As we get older and our kids do too, things change. And they don’t always change for the worse. Now that your kids are young adults and more responsible and reliable, you could take a vacation with just your partner and them stay at home. It’s something many parents won’t have done for many years. If this is something you’re planning, here’s how to make sure it all goes relatively smoothly for you all.
Lay Down the Law
First of all, you’ll need to lay down the law and make it clear what the rules are. After all, this is your home and you’re trusting them to look after it so it’s only right that there are some ground rules in place before you leave. Don’t be afraid to go over these repeatedly, and it might even be worth writing the rules down so that they have no excuse for forgetting.
Run Them Through the Responsibilities
As well as letting them know what the rules are, you should also make sure they know which responsibilities they’re going to have. This can be basic things like keeping the place tidy and know which day trash is collected to things like looking after the family pet properly each day. It’s a chance to see if they can handle those responsibilities well or not.
Leave Them Details of Who to Call in Emergencies
It’s vital that they know what they should do in an emergency in the home. Give them phone numbers for a plumber and an AC repair person and things like that. If they have those details, even if they’ll likely not have to use them, they’ll have more peace of mind and be more likely to feel at ease looking after the home. You can also ensure they have the number of a friend of yours nearby if they require anything.
Trust Them and Relax
You do simply have to trust them eventually. As long as they know what’s expected of them and what they can and can’t do, you need to just put your trust in them and see what happens. Of course, that’s a risk but that’s what parents have to do sometimes. After that, you can relax and enjoy your travels without thinking too much about what’s happening at home.
Maybe Ask Another Family Member to Check-In
Finally, you could ask a family member to check in on the home and your son or daughter to see how they’re doing. This will provide you with a little extra peace of mind, which is never a bad thing. It could be precisely what you need. They can then report back to you and let you know that everything’s going fine.
Leaving your home in the hands of your children, even if they’re technically not children anymore, can be pretty scary. But it can be a good thing both for them and for you. You’ll see that they can be relied on and they’ll have a valuable taste of independence while you enjoy your travels.
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