Would you bring your kids?

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Anirod

"Don't bring your kids because they're too young to remember a thing and it would be a waste of your money because of that????

Wow... Thats the lamest argument/excuse I've ever heard.

And that coming from the Grandfather of your children. He should be happy to see them!

Your kids might not remember a thing. So what?!
You can take bunch of pictures and films (recordings) of your visit and tell them all about it when they get older.
By the way. I think your kids will remember some things. Maybe their first flight. Atleast your oldest will.
It will help if you make a picture book for each and go through it once in a while after your trip.

*For example I was 4 when my mom took me and my 3-year elder brother to Paris. I do have little memory of that trip.
It was my first trip out of the country. We went by car with some good friends of my parents.
I remember my brother and I got spoiled with candy and snacks by an uncle who lived in Paris. And I played with the baby boy of that uncle.
I have an album full of pictures of that trip and I enjoy every moment as I go through it.

So I think your kids will remember some of the "fun stuff" of what they'll experience.

But come on you tell me... Would it really be that bad if at the end your children can't remember a thing?
You and your husband will have lots of memorable moments by just spending some quality time with your children as a family.

In my opinion it's only unfair of your father in law to even mention that so called "problem"

Does he pay for the tickets???
If not he should not even worry about the amount of money you guys are going to spend.

Just go and take them with you.

I really recommend you to take your kids to
"De Efteling" in Kaatsheuvel http://www.efteling.nl/home.aspx?LanguageId=2
They will love it!

And there are plenty other things you can do and visit in the Netherlands.

Positivemindattitude

I'll add to BlaBla's sensible comments :
I'll just say one thing : Go with your gut feeling.
No need to feel sad and stressed because your kids are not there because... that would really be a waste of good money and, worse, you won't be able to appreciate your trip properly.

I'm speaking about personal experience : all their lives, my kids have flown all over the world - on long haul planes and a monthly basis when they were babies- and we never had any trouble, the whole family has always travelled very well, without any problem whatsoever. (we are entitled to cheap tickets) I would never have dreamed of going away without them...at least not while going to stay with my in-laws.:-))

The main and most important thing to do is to remain calm and composed because, if you are nervous, you'll pass this nervousnesss on to your little ones and then they'll be cranky.
I don't know which airline you are going to take but some are better in dealing with kids than others.
Although most airlines have little gifts for the children, take their favourite toy, some games, books, crayons to keep them occupied.
And, regarding the fact that "they will not remember">>> digital cameras, photographs will be the joy of the family in later years. I know this for a fact as, just this week, we watched videos taken like 20 years ago and everybody had a lot of fun because ....the whole family was always present in all the little films or photo-albums. They may not remember but they'll enjoy the stories and anecdotes and will be able to relate to them because...they were there!
If you feel like taking your kids, take them. Discuss the pros and cons with your better half and then decide. Never mind your in-laws who would probably prefer not to be settled for such a long period with little ones thinking maybe that this will not be like real holidays, for you, the parents. Anyway, I do not suppose this is going to be a honeymoon (with the in-laws there :-)) so..for your peace of mind....take the family along. There are lots of fun things to do for the little ones in all the cities you mentioned.

Have a nice trip and a fantastic holiday, going away with a light heart as we say in Europe>>> Voyagez ..le coeur lÃ©ger!

bla bla

Personally I would feel exactly the same as you (mine are 2 and 7 months), and I wouldn't leave them at home either

Yes they are little (but this makes the prices cheaper as well if you can get 1 or 2 of the children's seat, or if at that age they can sit on your lap which I am not sure about)

If you are going to be miserable and thinking about the kids every step of the way (phone calls, wondering how they are etc etc, then that will probably bug your Father-in-law as well). Also I would use it as an arguement that this is their last chance to spend time with the kids for 6mths to a year!

Personally I would enjoy my time with them more than without and that makes it anything but a waste of time

It's a long trip yes, but your kids are not the first and won't be the last. I saw a great answer which I put on my watchlist from a former flight attendent about kids on long journeys - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgNdMaTC52w56gzsYrbW6T7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080617053903AAzYnzh This will help if you decide to take them

Ultimately it is you and your husband's decision (and not your father-in-law's), so sit and have a chat with him and go with your heart :0)

Best of luck withever way you choose

Willeke

Talking from personal experience, as a child back then, I do still remember staying with my aunt while the rest of the family was going on holiday together.
I was not yet 4 at the time.
I did not mind, I liked that aunt and we did fun things.
But the argument they do not remember is a poor one.

Your children will spend time with you and their grand parents if you bring them, and might very well remember a few things of this trip for the rest of their lifes.

If you decide to leave them home, make sure they have a fun 'babysit' like an uncle and/or aunt that is their favorite or their other grandparents.
And do not bring it to them as 'you can not go on holiday with us,' but as, 'we are all going away, you are going to stay with .... and we are going somewhere else, which you would not find as much fun..'

But I am sure you can travel with the children.
Besides the reactions of Bla bla, (who is not really homebound with her children,) Positivemindattitude, and all the others here, I can add the travel experiences of my brother.
His wife is from Slovakia, so the one set of grandparents lives 16 hours by car away from them.
As long as my sis in law is in the Netherlands she has gone home several times per year, and as soon as her daughter was born she went along.
Sometimes by car, the child sleeping through the journey, sometimes by bus, (which takes 24 hours) and recently also by plane.
The little girl does not know anything else, several times per year she travels.
No problems at all.

Ike.besi

There are plenty of fun things to do in Holland and France with your kids. Make sure you go two days to the Efteling, this is a fairy tale park in the southern part of the Netherlands, I'm sure your kids will still remember this visit long after you're back in the states (it cannot be compared to Disney), it's much more oriented towards kids.
Distances in Europe are not that big, so its easy to travel with kids. Europeans do it all the time.

djorna

Take them with you!! My parents started taking me when I was 18mos. old. Your oldest at least will enjoy it....

sparklz2323

I would leave the children home.. They are to young to remember and if you husband really wants to see his parents it is bad not to have you guys go. It is only a couple weeks. If you dont want to leave them that long try to see if there are a few stops that you might be able to miss out on and be back shorter. The children wont remember the trip and when they grow up they wont remember that you didnt take them. Your not leaving them forever. It also makes the traveling part so much easier. Take it from someone who works at an airport and who travels very frequently!

mariz

I think I would do the same.I will bring our kids along with us.It would lessen my worries if they're with us.There's nothing more important than a mother's care.

bye bye

I went to most of those places with my little brother and sister. My brother was the same age and he was very entertained. My sister and I also enjoyed it; it was a great experiance. I would take the kids.

Michael

STOP THE MOVING this country is boooring, trust me i live in holland.

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