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Original poster

Xmas break cancelled, how do I make it up to DS???

32 replies

winterwoe · 13/12/2024 10:06

Hello all

Weve had a real run of it. My husband has had the flu last week, my dad has a kidney infection and now my daughter has croup. We’ve been waiting to go on this holiday to centre parcs de Haan for absolutely months. DS 10 has been saying every single day ‘26 more days to centre parcs’ etc…. I’ve had to cancel it as my dad is too ill to drive so my parents aren’t coming and my daughter has a temperature of 39 and is so exhausted it would just be mean to put her through a long drive…But DS is going to be really upset, this was his reward for working really hard at school and putting in months of extra work on his maths. He’s been so good. How can we treat him this weekend? Any ideas for doable things that will compare? It was the tropical cyclone which he wanted to do more than anything and obviously not easy to replicate!!!

OP posts:
boulevardofbrokendreamss · 13/12/2024 11:47

Can you not go without your parents?

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 13/12/2024 11:49

Can you or your husband still take your son?

InTheRainOnATrain · 13/12/2024 11:51

Can you not still go? If your parents can’t then they don’t have to but you and the kids still can. I know DD is unwell but a car ride is hardly taxing, she could sleep during the journey, pack the calpol/nurofen and what with it being in the UK you can still call 111 and have hospitals within reach if it comes to that but hopefully she’ll bounce back quick- kids often do and croup is usually a 48 hr thing.

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QuestionableMouse · 13/12/2024 11:51

How long a drive is it?

How about rebooking at a closer site?

There's nothing you can do - he's going to be devastated if you cancel so I'd find a way to get there. Parents stay home with your daughter? DS and Dad go alone?

smallchange · 13/12/2024 11:52

Do you get a refund if you cancel? If not, I would try to find some way for those well enough still to go.

Can't you, your mum and your ds go? Maybe he could bring a friend?

ExquisiteDecorations · 13/12/2024 11:53

It's not in the UK, so that is more complicated. Can you change to a UK park?

purplecorkheart · 13/12/2024 11:54

Could one of you take your ds? Wouldn't your dd sleep in the car? Just stock up on meds etc before you go.

GrumpyCactus · 13/12/2024 11:55

Surely you don't get a refund for cancelling so as other have said I would have found a way for him to go.

ZippyLimeSnake · 13/12/2024 12:01

Why can’t your DD stay with your DH? I think it’s unfair for DS to miss out if he’s put in all this effort & work for this treat & has been this excited for it, I don’t think anything you do could make up for the disappointment tbf especially for a child. I definitely wouldn’t have cancelled on DS especially when there is nothing stopping DH from have DD.

NewNameNoelle · 13/12/2024 12:01

I’d find a way to go. Certainly without your parents but dose up your daughter and go anyway? Or one adult take your son? I really feel for him having to miss out.

Kids get better so quickly, mine had a 39 degree fever this week and woke the next morning totally fine.

Wegovypictures · 13/12/2024 12:11

Honestly I know you've already cancelled but I think that was a mistake - you could have still gone.

Also the tropical cyclone is at all Centre Parcs in the UK, so I'd book a new year break there with a short drive. Take the kids out of school for one day.

Autumn38 · 13/12/2024 12:14

Your son should definitely still be allowed to go. Poor boy

HMW1906 · 13/12/2024 12:14

Presuming you’ve seen someone for the croup? It’s generally a 48 hour thing. Sitting in the car isn’t exactly taxing, in fact it would give her plenty of time to rest. I’d just go without your parents, no point every one missing out.

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 13/12/2024 12:19

I guess you would be booking something else for him to do without your daughter if she's ill so I would just take him to centre parks still.

ForDaringNavyOP · 13/12/2024 12:21

I would change the booking or rebook for your nearest UK site either the same time as you were originally going or in the Christmas school holidays. Center parcs is great for some being able to be more active than others, so you can still have meals together etc… but perhaps yourself and your son can do more active things. Although, would be worth ringing them up and finding out if any activities you had planned with your son are still available or booked up already- may be an incentive for him to wait a week or so if he gets to do better activities or avoids more disappointment!

haje · 13/12/2024 12:23

I think we need a location.

ExquisiteDecorations · 13/12/2024 12:28

haje · 13/12/2024 12:23

I think we need a location.

The OP said it's De Haan

LIZS · 13/12/2024 12:29

Could you rebook a shorter break in the UK?

user2848502016 · 13/12/2024 12:31

Postpone it until spring instead of cancelling? It's tough but he's old enough to understand that things happen sometimes and he just needs to wait a bit longer. If anyone is well enough maybe take him to the cinema or something this weekend or order his favourite takeaway

spiderlight · 13/12/2024 12:31

Can't one of you stay home with your daughter and the other take your son?

Pancakeflipper · 13/12/2024 12:37

I think I would look at trying to rearrange.

If you take ill daughter that will totally flatten the mood. And if he was looking forward to his grandparents being there, it will also.impact the mood. Going from a family holiday to you and him, may be something hugely disappointing for him - more than rearranging. And you'll be stressed out!

If you can't rearrange I'd start thinking of options on who can go and find your extra jolly happy face.

Petrasings · 13/12/2024 12:38

I would still go and push it back to new year. Your dd is going to be fine, your dh has another 2 weeks to recover. Your parents are adults and will be fine. I would push on and go anyway.

Doggymummar · 13/12/2024 12:40

26 days to go? You will all be better by then surely? That's the middle of January

Petrasings · 13/12/2024 12:45

I think just counting down not actual dates they are leaving.

Comparable consolation if you really can’t make it is a day out at Disneyland Paris. Lapland also offer day trips - pre book the skidoo/ reindeer ride.

Bramshott · 13/12/2024 12:46

Where do you live OP? Can you leave DD with DH and take your DS out for a fun activity (could be swimming somewhere, could equally be ice skating etc), then a really good lunch and spend some quality time with him one on one? Sympathise with him that it's shit, but that sometimes people get ill and that you'll reschedule the Center Parcs trip for another year.