Cruising without kids - what to leave caregiver?

How long are you going to be gone for? a month? just relax. Everything will be fine. Just leave the numbers with grandparents. They are old enough where the kids can help tell them information. The 18 yr old would be considered an adult. You would be next of kin, but then if you are gone, I would think it would be grand parents. Kids will still be treated in an emergency, doesn't matter if you are there or not to give permission. I think we've all watched too many tv shows. ha

as a nanny for a 5 hour period.. I get a consent to treat. makes things easier...

Insurance information card
notarized permission slip for each child to be treated
list of allergies
schedule of children's activities
list of friends who can visit them and who cannot
bed time
curfew
limits on internet time and cell phone usage
money
credit card for emergencies

You will need extra sun screen.

Your parents were able to raise you to adulthood without mishap.  Trust them.  Go and have fun!

We have a form at my pediatricians office that gives consent for various family members to bring the kids in to be treated. Check to seee if your office has that.

I would leave an actual insurance card (or copy of both sides) for them in case something happens that requires medical care.

Leave a detailed instruction of how to work the tv remote, dvd remote, and Apple TV remote. Take pictures, annotate each step with arrows pointing at the buttons and where to aim the remote (aim at tv to turn on vs aiming at cable box to change channel/use on demand features). I am not kidding. My mother said this was easily the most helpful and necessary packet of information we have her when she took care of our oldest two while we attended a conference in FL one year. Remotes and technology can be tricky for grandparents. Make turning on Sesame Street easy for them. 😁

ETA: I see your kids are waaaaay beyond watching Sesame Street! 😂. I’d still leave instructions on how to work the tv in case Ethel want to watch something after the kids go to bed.

I left my kids with my parents when they were 12 & 10. My parents had babysat once before. That’s it.

I left phone numbers of all the doctors/dentists/etc. insurance plan numbers and whose name the insurance was under. DD broke her glasses while we were gone and Dad was able to get them fixed since he knew our eye doctor.

I did a pretty detailed schedule—what activities, if equipment was needed—cleats, ballet shoes, etc. I had bags packed for the activities as well. I also gave departure times since we live in a pretty urban area and it can take 10 minutes to go a few blocks. We did a dry run for one activity that was a little harder to find, but this was 10 years ago when even GPS maps weren’t always up to date.

I stocked the fridge with basic proteins and the kids’ favorite snacks. Then they could cook what they wanted. I tried to keep that pretty easy since I knew they would be tired by the time dinner came around.

I was really nervous because my parents had never watched the kids before like this. Only one other overnight (the year before) in a decade and never a day sit, much less school without bussing and all their activities. But it went really well and my parents still talk about it fondly 10 years later.