To refuse to let DD go to Chessington with School

[RachelRagged]

DD has a school trip to the above coming up.

Due to Alton Towers I am already nervous. Now there is talk of attacks in the UK and theme parks would be a good place to cause shit load of damage. Am I being overanxious or would you be the same as Me ?

Go got it wolfie

This summer is probably the safes time to visit any theme park in the UK. Although the AT 'accident' should not have happened the company has taken full responsibility and I believe have either already made interim payments or are about to.

As for terrorist attacks. Guns not as easy to come by and much harder to learn how to use in the UK, the ingredients for bombs not so much, so bomb/suicide bomb is the option.

A theme park would just damage a theme park, it would kill some people but not lots, it would not disrupt the lives of anyone outside the park who was not directly affected.

7/7 was designed to cause chaos, to bring the underground to a standstill, to terrify people that they were at risk every moment of their day. To make normal life stop.

And what changed? For a number of people it was the end on the world, for people whose children, siblings, partners, friends had life taken from them in the most devastating way it was the worst day of their lives.

For people injured it was life changing, and the worst day of their lives.

For the emergency services and witnesses, it will never fade from memory, and that is probably true of anyone in this country who saw the news that day.

But did it change anything? Not a thing, ot on a county wide or world scale. Londoners were stuck at work overnight, but were back on the tube and buses the next day.

Life went on, laws were not changed. It was a total failure.

I'm hurtling towards 50. All my life I've known that strange packages mean call someone and to not leave luggage unattended. But that really is all my life has changed.

Yes there could well be another attack, and I'm sure behind the scenes many plans are being thwarted.

Realistically, I'm more likely to die in a car crash than a bomb. Your daughter is more likely to to come to harm walking from school or crossing the road.

If you stop the fun things because there may be an attack then 'they' have won.

Last night I watched a programme about the anniversary of 7/7. At least one of the survivors has set up a charity to break down barriers between 'them' and 'us'. If you live your life wrapping your children in cotton wool and not allowing any fun activities then not only have the terrorists won but you are doing a disservice IMHO to the survivors of that attack and the more recent ones.

You are NOT being crazy.

And you do NOT need to get a grip.

There is a threat, and you are concerned about your child. The way some other mothers respond on this thread is so negative.

You should weigh up the risk. In my opinion, it is very slight. I would certainly let my child go, and I would be more concerned about the coach journey there and back to be perfectly honest, but I would squash my anxiety and get on with my day, and look forward to hearing about it all when my DD return. To do anything else would be just the beginning. Where would you stop?

I sometimes think that mothers think they are a lucky talisman and nothing can happen if you are there.! You are just as likely to have a car plough into you both as you walk to the shops as have an incident at a theme park.

In the UK you are more likely to die after meeting the police than in a terrorist attack.

You are just as likely to have a car plough into you both as you walk to the shops as have an incident at a theme park.

I think you are far more likely to have a car plough into you walking to the shops than have a theme park incident.

7 people a day die in the UK in RTAs. And many more seriously hurt. Hardly anyone is killed or injured in a theme park incident. So much so that when it does happen, it makes the national news. The 7 people killed a day on the roads might make their local news, but that's about it.

I think all of us, to some extent, have problem evaluating and responding to risk. The risk of harm at a theme park (of the type that happenned at Alton Towers) is very likely less than the risk of walking down the stairs (i.e. falling), eating breakfast (i.e. choking), walking to school (i.e. out of control car careering into you), having a shower (slipping).

Of course, we could just stay in bed all day to avoid these risks, but then we'd risk becoming depressed, obese (if we did actually run the 'eating' risk), and ill due to lack of hygene (assuming we didn't have showers), muscle atrophy, and ultimately death.

There is no way of living risk-free lives.... though I think in our western world today, the relative very high-levels safety consciousness that pervade, can make us think that we can and should. I speak from experience of someone who has in my younger years tried to live a risk-free life, and agonised about risks that were actually million-to-one (and I knew it), and only made myself miserable as a result.

Can't believe all the yabu comments you have recieved. Yes you're anxious but at the same time you are a protective mum.
And what's with the age question. Why does that matter.

Can't stand the little kid googles attitude. We still love our kids and want to protect them when they get past 4 you know.

Can you go as a parent helper?

Mine went to Chessington, but he was 11, and in year 6.

That won't actually stop a ride malfunction or a terrorist attack though will it?

Good point ,Barb

Heard something interesting on the radio today.

After 9/11 in America lots of people stopped flying and used cars instead. During this period it was estimated an extra 1,500 people were killed on in RTAs because they were too scared to fly.

I remember when the London bombings were happening in the era of the IRA. There was a school trip to the London science museum and my over anxious mother never let me go. I was the only one in my year who had to sit in the year belows class working out of a book except two girls who had been banned from going due to bad behaviour. Thanks mum.

Prob no coincidence my brother has anxiety issues regarding motorway driving, driving in snow and a whole host or other ridiculous things. It made me the total opposite though and I am a big risk taker

Last year my son went on a week's French exchange trip.

This is remarkable because he probably has Aspergers ( though we've never got it diagnosed ) and he has a terrible time socially with his peers, and is a general oddball for many reasons. He is however very academic, and he desperately wanted to go abroad ( he's never been before) and on an aeroplane! The thought filled me with horror, I could not see how he would cope as he is not streetwise at all. But he insisted, and he is very good at French, and his teacher thought it would be good for him....!

Well he went, and had the time of his life!

He has been so different since he returned. He still finds social situations difficult, but he handles them so much better. What if I had let my anxieties win the day? ...he would not be the person he is now.

Sometimes we just have to let go and let our children find themselves.