a little absence to make you more appreciative of everything that you have, especially children.
I also was bewildered as to why I hadn’t done this in years previous. We moms need a break. The time away is just what we need to decompress and honestly, that makes us better parents.
I honestly don’t see what the issue is with Ms. Eckler, so she went on a vacation without her newborn. It’s not like she abandoned him in an alley and went off to get high. She’s leaving her sweet baby boy in the care of her soon to be mother-in-law and a nanny to go on a business trip/vacation with her fiancé. What’s the problem? I wish I had a trip to Mexico to tag along on.
Would you leave your newborn to go on vacation?
Photo Source: Nosha
