Oh I'm so excited, DH and I are thinking about going on an extended break to NZ, can you help me to phrase my parental leave request so I have a vague chance of getting it accepted

[rookiemater]

DS is 2 and DH is a contractor. We have friends and relatives over there and we are thinking we could do a 4-5 week trip and take in Hong Kong and LA ( with a bit of Disney) going mid to late January.

I have read up on my parental leave policy and I am entitled to ask for up to 4 weeks at a chunk and return to my same job. I was thinking of asking for 3 or 4 then using a week of holiday. It does say that parental leave can be used for an extended holiday.

Thing is I suspect my boss is not going to be happy. She is childless and in her 40s, and whilst we get on well I suspect she will set it as yet another example of those with children getting priority treatment.

She is entitled to refuse it for business reasons, but must give another time I can take it within 6 months. Thing is it really needs to be around Jan or Feb to get the good weather and cheap fares. I do some year end reports but they should be finished by mid Jan, although I guess planning for the year could be used as a reason to decline it.

Anyone asked for parental leave and how did it go, and how best to request it. I am already dreading the discussion although I won't need to have it for a couple of months and thinking if I should be dropping it into conversation now, or wait until nearer the time.