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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go on Holiday and leave 1/3 of my DC with a sitter?

33 replies

QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:23

I fear a bit of a flaming.

Our holiday this year is to Camp Bestival. The 3 & 9yo are looking forward to it. We are a litle wary about taking the 1yo though.

He will be 16m during the festival. He is a bad sleeper. He is really hard work tbh, as people so small can be.

The thought of chemical toilets, tents & crowds is making my blood run cold.

Would it be frightfully U to leave the wee man with my MiL, who he loves.

OP posts:
nobetterthanthat · 30/04/2011 18:26

I would leave mine given half the chance. You will all have a nicer time apart than you would together and you can always take him when he is older and will actually remember it.

pranma · 30/04/2011 18:26

It would be very kind to him and to his dgp to leave him.YANBU at all.

Icelollycraving · 30/04/2011 18:28

Yanbu,I thought u were leaving baby with a random sitter which would have been vvu!

Shakirasma · 30/04/2011 18:31

Is this your only holiday or just a trip in addition to a family holiday?

Original poster
QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:31

Thank you for your nice positive replies.

I'm sure someone will come on soon to say I'm a terrible mother and he will describing his abandonment to a prison psychologist in 20 years time.

OP posts:
Groovee · 30/04/2011 18:32

if he's happy with MIL compared to being bored at a festival then I'd leave him

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 30/04/2011 18:33

I thought you were leaving one third of each child behind. That would have been very wrong.

But this sounds fine to me. Especially if he loves MIL.

colditz · 30/04/2011 18:34

Leave him, he'll be fine! And he'll have a much better time being doted on and fed things you'd rather he dind't have.

I'm betting he eats his weight in chocolate whilst you're gone....

Original poster
QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:35

Only "holiday", shak.

We will have a few weeks together at home though, and we all take mini-breaks throughout the year.
We have decided to eschew forrin holidays until he is a bit older. (Plus 2/3 DC need a new passport.)

Pranma, you make a good poiunt actually. He would prefer granny's.

OP posts:
MrsMoppet · 30/04/2011 18:36

I came on here to flame you for leaving a much older child with a random babysitter, so excuse me for making assumptions from the title!

If it's just a couple of nights with a relative who (whom? who???) he loves then I really can't see the problem. I'm sure he'll have more fun with your MIL than he would at Bestival - he'll have one-on-one attention, he'll get to sleep in a proper bed, be spoiled rotten ...

Go for it, and enjoy!

Original poster
QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:37

Colditz, I bet you're right re the chocolate consumption.

[crgin], WFHIT.

OP posts:
Finallyspring · 30/04/2011 18:38

Why did you title your thread ' with sitter ' ? MIL isn't sitter ! Sounds like a very good plan for all.

colditz · 30/04/2011 18:38

Apparentl;y, my mother buggered off to spain for 2 weeks when I was 2, and when she got back I was potty trained - knowing my nanny, she did it with the biscuit tin because I do recall being devastated when she tentatively pronounced "that's enough biscuits now, do you think?" and I dissolved into tears. She did, of course, hand the tin straight back to me and no more silly suggestions ever came from her again Wink

fluffygal · 30/04/2011 18:40

Leave him, hewill have a great time with nanny. We have a holiday booked in August, two SS's staying with nanny, my two going to their nanny's in Spain, and 6 month DD2 coming with us.

Ephiny · 30/04/2011 18:43

YANBU, can't imagine he'd get much enjoyment out of the festival or the camping experience at that age, sounds like he'd be happier with your MIL!

Selks · 30/04/2011 18:45

YANBU at all. He's going to stay with his Granny, who he loves. Can't see the problem with that at all. V sensible if you ask me.

redundanttiara · 30/04/2011 18:46

YANBU, I'd rather be dry and comfortable at home too so think your 1yo would be happy to be spending the time with Grandma.

Tolalola · 30/04/2011 18:46

YANBU he'll probably be much happier with his granny and you will have more fun too. Win all round, I think.

Original poster
QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:47

We/ll, MiL would be babysitting, Finaly.

Plus I thought I'd get more irate traffic.[cwink]

OP posts:
WhiteBumOfTheMountain · 30/04/2011 18:49

I think 16 months is old enough to have a jolly good time at a festval. He won't be "much happier" and although I seem to be a lone voice...why did you plan a holiday which you don't want to take the baby on?

MrsMoppet · 30/04/2011 18:50

I think you've just set the world record for the first ever unanimous YANBU, Queen!

colditz · 30/04/2011 18:53

because she has two other children who are very much looking forward to it, and babies are happy wherever their needs are met.

sparkle12mar08 · 30/04/2011 18:55

I was going to say which third are you leaving, head, torso, legs?! But no, YANBU - he'll love it, you'll love it - win-win!

Original poster
QueenLaQueefer · 30/04/2011 18:56

Spoke to soon, MrsM.

WhiteBum, I booked Bestival on a bit of a whim, planning to take us all. (It has Mr Tumble performing! And Eliza Doolittle for the 9yo.) The more I think about it though, and the more plugs he tries to stick objects in, the more concerned I am that we will spend all w/e with him on reins (he's just learned to run) trying to keep him out of the rain/sunshine.

He is quite a home body. It won't be terrible if he does come. But he will be the focus of our energies, and no-one will be able to relax.

OP posts:
WhiteBumOfTheMountain · 30/04/2011 18:57

Colditz....yes...noboy says the two others can't go...but why can't the 16 month old go too? It's not a newborn..and yes they are harder work...but then why book a holiday which they dont want to take one of the kids on? Seems odd to me is all. Fair enough it there was another holiday planned...I just could not leave one of my children out of the only holiday.