Do you ever feel, or have you ever felt, guilty for wanting a break from your ch

1. 71

   breathe2travelposted 12 years ago

   Do you ever feel, or have you ever felt, guilty for wanting a break from your children?

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2. 60

   Marcy-Liptonposted 12 years ago

   nope, I think it is normal to feel that way from time to time. Love isn't defined by time spent, but rather what you are willing to do for your children.
   
   so no, i dont feel guilty at all.

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3. 60

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I would not feel guilty at the moment I felt that way - then when I finally got a break, maybe running to the store ALONE leaving them with their dad, I would feel guilty once I calmed down - then I started to miss them.

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4. 84

   Becky Katzposted 12 years ago

   No, definitely not. I appreciate them more when I get away from them for awhile. A person cannot be around children 24/7 without a break of some kind. You will lose your mind. A walk without them is very good for your mental health.

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5. 83

   wychicposted 12 years ago

   Absolutely not, all parents need a break and I'm certainly no different. My husband has been in medicine most of his life, and in that capacity has seen his share of child abuse cases. He told me that one thing most of the abusive parents have in common is that they do love their children, they seem bewildered that they were the ones to hurt them like that, and they just snapped. They didn't acknowledge or act on their personal limits, they didn't take that break when they needed to, and the child ended up being the one to suffer. With this in mind, I try to always be mindful of my mood and level of patience when I'm with my children, and make sure I take the time out I need in order to give them the patient, loving, even-tempered parent they need and deserve.

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      breathe2travelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Valid, important fact sharing.  Thank you.

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6. 61

   kgarcia1113posted 12 years ago

   I don't think it is all that uncommon to want or need a break from your kids every now and then. I have some health problems and my kids range from 17 months to 12 years old so when we my pain is bad I usually send them to my sister-in-law's for a day. And during the summer my 2 step-sons spend days sometimes weeks at time at her house. The benefit for me and my husband is that she only lives about a mile from our house.
   
   I would hope that people wouldn't feel guilty for wanting some time away from their kids. As long as it isn't all the time and they aren't trying to avoid their kids.

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7. 60

   lovelife08posted 12 years ago

   I used to, especially early on when she was a newborn. But I learned that it is okay to need a break sometimes. 24 hours a day of fulfilling someone's needs without filling your own can make a person go absolutely mad.

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8. 0

   Lizam1posted 12 years ago

   As a single mum I need to take a break to be the best mum I can be.  I also think it is important that children develop healthy relationships with their dad and other people.  So I see "breaks" as healthy for all of us.  Guilt is usually a sign of something else wrong intrapersonally or comes from an unhelpful historical message.

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   kelleywardposted 12 years ago

   No because I have learned I'm a much better mother when I have time to myself. I think it is healthy for parents to have time apart from their children and children to have time apart from their parents.

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10. 70

    sassydeeposted 12 years ago

    No i never felt guilty for wanting some me time, alone but, when they are not around i start to feel lonely and i miss them.  Sometimes i don't  want to live with them but then again they are who I  live for!

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11. 0

    donnaMhicksposted 12 years ago

    My kids are grown and I still want a break from them, lol.

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12. 89

    Pamela N Redposted 12 years ago

    Yes, my two sons are grown and my daughter is in high school and I still feel guilty if I don't take them with me. When I see sites I think which child would enjoy being there or experiencing that particular place.
    
    It is a good idea to have a break from your kids especially when they are young and more needy but as parents it's normal to miss them and feel guilt because you are having fun while they are home.
    
    Even though they are older we still go on family trips together and those are some of the most fun we have.

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