My mum taking kids to London at Christmas

[Krustyandthekids]

My lovely mum (70-ish) wants to take my DSs (11&6) to London to see the lights one early evening next week.

Although I think it will be really lovely, AIBU to be a bit worried that it will be massively busy and the risk of one of the boys getting separated is quite high (as is pickpocketing etc). The DSs are pretty good though but I worry the sheer volume of people will be a bit too much for them!

While I trust my Mum implicitly I'm worried she's taking a little too much on!

Thoughts and suggestions please.

They’ll be fine and the vast, overwhelming, number of people are decent and would help them find their GM/a bobby on the beat if they got lost.

Give them a piece of paper with contact details on (your mum’s number/your number/home address etc) or make one of those medical style bracelets with it on if you want to be extra safe.

YABU. It will be fine and they’ll have a great time.

The giant Norwegian tree in Trafalgar Square is well worth seeing
and different groups of carol singers come every day and evening to perform. Hope your children and mum have a lovely Christmassy evening.

My dad is nearly 70. He’s still working in central London 4 days a week and he’s up there shopping, theatre, taking the kids out all the time. He would think I had lost the plot if I suggested that it might be too much for him.

Our childminder lost my oldest child on Oxford Street a few years ago at Christmas time. Thankfully he had written his mobile number on the kids' arms.
I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about it!

I presume these children go out with adults at other times when getting lost isn't a panic? At eleven most London based children commute to and from secondary school on their own so I wouldn't be expecting an eleven year old to easily get separated from an adult or need special consideration. Even the six year old is old enough to be told that they stay with the adults at all times but that if they get separated to look for a police officer - there are loads of them on oxford street.

That being said, crowds are hideous at the best of times let alone at this time of year, and if you're travelling around at rush hour commuters can be incredibly intolerant, so if you can take the bus and just look as you drive by rather than walking then I would do that. It's also worth bearing in mind that Oxford street is being pedestrianised next year so bus option won't be an option after this year.

The view I would take as someone who lives in the area is that you couldn't pay me to go and battle heaving crowds of shoppers at this time of year, so if someone else, i.e. Your mum, is happy to do it and the kids are still young enough to love the adventure then I wouldn't worry too much about the kids and let her crack on while I stayed home in the warm. .

I guess if your mum wasn't up to it she wouldn't offer. I'm sure they will be fine, just remind them to stay right with her at all times, hold hands etc (well 11yo may not want to).
The window of John Lewis is good and you can even make the monster laugh. Lights in Regent Street are better than Oxford Street. Carnaby Street and Covent Garden are nice too.

Why not suggest she books them onto the special Christmas Lights sightseeing bus? It runs to/from the Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate all the advice.

Mum is totally capable and loves London and the boys love her enthusiasm so sure they'll have a great time. I've taken some of your tips onboard for all eventualities and hope they have an excellent time - I'm excited for them now!

Love the idea of walking and back routes as well as stopping in a large store for a reviving cuppa and Southbank sounds lovely for the children too - my mind is much more at ease after all your comments, thank you!

Oh come on! Really??

How bloody incapable do people think 70 year old grandmothers are

Based on my Mom, very incapable. That's why I suggested it. I don't know the posters Mom, I don't know how capable she is, I don't know how she copes under pressure so I made a suggestion I might use for my Mom if I was having to trust her to do this.

The bus down Oxford Street is a good idea. It may be the last Christmas that you are able to do this, as there are plans to close it to traffic once the Elizabeth line opens next year.

Foogirl. Come on now. You know that according to many on MN, if we're over 50 we're fucking decrepit and senile.

Come on now. You know that according to many on MN, if we're over 50 we're fucking decrepit and senile

And I explained that I offered that suggestion as it's the sort of thing I would do for my Mom if I could trust her to take her grandchild out on a day trip. She is 75 and would offer but wouldn't be able to cope.

I never said all 70 year olds were like it and we had no clue at the beginning of the post as to whether the Grandma in question was capable.

I'm sorry you are sensitive about it and I offended you.