"Let me say something a lot of parents are afraid to admit. Yes, it's absolutely okay to take a vacation, a family vacation without your sons and daughter-in-law."
"And it doesn't mean you don't love them. It doesn't mean they're not welcome. It doesn't mean there's drama. Sometimes you just want time with your own kids, the ones you raised. The ones you survived life with. The ones you rocked through teething and heartbreak and their first apartment. That relationship deserves its own space too,"
"And honestly, in-laws might appreciate having the option not to go. Trips are expensive. Schedules are tight. People have jobs, kids, routines and needs. A vacation without them might be the one thing that actually keeps the peace."
"And listen, there's a big difference between excluding someone and planning something that isn't meant to include everyone."
Family trips can exclude certain branches while still conveying love and welcome. Excluding in-laws does not inherently indicate hostility or that relatives are unwelcome. Parents may seek time alone with the children they raised to honor shared history, sacrifices, and milestones such as teething, heartbreak, and first apartments. Financial constraints, schedules, jobs, childcare, and routines often make inclusive travel impractical. Offering optional non-inclusion can reduce conflict and preserve peace. Distinguishing deliberate exclusion from planning events that are not meant to include everyone allows families to maintain multiple subgroups and respect differing needs.
Read at Scary Mommy
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