To ask if you take your children out alone

@LegoHouse274 your issues is obviously the lack of transport. All of my friends have access to their own car so it's not a consideration for them.

There's two years between my children - I would baby wear the 2 month old in a sling (I even BF in it doing my weekly shop) so I could be hands on with the 3 year old. The 6 year old will be fine.

I often take four kids out by myself (nieces too) so ages are (now) 3-12. As they get older I have found the extra two older children actually make outings easier.

I wasn't sure if the OP meant "individually" as in one child at a time or "on your own" as in unaccompanied by another adult.

Yes to both but it is nice, when you can, to spend time with them on their own too. I'm finding that now with DD2, when DD1 is away at university. DD1 had me to herself for 3.5 years before DD2 showed up.

If I can avoid it I will, and I can, so I do.

DH is a teacher and off with the kids in the holidays, I'm in FT education so also off with them. We have three children and the idea of managing an entire day somewhere big and far away isn't my idea of a thrilling time.

If it was the choice between me doing it alone and them not going, I'll obviously do it though.

If course why wouldn't you? Children need stimulation not cooping up all the time.

Took them on 12 hour flights alone. To visit family. You just get on and do it.

Yes all the time if I’m off and my husband is at work. I’m taking our boys (4 and 2) away for a week on my own in May (I get more annual leave than DH).

Yes, of course. When my three were small I often took them out on day trips. Dad worked shifts so if I hadn’t gone solo they would have missed out on some exciting adventures. The only exception was swimming as I have very poor eyesight and it didn’t feel safe but we often went with friends and their children so there was another adult to keep an eye out.

Absolutely. I started when DS was a couple of months old and we've never known anything different. Totally happy whether out and about in London/navigating public transport abroad/at the Zoo. He's now 5 and I'll happily take his friends out with us in the holidays - I get very odd looks when I explain I'd rather take 2 boys on the train to the Science Museum than have them ransacking my house for an all day 'playdate' 😂

Well I've got 3 and I don't drive so we don't go anywhere that exciting if I'm on my own.. but I do take them places I can reach by train. Usually a trip to the city, go for lunch, to the museum.
When I just had one wewent abroad alone.
When I had two we went to France alone.
Now I've got 3 I don't think I'd try going abroad without my DH to help.. but that may be because my youngest is under 1yo. Perhaps I'll feel like I can do that when she's older. But right now that would be too much for me.

Yes but prefer it when it's with my husband if it's a long drive with both kis. Much more fun nd it means one adult hs hands free to help with the kids if they need anything during the drive (/stop them poking each other and having fights...)
For days out it's so much easier 1 on 1 as they're both little and inevitably one will need to dash to the toilet mid-lunch or when the other is on a ride or up the top of the soft play.
This is one reason we are sticking to two!

Yes, have been a single parent since DD was 7. Often took her out alone when married but in the last 7 years it's just been us. I've taken her camping, towed her to Scotland with our caravan, done weekend trips to Europe and did a week in Tenerife the year before last. Also done London weekends, museums, etc..

I have two boys 2 and 7 and take them out by myself as does DH. In the holidays we rarely take annual leave at the same time and alternate weeks off. I took them on holiday in the summer as well and my DH took them for a week to see his parents (he would still be doing all the looking after).

Of course

Drive them over to Ireland every year on my own since they were 1 and 5. Was at London Museum on Monday with them. But they are good travellers. To be honest I find it easier than if my husband comes!

DH is off then so we all go out together in the holidays and weekends

Some women may have had an extremely traumatic birth and still be significantly unwell at 2 months. So for some women, it would be incredible to be out the house having lunch.

its great it was easy for you, but recognise the luck and privilege that you had health on your side and not be smug towards those that didn’t.

Dont think you have to be that rich to have meaningful days out. Lots of things to do that are free/low cost

Yes of course, as does my DH. I work part time and it’s just me and 2DC 2 days a week so we’d be very bored if we didn’t do things on those two days.
DH often takes them out on a weekend to spend time with them and give me a break!

What a bizarre thread. I can’t believe how many people just opt out of trips if they don’t have another adult around. I’ve been a single parent since day 1. I took my kids abroad alone from when they were 2 and 5.

Single parent with a child with me 100%- sees father two days per year. I felt very alone when she was little, as she has additional needs and I had to cope on my alone so much of the time- at one stage we were alone together 24 hours per day for 12 weeks, just us. Very lucky to have willing grandparents who have helped so much too (they were 250 miles away initially). On my own with her, we have travelled all over- US, Finland, Italy, UK. It helped me become far more resilient and meant that I felt ready to take on leadership at work.

I have anxiety and I do struggle taking my two children out on my own. That doesn’t make me a bad parent, or that I act like a little child. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have had them. What a nasty thing to say.

I think some pp have lost sight of the fact that MN is a generally wealthier demographic. Most people frankly can't afford 'days out' during every lot of school holidays. When I was a kid we generally only did things like the above PP is describing - park, maybe chips from local cafe or a pasty in the Sayers cafe, local library, play dates with other kids nearby. 'days out' were few and far between and naturally would involve my DF too as they were special family trips. I didn't feel that was a hardship and most of my peers had the same type of lifestyle. And we certainly weren't particularly disadvantaged, my DF was a professional and we lived in one of the more affluent parts of the city. But still, with 3 of us, things add up.

Yep - DH works long hours and can't think of anything worse than 3 kids bouncing off the walls! Done London overnight, UK holidays, trips to family etc as well. They're a bit older now so might contemplate taking them overseas on my own soon.

I refuse to be limited by the fact I am a single parent to enable my children to have life experiences, so I research research research, learn a bit of the language, plan meticulously and have potential back up plan in case and swallow any discomfort I have, do things go not as expected, sure, but as long as we are together we muddle through and get there in the end...or have so far!

Children are very intuitive and whilst my DC played me up at home and wherever else they were 'comfortable', when travelling their instincts told them to listen to me and do as I asked, when I asked and that was a suprise, but makes sense.

I find it sad that some people limit what they do with their children when they are in a relationship as it should be easier...ie you always have an emergency plan, which is call your partner for help. Get out there it will boost yours and your children's confidence and when it doesn't go right, you will be able to have a good story to tell.

Going against the grain of most other posters, I don't think I ever took my children out on their own on days out, apart from the local park/toddler groups etc. It was just a lot easier going with husband or someone else. My children didn't have any special needs either.