To think she's gearing up to cancel?

I think that just about sums it up, yes!

Because as far as OP is concerned it’s about her daughter going on a trip.

As far as some Mumsnetters are concerned it’s just the same as lots of threads on Mumsnet and Reddit - an opportunity to be ANGRY and SHOUTY and OPINIONATED and to say things like ‘grow up’ and to follow people round, saying ‘well I found a comment made in 1963 and you said blah blah….’

I swing between being mildly enraged by the deviations or thoroughly entertained depending on my mood.

I’m glad it has all worked out. I don’t really understand the reaction to your DD having a break with her friend and family. Posh people send their kids off to boarding school at 6 and no one bats an eye. Please don’t worry I’m sure she will have a great time. When my son (only child) was the same age as your DD we took a friend with us and it made the holiday for the kids.

Why is thread still active? I thought the OP had made a decision?!? Yet she's still getting battered with judgemental comments, either because of her parenting choses or because of her choice of communication.

Did you actually bother to read the thread?

Jeez 5 years old and going away with a family you don't even speak on the phone with. Very reckless of you. Protect your child better please. There's many around who are bad people.

I find this extraordinary and really depressing. What is it about phonecalls and a certain generation?

What generation would that be then? Because practically everyone I know would rather send a text or WhatsApp, from my 14yo niece to my 80yo FIL.

What is it about phonecalls and a certain generation?

Phone calls are so 1990s. I WhatsApp with all my friends. Then we can all respond when we have time and actually talk when we meet up.
My teens snap for the same reason, and send video messages if they want to say more. Man you should hear the chatter when they meet up.

Phone calls are not the only means of communicating, and they're frankly not the most practical often.

Aw glad everything worked out. Hope your little girl has a fab time.

I think your little one will have a lovely time! She's used to being out and about with them without you and you've also observed how your friend is with her, she's got a DBS. You know she sends regular updates and you know if it all goes wrong you can go pick her up easily!

It's very brave of you to go for this opportunity and I think in the circumstances the right thing to do!

I hope she has a great time x

What 'generation' might you be referring to then? Because I'm early 60s and I mostly communicate via text!!! As do my 20 something kids.

Give your own head a wobble.

Oh dear, some of the posts on this thread...

OP, you know your daughter best and fwiw I would be happy to let mine go in the circumstances you described. Took my 5yo DS to Butlins recently which he loved but would have been better for all if he'd had a friend with him

She will have a great time!

@LaughingCat

oooh I wasn't pushing Mum's budget that much - but what a lovely idea ! I bet they are over priced tho ?

Just to say, after that deluge of commentary, that I hope your wee one has a lovely time!

Your DD will likely have a great time and if she doesn’t like you said you can go and pick her up. She’s been for days out with the friend and sleepovers so it’s not like she is a stranger. Your DD is excited so it would be unfair not to let her go and it is a good opportunity for her. Just make sure she knows she can come home if she wants.

Just came to say that the abuse OP got on this thread is unreal.

I hope you're okay OP. Probably best to shut Mumsnet off for tonight, go and have a cup of tea and try to relax.

Glad you weren’t being ghosted, OP.

Just to provide some contrast to the many posters saying “Surely it’s not a good idea to let a 5yr old go away with someone else.”: I went for a long weekend with a friend from school, when I was 5, to her grandma’s place somewhere in the countryside. I don’t know if I was homesick or not, my mom never mentioned it. But I have very fond memories of the trip. Some of my strongest memories from that age, it was a magical trip for me. Hope your DD has a similar experience.

Oh and a BIG bottle of wine. Your friend is definitely taking on a lot, taking them there. We need to sleep for a week afterwards! I once sloped off for a smoke in one of the smoking shelters on our first year there and a woman stumbled in looking dazed, fumbling her cigarettes, saying, “Oh god, what have I done? I’ve just left my four year old with a complete stranger but I just need 90 seconds of quiet. Just 90 seconds. WHAT HAVE I DONE?!” 🤣

This made me chortle so darned hard. Best rejoinder ever.

I’m glad this got sorted - I went away at 5 for week’s with friends’ families - heck, I flew to Australia by myself when I was 8 to stay with my aunt for two months! It’s no biggie and will help her to understand that she can be safe and have fun without you being there too. She’s only an hour away so you can nip over and get her, like you say.

Dying to know which Butlins though (obvs not for you to answer as that’s outing @SunflowerMabel!) but only because we’re taking the niece and nephews there this week! She’s going to have an absolute ball. If she takes after you in the ADHD stakes, it’s going to be CRAZY. I’m 40 and I still get super-hyped by the sheer overwhelming stimulation - big dark spaces, bright flashing lights, giant Teletubbies and Transformers randomly around, loud arcade noises, stage shows, trampolines, carnival games…make sure you give her her body weight in 2p’s for the machines 😆. It’s cray-cray.

Deffo give the other mum money to get them both Billy or Bonnie Butlins bears at the store…Our niece and nephews get one every year and they LOVE them.

I find this extraordinary and really depressing. What is it about phonecalls and a certain generation?
Have you never spoke to her in the flesh? How many stress hormones worrying when it would all be sorted in 2 minutes, and ironically roping in strangers on mumsnet over such a trivial issue and then calling it social anxiety 😂

So ironic that all this social media was supposed to make communication easier Ha bloody ha! British women still tying themselves in knots about straightforward communication no matter the tech.
Yes, do give your head a wobble.

So glad for you OP, it sounds like a great friendship for your DD.
5 y.o d sounds young for a trip with friends but in reality it entirely depends on parents. Often we can’t send our children with someone because nice people whom you can trust are very rare.

Ahhh am glad it’s worked out ok and am sure your DD will have an amazing time. I understand completely you wanting to grab a chance for her to have lovely time as I also have a SEN child whose needs restrict what our other child can access quite often. My DD went on Rainbow sleepovers at that age no problem. I imagine your DD and her friend are going to make great memories!