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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if you take your children out alone

417 replies

ijustdontcareifhedid · 09/01/2025 08:21

I don’t mean to the park or soft play, more big days out.

YABU yes

YANBU no

OP posts:
TENSsion · 09/01/2025 09:19

Yep. All the time. We have 3 under 8 and we both take them out on days without the other parent.
Saying that, he’s the only dad I know who takes his kids on proper days out alone. Everyone else’s husband just take them to his mum’s when they’re left with the kids.

Un4732 · 09/01/2025 09:19

So strange. I'm a single parent and have always taken my kids out and abroad - we love it. Even more actually than when ExH was around - far more relaxing as we are not under any time pressure or have another adult's opinion or needs to factor in.

Kendodd · 09/01/2025 09:18

Yes, of course.
I had three under three and would take them into London and on the tube my myself. And up country visiting family for days away on my own.

Lilactimes · 09/01/2025 09:18

Yes of course. Including long haul from when DC a baby.

FoxInTheForest · 09/01/2025 09:18

No, for big days out we do the whole family as otherwise whoever didn't go would miss out. I take them alone on smaller days out.

elliejjtiny · 09/01/2025 09:17

No, but I have 5 dc with SN. I take up to 3 of them to the park or soft play on my own but big trips or going out with all 5 dh comes too.

enqmind · 09/01/2025 09:17

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Ohhbaby · 09/01/2025 09:17

I will say, a lot of the people that answer 'of course" only have 1 DC which is admittedly easier than multiple, if only for the sheer amount of things you carry with you. I do find that only having to take 1 out drastically reduces the planning. With all 3, I pack way longer and carry way more. Baby carrier, extra clothes for newly potty trained toddler, shoes, hats, swimwear, lotion, cover to breastfeed, maybe a book/toy if the kids accompany me to an appointment.
So I do get why people would prefer doing things with their DH's if they have more than one, but I don't find it HARD, just MORE, if that makes any sense at all.

To be completely fair to you OP, I do get the 'wow you have your hands full" "supermom" "shoee, look at you being buysy" etc but almost find it that they're patronising or sort of what is this woman doing rather than meaning it as a compliment

Scirocco · 09/01/2025 09:17

Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?

PreferMyAnimals · 09/01/2025 09:16

Yes, I took 1 - 6 children (depending how many I had at the time), of all ages, all over the place. Not a problem at all.

CautiousLurker01 · 09/01/2025 09:15

Of course - it’s actually advised to spend quality time with your kids one a one to one basis and not only as a package deal of two parents.

My DH takes the kids, now teens, away for a week skiing (I hate it, they all love it, and he gets to spend quality time with each of them and together) and also on the odd weekend to GPs or to see friends for cricket/sports events; I take the kids shopping in Portsmouth/London, the cinema/theatre, I did all the Brownies/Guides/Scouts camping events and day trips with them and, obviously, did the Alton Towers/Pepper Pig world/zoos etc either on my own or with other mums in groups when they were younger and DH was working.

NettleTea · 09/01/2025 09:14

yes, and I also took them on holiday on my own too, as partner really struggles with travel. That was from when youngest was about 2 and oldest was 7

Eddy334 · 09/01/2025 09:13

Wtf is this post....yes of course!!
Reported

Ohthatsabitshit · 09/01/2025 09:12

Yes of course I do, though we like dh so sometimes we let him come too.

WhimsicalGubbins76 · 09/01/2025 09:12

Of course 🤣 are you saying you keep yours under house arrest??

Matilda1981 · 09/01/2025 09:12

My husband’s a farmer so who knows when he’ll be working - always during the summer holidays so I take my 4 away (age 13 down to 4 now) on my own in the caravan for a week and have done for years! Have lots of days out with just me and the kids

Wakeywake · 09/01/2025 09:12

Yes, of course. I take them on holiday by myself as well, if DH doesn't want to come.

LBOCS2 · 09/01/2025 09:11

Yes, definitely - when they were younger and now they're older. I like taking them into London to the theatre, or to various exhibitions, we've been on weekends away without their dad, all sorts. He does the same too, I went away for a week in November and it looked like they had an excellent time.

justgettingin · 09/01/2025 09:11

Yes i was a single mum all his life hes a grown man now.
But unlike some i just got on with it and did it myself i didn't need a village to help me raise him.
And i didn't have any child maintenance either what my son had got and where he went i paid.
And many many mothers and father's have done the same.

kate592 · 09/01/2025 09:11

Yes, I've taken him abroad alone a few times too.

TravellingSpoon · 09/01/2025 09:11

Yep. I have always taken my children out alone, even when I was married. Ive taken them on holidays too by myself. 3 DC's, one with severe SN.

Pickingmyselfup · 09/01/2025 09:10

Not usually for big days out because we plan them for the whole family specifically. If I were a single parent then yes I would.

Chucklecheeks01 · 09/01/2025 09:10

I find this bizarre, Im a single parent... we do go places

Ohhbaby · 09/01/2025 09:09

I do. I have 3 DC
(4, 2 and 7 months).
I'm a SAHM and DH works long hours so I do most days on my own. I prefer to go to the beach/theme parks/zoo/whatever during the week because then it is less busy so all of that is on my own with all 3.
During the holidays we will go camping/hiking or so together with DH. We haven't done big holidays alone, but most definitely days out weekly and big days at least monthly if not bi-weekly. If we had to wait for DH we'd only go over the summer hols and Christmas

Chariots77 · 09/01/2025 09:08

I've been a single parent since my daughter was 2, so yes I've took her to a variety of continents alone