Off for the weekend

I don't have a problem with young parents having time away without the children, separately or together. I remember being too broke for anything more exciting than a picnic at the park. It was fun but imagine if I'd been able to have a twenty four hour spa break, I might have popped with excitement

When our children were young DH and I had weekends away without the other, but each of us managed perfectly well on our own without any need to call in anybody else to help us manage, including when the children were ill.

DH's job took him away from home frequently for indefinite periods of time, on one occasion for over six weeks. If I had been unable to manage, DP and DPiL would have to moved in to cope with all the absences.

Personally I would have felt quite insulted if anyone had suggested that I might not be capable of looking after DC on my own and might need extra help.

NanKate if your children cannot cope with looking after the children on their own they should make sure they never put themselves in that position. Tell them to cope on their own. They will soon learn.

I had a friend years ago who did this, left her 2 boys under 5 with their dad for long weekends. She insisted it had to be done properly, no pre-frozen meals, no planned menus and you had to expect washing etc to be done when you returned. She said it taught dads exactly what looking after small children involved and he was so grateful to see you when you got back. I never dared, not sure my sons would have survived their dad's care!!!

I see no problem with partners doing this if they can manage it on their own, or if they ask politely for help and can accept a No sometimes.
If they expect GPs to automatically be available to help whenever it suits them, though, that's not so good.

I never did it and my C aren't in a position to do it but 35/45 ish children of friends do it on a very regular basis. It is usually with siblings , neighbours they have got friendly with and old uni friends. Just an excuse for a jolly in my eyes and yes I am green with envy that I was born 40 years too soon.

No, Nankate as my children and spouses seem joined at the hip, they only go away together, however we do look after the DGC while they do this, but it doesn't happen all that often.

One of my son in laws is always going away for long weekends stag dos climbing holidays with the boys and once a month a full night out coming home about 10 am next day It irritates me beyond true as I am often called on to help out and its a long ardous and not cheap journey for me and they are 'always short of money' but when I ve brought it up in the past my daughter goes very cold on me and tells me it s great for him to get away ....Ummm sure believe that and you believe anything I dont bring it up at all now as she knows what I think and as the children are getting older I m not called on so much but it still makes me cross and doesnt endear him to me AT All

My DIL and son are visiting me tomorrow as apparently DGC are at other GP's for a 'break'
am not sure who needs the break !!!

Sounds a good idea to me. Everyone wants a break. Great for the father to cope alone, they generally don't get as much time in sole charge.
I got my DS used to staying with grandparents from an early age so that it was a second home. Lovely for him and the grandparents.