usvi-on-line
Great Debate - To take or not to take the 6-year old
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SOonthebeach
- Posts: 1707
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:01 am
- Location: Texas
We have done both- with the kids and without- and I think they handle it well either way (mine are 10 and 7)- they kind of grumble when we say they're not going, but they love time with Grandma and Grandpa and get over it. They love it here and are usually great- but it is less relaxing for us- but still really fun!
I agree with Colleen, though- I think you answered your own question
Kiddo will be fine and can go next time, imho.
I agree with Colleen, though- I think you answered your own question
Kiddo will be fine and can go next time, imho.
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paulandtracie
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:45 am
- Location: Michigan
[quote="Bigcheeze"]Our Son and Daughter now 14 and 11 have been part of our trips to STJ for 9 years in row. They won't even consider going anywhere else for Spring Break and my Daughter has vowed to say her Wedding Vows there.
Well since we're coming down with you guys and our kids all love to hang together on St. John I am predjudiced, but I smiled when I read about the wedding vows, Katie (our 14 year old) has also said she wants to get married on St. John...
We have taken our youngest, now 14, to St. John since she was 6 as well and loved every minute (OK ALMOST every minute) but last summer we spent a week there with just the two of us getting our dive certification thru Low Key and dang, was it fun!! Just a different kind of week--I agree that couple time is so important too. Pretty much a guarantee to be a great time either way!
~Tracie
Well since we're coming down with you guys and our kids all love to hang together on St. John I am predjudiced, but I smiled when I read about the wedding vows, Katie (our 14 year old) has also said she wants to get married on St. John...
We have taken our youngest, now 14, to St. John since she was 6 as well and loved every minute (OK ALMOST every minute) but last summer we spent a week there with just the two of us getting our dive certification thru Low Key and dang, was it fun!! Just a different kind of week--I agree that couple time is so important too. Pretty much a guarantee to be a great time either way!
~Tracie
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I've taken our kids at ages 18mos (1 child), then again with two at ages 5 & 3. They both had a great time, but the 5 year old really was just getting old enough to "get" St. John (and the difference between St. John and a regular beach vacation a couple of hours from our house). She loved snorkeling, swimming in the villa pool, eating out at night and swinging on the rope in the tree at the beach bar and eating ice cream every night for dessert while we had drinks in the chairs in the sand. Donkeys licking car windows, chickens on the beach, all that stuff.
All the bars & restaurants were very kid friendly (though we were only out until 8:30-9pm each night), and they all had outdoor areas where you could sit and have drinks without feeling like you had a 5 year old sitting at the bar itself. We really didn't feel like we missed out on anything. We went with some other families, which helped keep the kids occupied on the beach, we brought inflatables to float around on in the water, and our kids are pretty mellow, and we found that they were willing to go the beach most of the day, and since the beach really tired them out, they went to bed easily and got up late every morning, so we were able to get into a vacation schedule.
So I think a lot depends on your child's temperment, and your own vacation style. If you want to be out at the bars all night, or if your child hates sand, it may be a frustrating trip for all.
All the bars & restaurants were very kid friendly (though we were only out until 8:30-9pm each night), and they all had outdoor areas where you could sit and have drinks without feeling like you had a 5 year old sitting at the bar itself. We really didn't feel like we missed out on anything. We went with some other families, which helped keep the kids occupied on the beach, we brought inflatables to float around on in the water, and our kids are pretty mellow, and we found that they were willing to go the beach most of the day, and since the beach really tired them out, they went to bed easily and got up late every morning, so we were able to get into a vacation schedule.
So I think a lot depends on your child's temperment, and your own vacation style. If you want to be out at the bars all night, or if your child hates sand, it may be a frustrating trip for all.
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piscesgirl0314
- Posts: 598
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
We have yet to take a STJ (or other "big" vacation) trip without our son and like the prior poster, can't ever imagine not having him with us but we also both work full-time so we like spending our downtime with him and have, due to "greedy" grandparents, plenty of couple time at home. (My mom would have our son every single weekend if we allowed it.)
My vote would be to take both of the kids and, if you can swing it, a helper or babysitter along.
My vote would be to take both of the kids and, if you can swing it, a helper or babysitter along.
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Berlingirl
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 pm
- Location: New England
Wrote a long reply to you first time around...lost it due to taking too long to finish up. This will be shorter. In our life we travel as a family for anything over a couple of days anywhere we go. We don't have the options such as willing and able childcare providers, second vacation homes or the ability to take multiple long vacations on a regular yearly basis. Over the years I've read many trip reports from childless couples. Truely, the only differences noted are they seem to spend lots more of their time eating and drinking out with other adults. Everything else is the same. Exactly the same. So, looking at it that way, probably saved us from gaining a little more weight and a hangover or two! Can't see we've missed anything. That said, we have over the years been able to catch a few days away as a couple here and there. Our time alone has been short, but sweet. Haven't done an island getaway solo for years now, but would love to if able(for short trip only though)!This is your personal decision. If it works for you and your wife, nothing wrong with going for it!! Enjoyed your trip reports in the past also! Thanks!
Last edited by Berlingirl on Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hoping for a USVI ticker in 2013!
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northerngal
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:32 pm
- Location: Michigan
Don't take him! you need time with your wife and she needs time ALONE with you. As a mother of 4, believe me I know. for the amount you spend, he will not appreciate it as much as you will. Do something fun locally with him. It's the time you spend with him, not the amount of money. We took our 4 kids there and they loved it...for about 4 days and then they were tired of the beach...and they are outdoors kids!
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Jumbiegirl
- Posts: 301
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:30 pm
- Location: Holland, MI
We took our daughter down when she was 2½ and I'd never do that again. Misery!!!
We took her down again when she was 4 and it went so much better. No big problems at all.
She's 6 now and we'd dying to take her back again but have to wait until next year - she'll be 7. I think 6 is a super age to start a kid on St John. I say go for it.
We took her down again when she was 4 and it went so much better. No big problems at all.
She's 6 now and we'd dying to take her back again but have to wait until next year - she'll be 7. I think 6 is a super age to start a kid on St John. I say go for it.
Trip #14 comes June 11, 2015!!
We just had our first STJ trip without the munchkins in January. I must say that it is very different without the kids. Perhaps I can summarize the pros/cons with bullet points 
PROS
- Freedom to do whatever. Not having to worry about the packing up a zillion things to go to the beach is huge.
- Freedom to do whenever. This is a big deal as the kids wake up and go to sleep on a schedule that tends to not match what we would do on a relaxing vacation.
- Freedom to whatever whenever. Just driving with no plans and doing whatever was big. No need to build a consensus.
- Pool deck. This one is embarrasing, but frankly it falls in the "freedom to do whatever whenever" category
- Boredom. Another poster hit this one on the head, kids get bored. I have kids from age 2 up to 17, and they all got bored about the same time - day 3 or 4. Their idea of an exciting (or relaxing) time is a bit different than ours. One example - 17 year old: "Dad, there are no girls on this beach".
CONS
- We really missed our kids, 7 days is a long time.
- We missed the sense of wonder that our kids brought to every new discovery.
- STJ is a great place to give your kids a lesson in values and the importance of family.
It really is an individual choice, and for us it is both ways in moderation. We're both really glad that we went alone last trip, but we will definitely be coming back with them again. But, we will also be coming back without them again.
PROS
- Freedom to do whatever. Not having to worry about the packing up a zillion things to go to the beach is huge.
- Freedom to do whenever. This is a big deal as the kids wake up and go to sleep on a schedule that tends to not match what we would do on a relaxing vacation.
- Freedom to whatever whenever. Just driving with no plans and doing whatever was big. No need to build a consensus.
- Pool deck. This one is embarrasing, but frankly it falls in the "freedom to do whatever whenever" category
- Boredom. Another poster hit this one on the head, kids get bored. I have kids from age 2 up to 17, and they all got bored about the same time - day 3 or 4. Their idea of an exciting (or relaxing) time is a bit different than ours. One example - 17 year old: "Dad, there are no girls on this beach".
CONS
- We really missed our kids, 7 days is a long time.
- We missed the sense of wonder that our kids brought to every new discovery.
- STJ is a great place to give your kids a lesson in values and the importance of family.
It really is an individual choice, and for us it is both ways in moderation. We're both really glad that we went alone last trip, but we will definitely be coming back with them again. But, we will also be coming back without them again.
We waited until our oldest was 8 before she went.
Several reasons:
It was "our time"...we think parents do need a break every now and again. that one week every other year was our break.
$$$ - one less plane ticket
Both she and I were not mature enough to deal with each other on St John until last summer.
We waited and it was worth it. She had a ball and is hooked.
Now...ask me next summer how that may change when kid #2 is 2. Ask if our babysitters and I are speaking again. As of now, she'd be joining us or we'd be looking for a new vacation in 2012. Of course, should anyone want to come stay here for a week and watch her...
But, we're not gonna turn this into another thread where I wail about my parents.
Several reasons:
It was "our time"...we think parents do need a break every now and again. that one week every other year was our break.
$$$ - one less plane ticket
Both she and I were not mature enough to deal with each other on St John until last summer.
We waited and it was worth it. She had a ball and is hooked.
Now...ask me next summer how that may change when kid #2 is 2. Ask if our babysitters and I are speaking again. As of now, she'd be joining us or we'd be looking for a new vacation in 2012. Of course, should anyone want to come stay here for a week and watch her...
But, we're not gonna turn this into another thread where I wail about my parents.
We've gone at least 3 times without the kids and probably 3-4 times with them (at ages 10 months, 19 months, 3, 5, 6. 7) and have an upcoming trip scheduled for April with them - ages 4 and 8 now!
The trips are really like night and day but as far as I am concerned if you are on STJ its a good thing.
If you have reliable people you feel comfortable leaving your kids with, then by all means go w/o them, especially if you have a new baby! Your wife will love the freedom.
In our case when we have a good childcare option, we leave them, but we won't hesitate to take them if we have no coverage. Also, we keep in mind the situation - when our kids were smaller it was always nice to travel in groups with them because there were extra hands around. The trip with 1 kid when she was three and another with both when they were 2 1/2 and 7 were way easier because there were lots of surrogate parents around. The hardest trip was taking them when our daughter was 6 and our son was 19 months old! UGH. Mobile and no sense of self-preservation can be a doozie. Still I don't regret it.
As an aside, I took a girls trip last March. No kids, no husband. And I can't tell you how alternately wonderful and strange it was to not have to think about ANYONE else's needs but my own for 10 days. The best gift my husband could EVER give me! I love being a mom but I also love to get a chance to not be a mom for a little while, you don't realize how all consuming it is until you step away for a little while!
The trips are really like night and day but as far as I am concerned if you are on STJ its a good thing.
If you have reliable people you feel comfortable leaving your kids with, then by all means go w/o them, especially if you have a new baby! Your wife will love the freedom.
In our case when we have a good childcare option, we leave them, but we won't hesitate to take them if we have no coverage. Also, we keep in mind the situation - when our kids were smaller it was always nice to travel in groups with them because there were extra hands around. The trip with 1 kid when she was three and another with both when they were 2 1/2 and 7 were way easier because there were lots of surrogate parents around. The hardest trip was taking them when our daughter was 6 and our son was 19 months old! UGH. Mobile and no sense of self-preservation can be a doozie. Still I don't regret it.
As an aside, I took a girls trip last March. No kids, no husband. And I can't tell you how alternately wonderful and strange it was to not have to think about ANYONE else's needs but my own for 10 days. The best gift my husband could EVER give me! I love being a mom but I also love to get a chance to not be a mom for a little while, you don't realize how all consuming it is until you step away for a little while!
Wow, what an enlightening thread. As my husband and I consider a possible STJ trip in May or June, our first with our son who will be 16-months old, it's interesting to see what we're potentially in for! A different experience entirely with child, it seems. He will be going with us wherever/whenever we go. So now it's just a matter of do we go now, or wait a few years until he's more ready.
Decisions, decisions.
Decisions, decisions.