Tuesday!!

[mandyu1 5]

Good Morning MENA!!! Well we made it through the dreaded Monday

Hope everyone has a great day, and try to stay cool!! I hear its scorching everywhere this week

I'm hoping my day is better than yesterday, I was depending on my mother to watch my kids when I go to Egypt next month, and my father called last night overreacting that I shouldn't go for so long. He claims I'm a bad parent for leaving my kids for a long period of time, and its not safe for me to be there for that long either (he watches too many movies)....in the end he said my mom will not be watching my kids. So now the hunt begins for a sitter

[Harsh_77 718]

lol.... sounds like fun

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Good Morning MENA!!! Well we made it through the dreaded Monday

Hope everyone has a great day, and try to stay cool!! I hear its scorching everywhere this week

I'm hoping my day is better than yesterday, I was depending on my mother to watch my kids when I go to Egypt next month, and my father called last night overreacting that I shouldn't go for so long. He claims I'm a bad parent for leaving my kids for a long period of time, and its not safe for me to be there for that long either (he watches too many movies)....in the end he said my mom will not be watching my kids. So now the hunt begins for a sitter

Good morning!

Mornin' Mandy. How long do you plan on being away and how old are your children?

[FaithfulandTrue 6]

Good Morning Mena!!!! I hope everyone has a good day today!!!! Hey Mandy and Jeanne!!! Sorry Mandy about the sitter situation by the way Today is my youngest daughter's birthday... she is 7... her name is Autumn... Happy Birthday Autumn

Edited August 10, 2010 by wonderful07 2010

[mandyu1 5]

Good morning!

Mornin' Mandy. How long do you plan on being away and how old are your children?

Morning Jeanne and Wonderful, and happy birthday to your daughter

Originally I was planning on going for 6-8 weeks, but things keep changing. I'm having surgery next month so I have to wait until after that and some recovery before I can go. So now I'm only planning on going for 3 weeks. My kids are 14, 10 and 4.

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Morning MsW!! Happy Birthday to Autumn!! Awesome name!

Gee Mandy, that's a tough situation to be in. Best of luck!

[Zee Bee 61]

Good morning. Doing some prep work for our ROC

[mandyu1 5]

Morning MsW!! Happy Birthday to Autumn!! Awesome name!

Gee Mandy, that's a tough situation to be in. Best of luck!

Thanks Jeanne. I have already talked with some people that have said they would help, now I just need to make a decision. I'm trying not to make any irrational decisions and think of all my options.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Happy Tuesday everybody! Wonderful I think our house caught what your house had. Mom and Grandma and Piper got double ear infections while I got a severe cold and it looks like Hubby is starting to get the infection now. This was the worst cold I've ever had. It was a going away present from my SIL who had this cold the last two weeks I watched the baby.

I'm up for a government job. It's great pay and benefits. Better pay then I've ever been paid for a job but not as great as I'd like an after college job to pay. I guess I have to start somewhere. It even comes with a retirement plan and I've never had one of those before. Hubby is super thrilled. The whole house is a buzz because I actually have an interview for the first time in 8 months of job hunting. Cross your fingers for me all. They don't finalize the selection until September.

[Liz Rodriguez 1]

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! Happy birthday Autumn! Good Luck mandy on the sitter situation. I know that feeling if finding the right balance of decisions. Happy Ramadan everyone!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Mandy you better pack your bags because you're going on a guilt trip thanks to your parents.

There are plenty of other mothers on here that have left their kids in the care of others while going abroad. You're not a bad mother for taking care they will be watched over. Two of the kids are old enough to watch themselves but I wouldn't advising leaving them along for that length of time with the youngest yet. Kids go away to summer camp and are without parental supervision for longer than you're leaving your kids.

When I was going over to Egypt everyone knew 9 months before hand I got my ear chewed for those 9 months. They thought my head would get chopped off or I'd get kidnapped or he was using me for a green card. Believe me I heard it all from all my friends and family. Not one supported me except my best friend who had spent some time living with me and speaking to my husband online as well. People fear what they don't know and they care about us. This is more about them and their worries then it is about you and your kids. When they see you go there and come back safely it will become easier for them and eventually once you've done what you've set out to do they will accept your decisions and come to love him like you do. At least most of my family and friends have. There are those few who are too consumed with their own fear to even want to meet him at something as big as a family function, but that's like one or two myopic thinking persons.

Wonderful send a warm and happy birthday to your 7 year old today.

Good to see you Zee Bee! Best wishes on your ROC.

Hi Jeanne and Babyblueangel.

Ramadan Mubarak Everyone! We're getting ready here and this is our first Ramadan together. I'm getting over being sick and he's starting to get what I had.

[mandyu1 5]

Hello Cleo and Babyblueangel!!

I know they are just worried about me, and I spoke with my mother this morning and although she is worried about me she would never try and use my kids as leverage so I wouldn't go. Its mainly my father, and he hates the fact that he cannot control me and tell me I can't go, so he thinks that if I don't have a sitter I'll stay home...just wait until I tell him I'm taking them with me Maybe that will change his mind hehe

The first time I went to Egypt I didn't tell anyone but my kids and my friend where I was going, everyone thought I was in London for work, then my daughter told my father I was going to see the pyramids and he said, "there are no pyramids in London." haha

My mother supports my relationship and has spoken to my fiance and is very excited to meet him in person. My father doesn't say much to me, he spoke with him a few times and said he was nice and thats about it. My fathers has his reasons to be protective and skeptical, his step father used his mother to come here (he's an Arab Muslim as well) and mistreated my grandmother their whole marriage, so this is my fathers fear. But I know that once he's here and they get to know him they will love him just like family

Happy Ramadan everyone!!!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

"There are not pyramids in London."

So you've been there and back already which should give them a clue. Several women on here have also taken their children with them and they had a really memorable experience, but I think if you took your kids now that would conflict with their school, right? I am glad your mother is supportive even if your father is being a bear about it. I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

[Mithra 1,185]

I sort of disagree, Cleo. While yes, the 14 year old is old enough to be left alone for a short time (a few hours) I would never suggest leaving the child alone for even an entire day. I would never leave a 10 year old alone at home for any period of time. I know that you're not suggesting a 10 and 14 yr old be left alone for 3 weeks but you did mention that two of her children were old enough to be left alone and that I disagree with. Also, just because other women on the board have left their children for several weeks, months or longer doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I don't think 3 weeks is too bad but 3 months is definitely too long, in my opinion. I would never dream of leaving my children for 3 weeks or longer if they weren't in the care of a trusted family member. A sitter is certainly not appropriate for a three week jaunt in Egypt. Unless the sitter is a TRUSTED family member (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, etc.). That is simply too long for children to be left in the care of a friend or acquaintance. I know this is an unpopular opinion but leaving children behind for several weeks and months in order to appease a fiance or husband is selfish to me. As we all have seen in regards to Cairo, attending an interview with a fiance or husband is no guarantee of an approval. So the excuse of attending an interview is not valid to me.

I wanted to add that I don't necessarily disagree with the disapproval of Mandy's parents especially because of what she had revieled about her ex not too long ago. I understand her parents' concern not only for Mandy but for their grandchildren as well. Of course, their disapproval will not change anything but it does show that they will not go along with something they don't believe in and for that I can't blame them.

Edited August 10, 2010 by je veux ton amour

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

This discussion of how young is too young to be left alone has come up before on here and you're right JVTA in that I wasn't suggesting that the kids be left alone for that long. My opinion on how young kids can be left alone is swayed by the fact I was a latch key kids at 8. In the summer we were left alone all day pretty much to take care of ourselves and after school until the parents got home. I was babysitting starting at age 10 and babysitting for more than just family members. I watched neighborhood kids of all ages from baby's to older than I. I had access to emergency numbers and parents. I think it also depends on the maturity, responsibility and intelligence level of the kids as well. In the past I've watched my friends kids and pets for several weeks at a time while they're gone on vacations out of the country. I haven't done several months though but like I said kids go to summer camp or boy scout or girl scout camp for months at a time. I don't see anything wrong with leaving the kids, especially the two older ones, with a trusted friend or sitter if it can't be your parents or a family member. It's not like you're not going to be in constant contact with them checking up on them. I do agree that three weeks is more reasonable and easier to negotiate than 6-8 weeks.