To not let him go?

[Beautyatethebeast]

My sister wanted to take 5 year old ds camping with her husband in in a couple of weeks. She had the idea that as they are going for a week, ds could go with them for the first two nights while dp and I had a mini break somewhere closeby and then picked ds up on the third day.

At first I was a bit unsure as he's so young and hasn't been camping yet, although I'm sure he'd be well looked after. I also wasn't too sure what we actually wanted to do ourselves this month with regard to holidays as we've not long got back from a week away and dp and I have a hotel booked at the end of the month too for my birthday.

I think that my sister has run away with the idea a bit as she'd started telling ds how at camping they'd go to the beach, he could help set up the tent, how many sleeps away it is etc and now ds is all excited, even though I hadn't actually said definitely yes.

I told my sister I'd discuss it with dp as it would depend on him as he'd be doing the drive down there (3 hours) as I won't drive on motorway by myself.

Anyway here's where it gets a bit complicated, I spoke to dp about it last night and basically, he checked his work planner and he's on call the week that they're going camping so won't be available to drive us down there or for us to have a mini break, but he's only on call because his boss asked him to swap the week. He is also going to a beer festival the first night of the camping trip and his boss is letting him have the first night off call for a favour as dp swapped.

Potentially dp could say he can't now swap but, he doesn't want to upset his boss as he could lose favours in the future, he's getting the first night off call to go to beer festival which also then kills two birds with regards to free weekends for us, and, the opportunity has now come up of us getting a free holiday flat for the followng weekend, so if dp swaps his week back, we won't be able to do that.

Hope that all makes sense. So I suppose potentially ds could still go camping but it would mean I'd just be at home on my own all weekend, then we'd have a 3 hour drive just to pick him up and miss the opportunity of a free weekend away as a family the following week.

[OverTheFieldsAndFarAway]

Is this poor woman still getting it in the neck......I wouldn't answer anymore if I were you beautyate, you can't win can you luv.

[Beautyatethebeast]

Neither do I goodtouch but hey ho.

I'm not hard work I was just saying, he's not missing out terribly.

Hands up who'd drive 3 hours each way let alone 10 to pick their kid up from a 2 night camping trip...?

And before anyone starts with why did I start the thread. I've had all day to mull over it

[TheToysAreALIVEITellThee]

I've driven for 4 hours e\w for a day trip before. I didn't get a medal for it or owt though

[GoodTouchBadTouch]

So whats your point Toys?

OPs husband would also have to swap shifts back with his boss, and give up his free weekend.

If she had posted "Is DH being U for not wanting to do this for our son" you and everyone else would've said "stop being so PFB, he is only 5"

[TheToysAreALIVEITellThee]

Erm...no point....just answering the OPs question.

And thanks for telling me what Id have posted, perhaps I could let you know what other threads I'm reading so you can tell me what i think of them?

[GoodTouchBadTouch]

You didn't answer her question though did you?

"who'd drive 3 hours each way let alone 10 to pick their kid up from a 2 night camping trip...?"

You just stated an irrelevant fact of your own.

Still don't know WTF it has to do with the situation.

[ViviPru]

I'm still curious as to what your sister's proposed solution is given all of the facts, OP?

[Betternc4this]

I've lost the plot completely on this thread I must say

Not really sure what I'm supposed to be answering anymore.

Is it too early for wine ? - I feel I've been driven to it {grin}

See what I did there ?

I'll get mi coat.

[PomBearArmy]

OP, You've made your mind up, so I'd abandon the thread if I were you, unless you want to answer the same questions a dozen more times. Let it fizzle out...

[somewhereaclockisticking]

If you're not confident with the driving alone then I'd say sorry but not this time - lovely of yu to offer. It was a nice idea but she's only offering for a couple of nights and that would be a long drive for that length of time - a whole week maybe would be different. She should have waited until you had discussed it with your DP before getting your son excited about it all. Maybe you could suggest that they do something a little nearer to home another time and take your son then but they must check dates with you and DP first before mentioning it to your DS.

[somewhereaclockisticking]

and no way would I drive 3 hours each way just so my child could spend a couple of nights with someone else. Think of the petrol money and the time it would take. I think your Dsis has abit of a nerve if she still expects you to go thorugh with the plans when it's obviousnthat you and your DP can't go along and have a mini break somewhere close by and do the drive back together. I know some people seem to think you are deproving your child of somke kid of incredible experience just because you're being lazy ... it's a couple of nights camping!! And so what if not wanting to drive for 6 hours (or in your case 10) is considered lazy parenting - I think they ABU to expect everyone to live up to their standards.

[Thecurlywurlymum]

Fwiw. Anyone who has a fear of driving, in any situation whether it's motorways, roundabouts? Cities whatever shouldn't be on the roads in the first place.

[Rooners]

Why?

[Thecurlywurlymum]

Because they are not competent drivers. Maybe a compulsory re-test every few years wouldn't be a bad idea. We all see lousy drivers everyday on the roads

[Rooners]

I mean, I disagree and think that's an odd point of view.

I've been driving since 1994 and I'm a good driver, well, I say that but what I mean is I drive nearly every day and have never hit anyone, or any other vehicle, and I am not generally nervous about driving.

However I am afraid of driving on motorways because they are a lot faster and more dangerous. You have to have much quicker reactions, you cannot afford to be distracted even for a split second, and other people often go at well above the speed limit and behave in an aggressive manner.

I don't feel safe on a motorway but it doesn't mean I'm not suitable to drive on normal roads. That doesn't even make sense.

[Rooners]

I am a competent driver. I might not be very confident on a motorway but it doesn't mean I can't do it - I just dislike doing it, because it is more dangerous and challenging.

I am perfectly capable of driving elsewhere though.

That's like saying anyone who would be afraid to drive in a tour de France situation shouldn't be allowed on a bicycle.

[Rooners]

Or anyone who is scared to climb mountains shouldn't be allowed up a hill.

[Thecurlywurlymum]

Neither of the examples you gave are likely to endanger anyone else's life.

[Rooners]

Yes they are. Well, as much as me driving on a motorway is.

[Rooners]

Would you like some more examples though? I can go on, quite a bit, if you like

[Rooners]

Actually that would be, me NOT driving on a motorway. I don't see why I shouldn't drive on other roads just because I hate motorways.

You haven't explained this.

[ChippingInHopHopHop]

& more

Sometimes one has to wonder if they're posting in a foreign language doesn't one

There's no way I'd be driving 3hrs (let alone 5) in each direction to collect my DS from a camping trip he can do anytime. It's not a one off opportunity!

[ChippingInHopHopHop]

I don't really understand why people don't like driving on motorways (except people like TheBody who have had a really bad experience) - to me they are the 'easy' part of driving... but I think it's completely ridiculous that people say if you wont drive on a motorway you shouldn't be driving at all. There is no logic in that at all. Live & let live - and frankly, to that end, if people aren't happy to drive on the motorway they shouldn't be pushed into it, that is dangerous.

[GoodTouchBadTouch]

Bollocks Curlywurly. Im not competent but I am safe. I don't drive anywhere I don't know. Id never just get in the car and make a trip using the satnav or road signs.

Im VERY unlikely to crash because Im the exact opposite of reckless. Im super careful all the time and never take risks because I don't trust myself.

BTW I passed both the theory and practical both times, but after 2 years of having 4 hours of lessons a week.

[dontcallmehon]

I've been driving a year and have grown in confidence, but still sometimes get nervous in unfamiliar situations. I'd better surrender my driving licence and tell the DVLA that they were actually wrong to judge me safe to drive, because sometimes I get a little bit nervous.