When my family visits my in-laws, my husband and I don't stay with our kids. It's a win for everyone.

Not every family shares my fortunate situation with in-laws, which is why this particular travel setup works well for us. After my in-laws relocated to Florida, my family began visiting them each summer. During these visits, my husband and I stay with his mom, while our daughters spend time with their aunt, uncle, and cousins. This arrangement provides our daughters with fun experiences while granting my husband and me some precious time away from our children.

A few years back, my brother-in-law and his family relocated to Sarasota, Florida. Shortly after, my husband's aunt and mother also moved to the area. Consequently, every summer, my husband, our two daughters, and I visit for a week to reconnect and enjoy each other's company. On our initial trip, an unexpected twist occurred: our daughters' luggage ended up at my brother-in-law's place, and my suitcase and my husband's bag were brought to his mother's home.

After settling in, we dined at a nearby restaurant, dined again at my brother-in-law's, and then went to bed early at his mother's house. Meanwhile, our kids stayed up late with their cousins, enjoying junk food, laughs, and games. We all retired to bed contentedly, and this arrangement continued for the remainder of that summer and has been repeated almost every visit since.

Our children relish the opportunity to spend more time with their aunt, uncle, and cousins. I believe they appreciate a break from their parents, which can be refreshing. Their aunt keeps them entertained by teaching them to paint their nails, while their uncle helps them create earrings using his laser cutter. Additionally, they cherish the extra time with their cousins, engaging in activities like swimming, riding golf carts, and playing flag football on the front lawn.

As they grow older, they'll share stories about school, sports, and friends. In a year, my twin nieces will leave for college, and my daughter will graduate two years later. Before they embark on their own lives, these extra vacations together allow them to forge strong bonds, even though we live far apart. Unfortunately, this arrangement will eventually fade when they all leave home, but it has helped my husband and me discover something we had been missing.

While we haven't ventured on vacations alone since having children, both of our kids are involved in competitive sports with games, practices, and tournaments throughout the weekends, often extending to overnight competitions. Our travel budget is primarily allocated to these sports-related trips, leaving little room for additional vacations.

The no-kid vacations provide us with valuable adult-only time each night, enabling us to enjoy simple evenings with my mother-in-law, watching game shows, playing cards, and relaxing. While our kids are now a bit older, these vacations were particularly enjoyable when they were younger and required more attention, such as frequent tooth brushing and bedtime negotiations.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful brother-in-law and sister-in-law who are always delighted to have our kids stay with them, as well as a mother-in-law whose company I enjoy, even during what I consider my "date nights" with my husband. As long as we can, our family will maintain this arrangement and continue to enjoy our days together while cherishing our nights apart.