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Original poster

Urgent help: what to do about trip tomorrow

138 replies

Whattodoabouttrip · 25/07/2023 22:40

DC is 5. As part of holiday club tomorrow they're meant to go to an adventure park 2.5 hours away. DH has only just taken the time to look into it and has said he'd prefer him not to go. It's too far, he won't know anyone, has never been anywhere like this without us, might get lost etc.

I just don't know what to do. DC had been looking forward to it but didn't really know what it entails. They also only know 2 other children at club who won't be there tomorrow which I've not sure they've realised.

I think it's quite a bit undertaking and to be honest I've been very stressed and tearful about it myself but had come to conclusion they'd be fine.

I'm really annoyed DH has only just now decided to chip in.

I'm meant to wake DC at 6am if they're going to go. If I don't wake them up and they wake later and are really upset as they wanted to go, I'm going to feel so guilty.

There's going to be a fallout either way. I have to idea what to do.

OP posts:
Thebirdhouse · 26/07/2023 22:14

Canisaysomething · 25/07/2023 23:09

A 2.5 hour each way trip for kids that are 3 -5, it sounds bonkers!! When I drop my kids at holiday club I want to know where I'm leaving them and that I can get there if they have an accident and need collecting.

I agree with this tbh.

YesIknowalready · 26/07/2023 22:41

YouPistonWhat · 25/07/2023 22:46

A total of 5 hours travelling on a coach/mini bus to go to an adventure park?
Not exactly a great day out tbh.

Exactly. And at five years old .

IWantOutDoI · 26/07/2023 22:51

hippityhophop · 26/07/2023 19:05

Well.... In lots of countries people think it's shocking that we even send our children to school at age 4, let alone on a trip with strangers several hours away.

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Not so many countries actually, only Scandinavian ones.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Bodybop · 26/07/2023 22:52

Trip has been and gone, it was due to be this am and OP pulled out

IWantOutDoI · 26/07/2023 22:53

FairAcre · 26/07/2023 18:40

That’s your opinion. But clearly a lot of people don’t agree and that’s their prerogative. It’s like people sending their kids to boarding school at 7 years old. It might be your choice but others wouldn’t be at all comfortable with it.

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Yes, but the OP was asking for opinions, I obviously don’t agree with you and that is my prerogative 😉

I have a right to an opinion as much as you and everyone else on the thread.

VintageBlossomHill · 26/07/2023 23:22

5 year old - 6am start- 5 hour round trip- exhausting theme park without parents family - NO WAY ON THIS EARTH WOULD THAT BE HAPPENING- It’s not age appropriate. It’s too far away from you if something goes wrong. What genius thought that was a good idea. Sounds more like cruelty. 5 year olds are happier mucking about their mates in the garden or a park 100 yards down the road.

emziecy · 27/07/2023 05:41

I'm a teacher and there's no way on Gods earth I'd take a class of kids that young on a 5 hour round trip. I wouldn't have taken my own kids that far on a day trip! Who does that?!

blacknredsweeties · 27/07/2023 07:00

What's with the DC and They? Can't you say DS and he?

CurlewKate · 27/07/2023 07:35

I realise this has been and gone, but I do think that some people's opinions are skewed by the fact that the UK is TINY! In many other countries it takes you two hours to get anywhere (if you see what I mean!) I remember when mine were little, people were horrified that every 6 weeks or so, we bundled them into the car and drove from London to Bradford for a weekend with the grandparents. Perspective is all.

MRex · 27/07/2023 07:43

A school trip of 5yo just a 15 minute walk away had two crying (90% of parent help time spent herding the pack). We had a gathering with another kid who sobbed on his mummy's lap and ate enormous amounts of wotsits, because he was scared of water guns. In both cases, I heard those same kids talking afterwards about how brilliant it was. SIL lives in a different area where surprising numbers of parents drop-and-go age 4, with many predictable moments of howling or moping sad kids - yet parents who say "oh she loved it, they're fine at this age!". My friend told me the year 3 coach trip a few weeks ago had five kids being sick. So those who don't go on a trip but think their very young child loves being away from them on a big adventure... if you weren't there, you might be surprised. And no, the organisers of paid camps don't ever say "your kid hated most of it and didn't like their lunch". Kids do need to be stretched a bit into doing some stuff away from parents, herding on trips etc - but 5 hours in a coach and the noise / bustle of an adventure park would be too much of a stretch for most that age without a very well known adult.

blacknredsweeties · 27/07/2023 09:00

Why are you sending him somewhere with people he doesn't know, on a 5 hour trip. At 5 years old. While you are both at home?

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 27/07/2023 09:24

VintageBlossomHill · 26/07/2023 23:22

5 year old - 6am start- 5 hour round trip- exhausting theme park without parents family - NO WAY ON THIS EARTH WOULD THAT BE HAPPENING- It’s not age appropriate. It’s too far away from you if something goes wrong. What genius thought that was a good idea. Sounds more like cruelty. 5 year olds are happier mucking about their mates in the garden or a park 100 yards down the road.

Oh come off it - kids to an adventure park for the day is hardly cruelty 😂

VintageBlossomHill · 27/07/2023 09:53

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 27/07/2023 09:24

Oh come off it - kids to an adventure park for the day is hardly cruelty 😂

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It is when the arrangements are as described above. Did you miss the bit about about the 5 hour journey? Most people don’t travel that long to go on their holidays!
You mustn’t be very familiar with children of this age if you think this was a good idea.

Anyway it’s old news. I’ve noticed the recent updates that the trip is over and the OP decided not to send her child.

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