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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be dreading this journey tomorrow

178 replies

SamP85 · 31/08/2015 00:12

We (myself dh ds1 and ds2) drove up to Edinburgh on Friday for the bank holiday weekend and are driving back tomorrow. The problem is that ds1 has come down with very bad diarrhoea (it seems to be the start of a tummy bug)! We can't stay another night so have to face this 6+ hour car trip tomorrow. I am really at a loss on what to do to avoid him having an accident?? I will get him some imodium (if I can find it in his age range) in the morning but other than that I don't know.

OP posts:
iwantgin · 31/08/2015 11:13

I would dose him up on Immodium.

It works and will give him the confidence of knowing that an accident will be less likely.

noiwontstoptalking · 31/08/2015 11:14

I don't know why a few posters have been snippy about the nanny.

This isn't some random off the street they're dumping him on. It's his nanny who looks after him all the time. Most long term Nannies are very fond of their charges.

He's 11, not 3 for goodness sake.

Original poster
SamP85 · 31/08/2015 11:15

Thank you to everyone who is helpful and constructive, it really means a lot when someone can understand your situation and offer advice.

OP posts:
LittleRedSparkle · 31/08/2015 11:18

oh for goodness sake - the OP has to get back , they have planned to stop every hour or so - or earlier if needed - its not bloody child abuse

OP, don't panic, it wont scar him for life, just make more stops than he asks for and make sure he doesn't feel embarrassed asking for stops - maybe just stop and then ask if he needs to go - make sure that DS2 has a book or something to do while you are waiting for DS1 to finish

good luck

whattodohatethis · 31/08/2015 11:18

I actually can't believe you are subjecting a child to that and that people are trying to tell you it is OK

mom2twoteens · 31/08/2015 11:22

Sam

Being a parent is never easy, there are always things pulling in different directions.

He may be uncomfortable for a while but he'll get over it. Most of us have got through difficult things and recovered. Once he's home if he's still unwell by then he'll probably be glad to be in his own bed using his own toilet.

Take no notice of the "supermoms".
I hope all goes well for you. Hope DS1s feeling better soon.

M2TT

Shodan · 31/08/2015 11:30

For all those who are slating the OP- what if she and/or her husband get the bug too, if they stay somewhere? Then they're all stuck, away from home and the OP's son has to fend for himself in a hotel in unfamiliar surroundings.

Although it's not an ideal situation, quite apart from the fact that OP and her husband have to get home, it's better to get at home asap, imo.

ReallyConfusedDotCom · 31/08/2015 11:31

Lots of people travel while unwell, if you need too there's not much you can do. I have done three seven hours flights in the past with a puking daughter, the staff didn't bat an eyelid and she certainly is affected by it.

Try not to panic, he may not even have a sudden urge and can wait for the next services. If he does then you can deal with it, just be prepared.

And as I said before I do understand it's hard to take time off work and most other people realise that too. Ignore the horrible comments.

Savagebeauty · 31/08/2015 11:32

,littleredsparkle well said.
I would want to get home as quickly as possible.
Op..good luck today.
You can laugh about it one day Smile

swimmerforlife · 31/08/2015 11:40

OP, why can't you stay behind in Edinburgh if you are only drafting whilst your Dh gets the train back to London? I can't believe you are going to make your own DS sit in his own shit just for the sake of work.

It's going to be humiliating for him to walk into a service station having shit his pants.

And it's going to be longer than 6 hours being a bank holiday. It's going to be a very very long journey.

TheFairyCaravan · 31/08/2015 12:06

If putting your children first, especially when they are ill, makes you "supermoms", then I'll happily take it!

Ifiwasabadger · 31/08/2015 12:06

I don't think you deserve such a flaming OP and I thought the snide comment about the nanny was totally unnecessary. Our nanny has been with us since DD was 5 months. She is part of the family and we are all very close. DD adores her and the feeling is mutual. I'd rather leave my sick daughter with the nanny than a relative, that's how close they are.

Welshmaenad · 31/08/2015 12:07

Hope the journey goes well and he feels better soon OP.

skinoncustard · 31/08/2015 12:08

OP , how is your son today, better, the same or worse??

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 31/08/2015 12:08

Yes, what LittleRedSparkle said. I'm sure everyone on this thread would be most understanding if they were the ones in court, and their barrister called in sick because their 11yr old had diarrhoea.

OP, I'm sure he'll be fine and pleased to get home in the end. I've travelled when ill, and it is horrible, but you get through it. Good luck.

HexBramble · 31/08/2015 12:15

Blimey - wouldn't be surprised if OP hides her own thread. Some unpleasant folk around here this morning.

noiwontstoptalking · 31/08/2015 12:41

Hex I agree.

People are very holier than thou when it's not them who has to face the consequences.

Not everything is so easy to rearrange. It could be closing arguments in a criminal case for example. It's not our business.

The poor woman only asked for a bit of advice on how to make the journey easier. Hopefully she got what she needed and ignored everything else.

ReallyConfusedDotCom · 31/08/2015 13:05

I agree with you two. I hope the 'perfect' parents judgey pants don't hurt them too much.

Wink

As a parent I find the working/childcare issue very difficult especially when they are ill.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 31/08/2015 13:09

I hope it's an uneventful journey OP.

Some of the judging here is appalling, you lot doing the tutting know fuck all about their working circumstances and the effect on the clients they represent.

Mumsnet at its finest Hmm

SoupDragon · 31/08/2015 13:13

This reply has been deleted

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uhtceare · 31/08/2015 13:51

I hate the passive aggressive "welcome to MN". Haven't plenty of people name changed recently? Or perhaps OP changed because it is rather embarrassing for her DS.

Badders123 · 31/08/2015 13:55

I hope he feels better soon op and the journey isn't too stressful.
Glad you didn't give him the Imodium.
I really don't agree with its use for kids...I was told by my sons paed that it can even cause bowel obstruction in young children.

googoodolly · 31/08/2015 13:58

People aren't impressed because they wouldn't sit in a car in their own excrement for hours, so I think they find it pretty disgusting and distasteful that someone would subject their 11 year old to it.

OP has said she is not due in court, her DH is. So surely the logical solution is DH and DS2 go home by car, and OP and DS1 follow on when he's better. I understand being self-employed means you can lose a days pay but I would rather do that than subject my children to that kind of humiliation.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 31/08/2015 14:00

I don't think she's going to let him sit in soiled pants for 6 hours Hmm, she's got spares for him to change into.

googoodolly · 31/08/2015 14:22

Yeah, but if he's covered in poo in the car with no hard shoulder, he might not have a choice - that's the point. I wouldn't fancy cleaning up diarrhoea in a car on the motorway, tbh.

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