To be sitting at my desk feeling terrible about leaving DS at a holiday club. Someone come talk me down!

[BeamMeUpSooty]

Our local village holiday club was full on five of the days I needed them, so in desperation I had to book DS (aged 6) into an unfamiliar club near where I work instead. It's a club attached to a school he doesn't attend, so he knows no one there.

Today was his first day. We got there and it was like walking into a youth club for the first time.

There was no one his age, no one looked up to greet us, and it was full of older boys standing around playing pool.

Now I've looked on the website and it says "this club is perfect for all ages, but is especially suited to older children". Argh! What have I done?

It broke my heart to leave him there, and left strict instructions they were to phone me if he looked like he wasn't enjoying it. The staff looked at me like I was mental. Going to phone to see if he's OK soon.

Would I be unreasonable to follow my instincts and to leave work and break him out of there?

Would someone come and tell me I'm just being silly? He's probably having a great time right now. It could be character building!

[Mrsjayy]

Older kids love younger ones the boys will be ruffling his hair and calling him little dude your son will lap it up you are just used to him being in a younger settings thats all no need to go to him and clutch him to your busom

[ikeaismylocal]

I think he will probablly have a ball! The only problem is he might have a new found love of pool ;)

Wait and see what he says when you pick him up.

[BeamMeUpSooty]

Laughed at being able to pick a lock! He'll probably be smoking too.

Will post again once I've picked him up at 3.30 to let you know!

[FatalCabbage]

HOW

[FatalCabbage]

Ahem.

How did he get on? What does he think about going back on Monday?

[londonrach]

How it go op

[JeggingsHateMe]

Hope he enjoyed his day.

[tiggerkid]

Understand how you feel but we all have challenges that force us to work around our work schedule and other commitments. It doesn't sound like you had a choice there, so I wouldn't worry TBH. Kids at this age make friends quite quickly, so however unfriendly it looked in the morning, I am sure he's forgotten all about it already. It's great to meet new people and, in any case, it won't last forever.

Don't beat yourself up. We all want to do what's best but sometimes we have to just make do with what we can do. And I am sure he'll be fine :)

[BeamMeUpSooty]

Thanks so much for your words of wisdom, everyone who posted. It really helped me stop rushing over there. It would have done loads more harm than good because he really enjoyed it.

He had a fantastic day - they did water balloons, and pool and games and although he says he doesn't like it as much as his usual one, he did still have a jolly good time afnd think everyone was right, the older ones did make a fuss of him. He made two friends

Also, when I went to pick him up more young ones were there, and there were more staff visible.

Anyway, it's made me feel loads better and think it's really boosted his confidence.

[Pyjamaramadrama]

Glad he enjoyed it, I imagine he'll have got a lot out of it

[PrimalLass]

Oh that's brilliant. I did the same this week with a tennis camp for DS (9). He loved it.

[Mrsjayy]

Thats great he had a good time he will look forward to Monday

[scarletforya]

Perfect day for water balloons! Glad he was ok!

[FatalCabbage]

Hurray!

[campingfilth]

My 4 year old is moaning that he isn't in holiday club this year and is not happy with me about it! I wouldn't worry.

[Ragwort]

My DS loved going to holiday clubs (even though as a SAMH I didn't really 'need' him to go ). One of the best times was when he was the only child at a club - with three young staff members to look after him - he had a great time .

[Leeds2]

Glad he had a good day!