Leaving the kids there

[cheeeeselover]

More of a WWYD I suppose. I have a weekend booked at centerparcs for me and the kids it's for a Friday to Monday. Kids are 14,13 and 11.

I have the Friday and Monday booked off work but have been asked to attend a meeting on Sunday evening. I work about 45 minutes from centerparcs so easy to nip back for the meeting.

Would it unreasonable to leave the kids at centerparcs instead of dragging then with me? They are all good swimmers and very responsible and when we are there they always set off swimming earlier than me and I join them later on. I'd be away from about 5pm to 8.30pm . I would leave them the villa key and money to get themselves a pizza and they can leave the pool when they are ready and go back to the villa. I'm sure they would prefer this than being dragged from their holiday to sit outside a meeting.

They have been left at home for this length of time before and no problems. My only concern is that I'll be 45 minutes away and not sure if I'd even be allowed to leave them there if I had left the holiday village.

What would you do?

Even if you're a senior partner you're still on holiday with your family. What if you'd booked to go to Europe for and couldn't get back for the meeting? Surely you could Skype in or something l, so you can be involved without leaving centre parcs l?

No. Show your kids that you can prioritise them for four days FFS.

It's not just about stuff happening to your kids. It's about you getting into a car accident and not coming back.

Chances are things will probably be fine, but even if it is it still doesn't change the fact that you are choosing work over them.

Yes I'd leave them (assuming the meeting is imprortant). But I would not tell everyone I had done so, as Centreparks would probably disapprove.

My kids swim at the local pool up the road from age 9, there are life guards and they loved the freedom.

Phone in or Skype but I wouldn't leave the kids alone certainly not swimming.

My mum once when I was 12 went swimming with us and my brother and a family friend about 13. Mum was doing lengths we were down other end of the pool and family friend was "dropping" us in by shoulders... Yes I know dodgy, brother was 10. Anyway brother's head hit side of pool he went in hit back of his head, became unconscious and almost drowned. My mum I think got out of the pool and dived in and saved him (lifeguards were useless) and he was ok (had stitches) but you don't know what will happen in a pool with water. Sorry to be dramatic. My brother was naturally petrified of swimming for years after.

T&C say everyone under age of 21 shd be supervised!! But is doesn't say what form that supervision shd take. In your situation I'd leave them it's s holiday camp not a prison. When I go on holiday I'd be happy to leave my kids unsupervised in a villa and even go swimming without me. This is no different.

Rainbow not being funny but not all lifeguards (certainly not at the national sports centre where I was) are conscientious or watch out for troubles. Certainly not in our case. This was in early 1980s and my mum complained afterwards.

Wonder if any of the posters actually have jobs/jobs with responsibility. There are some jobs where you sadly cannot just say that you are at centreparcs for 4 days and out of contact. You are governed by what your client wants and that may mean meetings on a Sunday evening. You could say no, but that may not go down well.

I doubt OP would be breathing down the necks of the children in the pool. I imagine at that age they'd want to be experiencing the rapids and fun stuff, while mum possibly relaxes :)

I have a job with lots of responsibility thanks.

I put work first much of the time. So when I'm actually on holiday with my family I do everything I can to switch off and make the most of that precious time together.

I put work first much of the time. So when I'm actually on holiday with my family I do everything I can to switch off and make the most of that precious time together

That's nice that that works for you. For some jobs though, that isn't really possible and you do have to be available even when you are on holiday. The fact that the meeting is scheduled for a Sunday suggests that the OP's industry might not be one that massively cares about precious family time.

If you were leaving them at home I would say it's OK but not at Centre Parks, I doubt they (Centre Parks) would be impressed.

I wouldn't leave them because I think it's an irresponsible thing to do.
You can be at a meeting over skype.
If something went wrong you would never forgive yourself.

" Dont ban them from going out, it's better to have a 'worse scenario plan', than have them lie to you."
That sounds like wise advice in general and something I'm going to try to remember as mine get older.

Presumably if op and family were further away she'd be trying to rearrange the holiday. Do her he courtesy of trusting her judgement as to whether she really needs to be there.

And I love the way the responsibility is always assigned to some highly paid "manager" as that's what they're paid to do. Even when the op is one of them.
The buck has to stop somewhere up the line.

T&Cs say every accommodation unit has to have a responsible person over 21. Also that children must be supervised. Also that in cases where they have concerns about child protection, they reserve the right to involve external agencies.

Reading between the lines, if something bad should happen (which could potentially be something as simple as a fire alarm going off) they will take a dim view of finding three minors whose responsible adult is off site for several hours.

You will be asked to leave as soon as you drive back in without your dc. Most likely banned from ever returning.

That's a good point. I suppose the setting could lull people into a false sense of security so they leave younger dc in bed while they go to dinner.
Yes I am aware of the parallels.

Sorry but I'm away on holiday surely would be an acceptable way to decline a meeting. Youre expected to give up a whole afternoon/evening of your holiday? That doesnt feature on the scale of reasonableness at all

Presumably rhe op is rhe one with expectations. I know it well and suspect I am far junior to her.

OP, *AChicken" has looked at CP's T&C;s, so I wouldn't leave them alone.

You know that the chances are everything will be fine but if an emergency did happen how would you feel?

it's unreasonable for you to be asked to attend a meeting on the SUnday evening if these aren't your usual working hours and you have the Fri & Mon off. And as another poster said, show your kids that they've got your time that weekend, not work. Hope you all have a good time!

CP call social services!! They would be so uninterested - this is a complete non issue. Worst case is one of the dcs has an accident, the others alert CP staff who are mildly pissed off and may throw OP out and / or give her a lifetime ban. Honestly OP- i would do it.

Oh, come off it AndNow No, you would not!

They are teenagers. No offence but the more mum free time tbe better.

This is ridiculous and potentially indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of sex (equality act applies to the self employed such as partners) as I think your firm would find it very difficult to reasonably justify that your presence in person was absolutely necessary.

It is not a reasonable request to require someone to attend a meeting which would require you to leave your DC unattended during pre-booked annual leave. You can easily dial in or Skype. Why exactly must you be there in person? Is this part of some undignified internal rammy with other (mostly male) partners over a new client?