Ok so let’s talk about leaving a baby for more than a few hours. It’s hard! It’s crazy difficult thing to do! I remember how hard it was for me to leave our beloved dog Juve, for a night, even though she was always left in good loving hands. So just imagine how I felt when my husband surprised me with a birthday getaway. I knew we needed that night away alone, yet I felt extremely anxious. Eventually I decided to grow up and deal with it. The last thing I needed was to make Saar feel my anxiety and get stressed before we even leave the house.
To minimize stress levels I started working on positive attitude. I visualized how much he’s going to enjoy with h
is grandparents and how fun it would be for us to be a couple again.I made lists and packed a bag with everything Saar could possibly need (this bag could easily last for a week).
The last and most important part was briefing my parents. My mom never does what I ask her to do. She overfeed and spoil Saar as any grandma, so I had to make sure that at least some structure is kept.
And everything was ok. Everybody enjoyed themselves. And the world kept on spinning.
So here’s my 5 tips for leaving the baby for the first time, for a night or more.
1. Keep calm. Don’t project your stress on your family.
2. Make lists and pack heavily, or make sure everything is easy to find around your house (if baby is staying at home). Don’t forget medical information, insurance and emergency contacts.
3. Give detailed instructions about dos and don’ts.
4. Explain baby’s schedule and the importance of keeping it.
5. Don’t say a dramatic goodbyes and don’t cry in front of your child.
Enjoy your summer and some Sicilian photos 🙂