To have said no to my mum...?

[headfairy]

She wanted to take ds up to see the pageant on the Thames tomorrow, either I'd go with thm and take dd too or she goes on her own just with ds. I said no. I know it's a once in a life time spectacle but it's going to be horrendously busy and rainy.

Ds is exhausted, for the past week he's been begging to not go to preschool as he's so tired, tonight he desperately wanted to stay up to see his grandfather who he only sees once a year, so I let him stay up til 9 tonight, which means he'll be pretty tired tomorrow.

So was I wrong to say no to my mum? She's going on her own and I feel bad she'll be on her own, but I just think ds will struggle. He's 4 btw.

I'd let him go, either with you or without you. He and your mum will have a lovely time, I'm sure. :)

I live overseas but if I was in the UK, I'd be dragging my kids out in their macs and some disposable cameras and letting them record their own memories.

Must ask my mum if she's still got our Silver Jubilee tee shirts -we wore them with enormous pride into London to catch a glimpse of the Queen's golden carriage. It was scorching hot and the tee shirts were nylon and virtually crackling with static.

Ah, happy days...

PS am in no way a royalist but can't help admiring the queen and thinking 60 years is a fuck of a long time to be on the throne and it's worth marking the occasion.

If you were really "in no way a royalist" 60 years on the throne would be a matter of complete indifference.

It's an unremarkable old woman on a barge.

Once in a lifetime experience? Probably for the best.

:o

But I am very grateful for the day off [hypocrite]

What tedious royal event will we be celebrating next year? I've got used to the extra bank holiday.

Aw! let your mum have him for the day. I am sure they will both have a great day and also create some great memories of the event. Children are more resilient than we think and what about monday and tuesday, he can't just relax then.

I meant he can then relax.

CheeseandPineapple

That is exactly what my mum said about taking DD to see the olympic torch. I wasn't going to, as I wasn't fussed and hate big crowds, but my mum said in years to come DD could either say to her grandchildren
a) I remember being 7 and going to see the torch on the bridge
or
b) I had the chance to go and see the olympic torch, but my mum couldn't be arsed

Needless to say I took DD to see it

I would certainly be letting him go. Just put him in a rain coat and warn your Mum he might be a bit tired.

Are you going OP? I know it's raining but I'd get organised with sandwiches, drinks, sweets healthy snacks and find a good spot.
Wish I were there!

Id send him with a stroller/buggy, a blanket and a raincoat

i'm with zipzap, this sounds like my idea of hell.

good luck with finding a good spot if you do go, it said on the radio just now that people have camped out overnight to get a place by the river.

you would get a better view watching it on the telly, in a dry, warm house with a toilet and a fridge full of food and drink.

I don't know why I bothered asking ds, he's given me two different answers already this morning, firstly that he wanted to go, then that he wanted to stay here and watch on tv while playing with his Lego.

Godslut... If you're going to troll at least do it in such a way that doesn't get you instantly deleted, I have no idea what you said so your posts were a bit pointless really. A bit like you.

you were absolutely right to put your son's needs first.

why is your ds so tired? is there a clear reason? if not, are you going to get it looked at? i'm not comfortable with such exhaustion in someone so young. that's not a criticism, just an outsider's concern.

i'm sorry about your mum but your children are not her accessories.

Jesus, I really hope my children have better things to tell their grandchildren about than standing in a crowd watching old ladies on boats in the pouring rain, or some randomer running past with a bit of fire on a stick.

If it helps, I remember going on a school trip to see princess Di. We stood in the pouring rain for hours (probably not but felt like it) as rainwater pooled in my socks. I sobbed inconsolably for ages and all we saw was a car drive slowly past with a blonde woman turned with her back to us waving at the other side.

I think I told my mum that I met the queen and she said 'how do you do?' so she wouldn't feel as disappointed as I did.

Lethim go- there will be other family days- and its half term. so he can catch up on sleep next week

I thought I'd add an alternative perspective to the once in a lifetime memories...

Do you know, Thing, you've got me thinking. If I had to vote for or against the monarchy, particularly in relation to the Queen, I'd probably come out in favour of maintaing the status quo so I guess that would make me a royalist.

She might be an old biddy on a barge and certainly in the past I've been indifferent to her but over time I've come to respect her. Wouldn't have said that a few years ago.

Chased, you have a royal encounter memory, even if it's not a glorious one, it's actually quite a funny one!

I agree with the OP. I think it'd be a completely crap thing to take a small child to, the weather is rubbish, far too many people and they wouldn't be able to see anything or really appreciate the excitement of it as people have camped out overnight or got there at 6am to be at the front. My idea of a nightmare.

Jesus, I really hope my children have better things to tell their grandchildren about than standing in a crowd watching old ladies on boats in the pouring rain, or some randomer running past with a bit of fire on a stick.

i suspect a lot of kids will have lots of childhood memories of their mothers being continually stuck on the internet rather than talking to them, let alone taking them for nice days out unfortunately :(

@ Athinginyourlife - I must say I find your cynicism highly amusing. I bet spending a day out with you would be an absolute hoot - bit like the trip with Jack Nicholsons character in 'As Good As It Gets' .

He would have been bored, cold and too small to really see anything. You made the right decision.

No need to be sad for my children pasty, me successfully ignoring them to come and post on the internet is just encouraging their skills to play independently.

Well we did it, and I'm very glad we did. It was packed but we found a slightly raised bit and when the boats came along I put ds on my shoulders so he saw loads. He wasn't fussed about the queen, but he loved all the boats, he loved the fire boats and the RNLI launches. he was really caught up in the excitement, waving his flag wildly and cheering really loudly!

It started raining just as the queen went past so we bailed out after the pipers had gone past. Ds splashed in every puddle on the way back to Waterloo station. We'd parked in Clapham junction so only two stops on the way... Ds was pretty tired and cold by the time we got home but he's had some hot food and he's crashed in bed so happy and tired out.

lovebunny he's tired because it's the end of term. He's had a few exciting days out recently which have meant a couple of late nights, and to be honest I think the summer holidays can't come soon enough. He's not malnourished or ill in any way. Aren't most children tired towards the end of term?