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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To recreate DDs missed school trip

145 replies

Piratepete1 · 12/05/2016 17:07

DD (5) is due to go on a school trip to London later this month to see a Matisse: drawing with scissors (the cut outs) exhibition. She has really enjoyed the topic and was so excited about going. We are in the Midlands so it was a 2 hour train trip each way. Her much awaited consultants appointment has typically now fallen on the exact date. She can't miss it so will have to miss the trip and is very upset. I am considering a Sunday trip to London to see it with her but DH thinks I'm barmy as it's a costly train trip and a long day. He says to just buy a book of his work but I think it's a completely different experience seeing it at a gallery. I have tried to find if there are any prints of his work displayed in local galleries but it's been fruitless. She particularly likes 'The Snail' but I can't find where it is displayed anywhere.

Do you think it's worth the trip?

OP posts:

mygorgeousmilo · 13/05/2016 14:30

YANBU I would do it! Although I'd gently enquire with the consultant's secretary first, in case they can slot you in shortly after. Just because you waited a long time for the appointment, doesn't necessarily mean you'll wait the same amount of time to have it rearranged. I have a lot of long waits for consultations at various hospitals, with various doctors. If you can't make a particular date you're not then pushed down the list. See what they say first, if they can't change the date then yes, take her to see the exhibition. Any kind of wonder and interest is always worth indulging

CoolCarrie · 15/05/2016 11:55

Do It ! It's a wonderful thing idea! Hope you have a brilliant time.

elh1605 · 15/05/2016 12:12

Do it!! I'm a great believer in if you can, do! Kids get so much out of those kinds of trips especially if it's a 'girly' day out as well. You could always combine it with visiting something else as well.

dragonflygirl1 · 15/05/2016 12:20

As a teacher having taken young children to similar exhibitions, it is awe-inspiring for them (and you) and well worth it. Before you book though, is it worth phoning to see if the appointment can be changed? Here, once you have an appointment you can phone up and reschedule which has been really handy for me in the past. I think I have only been unable to do that once.

Cagliostro · 15/05/2016 12:24

Do it! The Snail is one of my favourites - I have a print of it on my wall :)

reluctantgardener · 15/05/2016 12:28

If you can do it I'm sure your DD would love it. If you don't already have a friends and family railcard it's worth investing in as this can reduced the cost when traveling by train.

MaterEstIratus · 15/05/2016 12:37

It doesn't get advertised online but if you go to a station in Warwickshire and ask for the cheapest ticket for you and a child - it will be £25 on the day (only available if you are travelling with a child). This includes a travel card which will give you access to buses.
The Tate Modern has wonderful children's packs available in hols & at weekends. Get a bus from the train station and pick up a boat to take you across.

Alternatively Birmingham Art Gallery has some wonderful stuff or there's Compton Verney (and I bet if you rang them and explained the situation they'd do something special for you) which has great hands on stuff to do alongside their exhibitions.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 15/05/2016 12:40

I'd do it, yes.
DS1 missed his school visit to the big zoo in Sydney just prior to Easter holidays, because we'd flown back to the UK. So to mitigate this, I said we'd go to a zoo in the UK on the same day, to make up for it. Didn't quite manage it on the same day (circumstances beyond my control) but we did go the same week. He was thrilled (we went to Monkey World) so it made up for missing the school trip.

whojamaflip · 15/05/2016 12:53

Yes absolutely do it!

Dd missed a trip to London with the school last year due to competition commitments as the school trip meant she would be late home and miss training (national level in her sport) 3 days before a regional competition.

She and I took the train down from Birmingham the weekend after comp and did the same itinerary the school had, followed by supper at a restaurant of dds choice, then got a late train home.

We had a great day and it was lovely just having the 2 of us - loads of giggles and I really enjoyed spending time with her - have 3 other DC so exclusive mother daughter time doesn't happen as often as I would like.

Have a lovely day if you decide to go.

Purple52 · 15/05/2016 12:54

I'd do it! We're in the midlands too. A train trip to London is sooooooo much more than just a trip to one art gallery. When in London use the bus and not the tube (especially on a Sunday when you're almost guaranteed a window seat!) and look at all the things you go past!
The whole day is an adventure!!!

Wordsmith · 15/05/2016 12:55

I saw the Matisse cut-outs last year in Amsterdam. It's a great exhibition and I would say very well suited to children. So yes - try and take her to see it! You could take in something else while you're down there to make it cost-effective.

Wordsmith · 15/05/2016 12:58

If you're at the Southbank, just walking down the riverbank to Southwark is brilliant - there are so many sights to see.

CaurnieBred · 15/05/2016 13:03

We are in London and I did a day trip to York with DD when she wasn't much older so she could see the Viking stuff. We had a fab day (explaining the hen parties in their fancy dress was an added challenge I hadn't expected though!).

Okay377 · 15/05/2016 13:12

If the London Print Studios exhibition is the one, it's an easy bus trip/not too far in a taxi from Marylebone which has cheap direct trains from the Midlands. Id say that's much more straightforward than finding a town outside London to stay in and travelling in from there.

Do it!

Liiinooo · 15/05/2016 13:46

Definitely do it! Quite apart from the exhibition I would have thought the thrill of a trip to London, just her and her mum would become a very special memory.

Also if DD can't do tubes don't just take a taxi automatically. They are very expensive considering how slow they are. Plan your day and take buses. They are cheap and are often an adventure in themselves to little ones who aren't used to them. When my younger cousins used to visit from Ireland they often requested a trip on the top deck of a big red bus as their treat, not at all bothered where we went on the bus, just as long as they were on the top. It is still my second favourite way to travel (after trains).

bigglesgoggles · 15/05/2016 14:02

Absolutely do it if you can.
No, she may not remember the exact details of this trip but it will shape the way she feels.
Everything they experience at this age will stay with her in some form...and what a lovely way to spend a day. ......New smells, sounds, sights, people....All in the safety of being with mum.

Kids remember feelings, not the detail of what created that feeling.

Have a fabulous trip!

Jitterybug · 15/05/2016 14:05

Definitely do it, it will create a lovely memory forever, rather than a negative memory of having to miss the trip.

Scrammymummy · 15/05/2016 14:18

I think it's a lovely thing to do. If coming into Euston you could easily get the bus down to the river (think it's 59 or 68, perhaps both). You could then walk from the stop. Bus info/automated announcements will tel you which stop is approaching so you can get ready to get off.

Watford is another alternative to stay overnight & travel in from, it's on both mainline into Euston (20 mins) and metropolitan line (hardly any underground sections up to Baker St).

I hope you manage to go.

divafever99 · 15/05/2016 14:27

I hope you manage to go. Last year I travelled with DD (4) from Manchester to London as she wanted to see the "real T-Rex" in the natural history museum. We had a great time! She talks about it all the time. I took lots of photos and made a special album for her. I know it will be costly for you but I think it's much better to spend money on experiences than more "stuff".

GrumpyOldBag · 15/05/2016 14:31

The snail used to be on permanent display in Tate Britain. When I was about the same age as your dd is, my Mum took me to see it and it sparked a life-long love of art.

Go for it.

TwoLittleBlooms · 15/05/2016 15:02

If you can take her then definitely do! A book (whilst great) is just not the same!

ricketytickety · 15/05/2016 15:03

It's fairly easy to recreate matisse too - get coloured paper and draw on his shapes, cut them out and have fun arranging them

foursillybeans · 15/05/2016 15:34

Absolutely go on the trip. Don't worry about anyone saying she is too young, or it's a long way. It's not about the paintings, it's about the trip and time spent together that will make it really memorable. You'll have a great time. I wouldn't necessarily worry about staying overnight. For a 2 hour trip aim for a 8am train as some museums don't open till 10 anyway then eat dinner somewhere before you leave and let your DD sleep all the way home on a 8pm train. Pick another museum to visit as well as the Matisse exhibition as a 5 yr old won't want to look for a long time at one museum. Or take a trip on the River Boats booking.thamesclippers.com/river-roamer.html
Or do the exhibition in the morning when you arrive then go a West End for the matinee showing of something like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory then tea and train home. It would be tiring but so much fun and worth it.

BikeRunSki · 15/05/2016 15:41

I would!!! I took DS to the Nat his museum at 5 because he loved dinosaurs. It's a 39 min drive then 2 hrs on the train. We had a ball!

loubielou31 · 15/05/2016 16:19

The cut out exhibition is fabulous, my dd loved it, she was 6. You should definitely go. It will be worth it and you will both remember it as something very special.
Unusually for MN there seems to be almost unanimous agreement that you should go.

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