Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Cancelled holiday, how can I cheer up dc?

243 replies

DakCien · 11/04/2025 09:16

Today we should be on our “summer” holiday. We booked it last year and dc have been looking forward to it since they found out we were going. It’s the only holiday we would have this year due to work commitments, so it really has come as a disappointment that it’s had to be canceled.
Dc all woke up sad this morning and I want to cheer them up. I can’t think of what to do. Anyone have any suggestions? We had to cancel due to a family member having an accident so it can’t be anything too physical that we can do.

OP posts:
Thebloodynine · 11/04/2025 10:29

DakCien · 11/04/2025 09:56

Would people really take their dc on holiday with a fractured elbow which required surgery a few days prior to the holiday? To me that would be cruel. Also, imagine sand blowing into the cast! Not worth the risk. No way!

um, yes? We went on holiday after my sister broke her wrist and had surgery. She broke it roller blading and guess what she did on holiday! More rollerblading coz she loved it. We were abroad, sun, sand, water. Just wrapped her cast up in plastic every day 🤣. She had a great time, we didn’t miss our holiday. Why did you cancel? You just wrap the cast up and if she is a little muted and sad then you do more gentle holiday activities. I usually try and support parenting decisions because you know your kids best but I actually think you made a big mistake on this one and maybe should have asked for some advice before cancelling because we could have given you some.

Thebloodynine · 11/04/2025 10:29

Can you rebook and just fly out today or tomorrow?

Outwiththenorm · 11/04/2025 10:32

People with kids who live in hot countries near the beach deal with fractures all the time. Don’t cancel!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
vandelier · 11/04/2025 10:34

You know best as the mum, it was up to you to cancel since you felt that was best. Just wondered, did you ask at the hospital about travelling post op etc.? Did they advise you not to go?

Either way I hope your travel insurance covers your cancellation in the circumstances anyway.

TimeForTeaAndToast · 11/04/2025 10:36

As someone who did break an elbow badly and had surgery I think a few days post surgery is too soon. It was very painful and the codeine zonked me out. I went on a hiking holiday about six weeks later, but even then I was worried about falling in it and it took months to get full movement back.

PLHJ84 · 11/04/2025 10:37

DakCien · 11/04/2025 09:56

Would people really take their dc on holiday with a fractured elbow which required surgery a few days prior to the holiday? To me that would be cruel. Also, imagine sand blowing into the cast! Not worth the risk. No way!

Yes.

LongDistanceClara44 · 11/04/2025 10:40

I feel a bit bad as it wouldn't have even occurred to me to cancel. At least it seems like others think the same way as I do

Redburnett · 11/04/2025 10:42

We just had a series of days out when similar happened when i was a child. I remember that 'holiday' as fondly as others where we went away.

lovescats3 · 11/04/2025 10:43

When my son broke his arm the staff at the hospital said if we went on a plane his arm could swell in a cast so we cancelled the holiday, I think you did the right thing

Zippityjumpingbean · 11/04/2025 10:54

Assuming the holiday is abroad, then I’d definitely cancel. Flying and risking needing medical treatment in another country would be worrying plus the insurance wouldn’t cover it.
if the holiday is in the U.K. though I’d definitely go, there are solutions to sand blowing into the cast.

anyway, activities you can do with the DC that DD can join in with?

what about a treasure hunt around the local area with some great prizes on offer like a “voucher” for a week with no chores, Easter Eggs, Amazon gift cards…that sort of thing to make it feel really special.

definitely get them involved in looking for and booking your next holiday so they still have something to look forward to.

also, have any theatres near you got a child friendly play, ballet or musical? We love a day at the theatre.

TrickyD · 11/04/2025 11:01

Surely your travel insurance will cover one of your party having to cancel for a medical reason?

MichaelandKirk · 11/04/2025 11:01

Quite honestly I think you should go. Dont be a drama larma. Sorry, but I had something similar many years ago and we went. Clearly its not ideal but its better than the alternative.

Hardlyworking · 11/04/2025 11:05

One of my boys has broken a bone within 2 weeks of the family holiday last 2 years in a row. Wrist and forearm. Both times we bought a waterproof cast cover and cracked on with the holiday.

It all went just fine. Damp casts dry quickly in Mediterranean sun anyway.

ThisCatCanHop · 11/04/2025 11:06

Solidarity here, we have a DC with a broken leg this holiday, which is easier in terms of manual activities and possibly less painful, but harder in terms of mobility as he is very physical.

I also wouldn’t have travelled in your position. One thing we were warned about was both sand and plastic covers in relation to the cast - the plastic covers can get sweaty and degrade the cast if you use them for too long. The last thing you want is to have it redone. Plus I doubt insurance would have covered travel so soon after surgery, if at all.

Things we are trying at the moment which just about work (I have two DCs and the older one has ASD; also a bit of an age gap) include food out - cafe trips, McDonald’s (sorry but they love it), cinema, and in our case we managed the park with accessible swings but appreciate that may not work for your DD.

We are also planning an Easter egg trail at a National Trust place - might be worth looking at something like this as you can take it at any pace you like.

Flossflower · 11/04/2025 11:07

DakCien · 11/04/2025 09:56

Would people really take their dc on holiday with a fractured elbow which required surgery a few days prior to the holiday? To me that would be cruel. Also, imagine sand blowing into the cast! Not worth the risk. No way!

Where were you going on holiday?
I am an oldie and I went to a wedding 200 miles away with my arm in a sling a few days after surgery for a fractured elbow.
Yes it was painful and I had to keep taking painkillers.

Bundleflower · 11/04/2025 11:10

DakCien · 11/04/2025 09:56

Would people really take their dc on holiday with a fractured elbow which required surgery a few days prior to the holiday? To me that would be cruel. Also, imagine sand blowing into the cast! Not worth the risk. No way!

What risk?
I’ve been on holiday at that age with a broken aem after having surgery. I just took it slow in the pool and wore a plastic sleeve thing around water/sand.

Sidebeforeself · 11/04/2025 11:11

She’s already cancelled people.

Baddaybigcloud · 11/04/2025 11:11

You did not need to cancel unless the hospital told you to and then you could claim the money back. She’s 10, not 18 months - she could read on the beach and chill!!

StartAnew · 11/04/2025 11:14

There are lots of nice things you can do even with a child with a fractured elbow. DC will be disappointed about not going away but they will recover. Perhaps if you can be more upbeat about it they will cheer up sooner.

faerietales · 11/04/2025 11:15

I’m with everyone who is surprised you cancelled for this - sorry. If it was a broken leg or something that’s a little different but a 10yo can manage just fine with a broken elbow on most holidays, I would have thought?

Veronay · 11/04/2025 11:18

Why was it cancelled? Is it not possible to rebook? I think it's important to explain to them as best as possible why you're not going and to put something else similar in for them. It doesn't set a good example about being reliable/ fulfilling promises to just cancel something big like this.

KezzaMucklowe · 11/04/2025 11:19

I would have gone too.
If the hospital staff had said it was safe to fly.

I get that your making the best decision you can in a very stressful limited amount of time but is there anyway you can Still go ?
Or re book for another time.

TipsyRubySheep · 11/04/2025 11:23

Why is everyone going on about the holiday? You have literally no idea what kind of holiday it is. If it's abroad her insurance wouldn't cover her and she'd be at risk of having to pay out thousands. If it's an outdoor adventure holiday it will be miserable for dd.

If OP had said she was going abroad uninsured she'd be ripped apart.

She just asked for ideas of what to do.

faerietales · 11/04/2025 11:26

TipsyRubySheep · 11/04/2025 11:23

Why is everyone going on about the holiday? You have literally no idea what kind of holiday it is. If it's abroad her insurance wouldn't cover her and she'd be at risk of having to pay out thousands. If it's an outdoor adventure holiday it will be miserable for dd.

If OP had said she was going abroad uninsured she'd be ripped apart.

She just asked for ideas of what to do.

She talks about sand and a "summer holiday", so it sounds like a beach holiday.

Why wouldn't insurance cover someone with a broken bone? Confused people fly/travel with broken bones and injuries all the time.

TipsyRubySheep · 11/04/2025 11:26

Veronay · 11/04/2025 11:18

Why was it cancelled? Is it not possible to rebook? I think it's important to explain to them as best as possible why you're not going and to put something else similar in for them. It doesn't set a good example about being reliable/ fulfilling promises to just cancel something big like this.

Whaaaat?

She's a parent. She's not teaching her children a valuable lesson by forcing one to be miserable and uninsured and away from her normal hospital.

Swipe left for the next trending thread