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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Families who manage an early get away when going on holiday: AIBU to ask how you manage it?

104 replies

Nerdybeethoven · 10/08/2018 09:49

2.5 hours this morning despite the fact that 3/4 of the car was packed yesterday and I made the packed lunch last night. Like this every friggin' time we go anywhere. Exhausted already.

OP posts:
Jeanclaudejackety · 10/08/2018 11:03

Also kids 4 and younger I think travelling in pj's is totally acceptable, or a onesie

Butterymuffin · 10/08/2018 11:06

Loving the tips here. It is really useful to look at where the stress points / problems are and eliminate those.

OohOohMrPeevly · 10/08/2018 11:08

When mine were little and we had an early flight they'd go to bed in their outfits for the next day (comfy travelling clothes) and then we'd do everything whilst they were asleep and just bundle them into the car at the last minute and have snacks and drinks for them in the car.

starzig · 10/08/2018 11:08

How young? Could you get ready, lift them out of bed in their jammies and change them at the airport (when all your doing is waiting around anyway)?

Flippetydip · 10/08/2018 11:10

Also kids 4 and younger I think travelling in pj's is totally acceptable, or a onesie

Ours are 9 and 7 and if we need an early off they still travel in PJs/dressing gown and then get dressed in the car when we stop.

I also make them toast to eat on the go so we don't even have to have breakfast.

That said, we now have the dog to prepare as well, I feel my smugness will be bit me on the arse tomorrow morning.

WhyOhWine · 10/08/2018 11:11

I just posted about why some people find packing so stressful without having seen this!
We are super efficient about packing and about getting up and away.I am not sure why because in many other respects we tend to be disorganised and often leave things to the last minute.

We went away in July and had a 9.30 flight, which meant leaving the house at 6.30. We set our alarms for 5.45 and DC set theirs for 6 and we were all ready 10 minutes early!
DH's sister and her family stayed with us recently and they went out on a couple of day trips with DH and DC (I was at work). DH and DC got so frustrated with how long it took them all to get ready to leave the house. My parents are the same.

DrCoconut · 10/08/2018 11:12

We go next week. Uk seaside break so luckily time is not critical, it's my first holiday as a single mum of 3 🙈. I hope the car is like Mary Poppins bag the amount that is going despite planning and not taking unnecessary stuff.

DowntownDallas · 10/08/2018 11:12

leave at 5 am. Stick them in car in pjs to sleep on.

Turquoise123 · 10/08/2018 11:16

Take less. A lot less.

Until my children were teenagers we only travelled with hand luggage.

KindergartenKop · 10/08/2018 11:17

Clothes laid out night before.
New toothbrush for holiday, already packed!
Brief all participants on the getaway plan.
No showers.
Minimal long poos.
No breakfast, except maybe a cereal bar, top up food on journey.
The only things that are packed that morning are ds2's Teddy and mobile phones.

WizardOfToss · 10/08/2018 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Nerdybeethoven · 10/08/2018 11:20

BigSandy: I just snorted out loud in the car and DH wanted to know why.

Bibesia: yes I get that too. Can't see what's in front of their noses.

Starzig: 13 and 11. Sadly too big (and uncooperative) to be carried anywhere.

OP posts:
ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 10/08/2018 11:21

I think as pp has said, having two of stuff helps. So you can completely pack your toiletries the day before, not have to wait around until you've used them that morning etc.

Also totally depends on what sort of holiday. Holiday abroad with just a suitcase - wouldn't even blink an eye. UK self catering hol where you're taking kitchen stuff etc - it will take us ALL FUCKING MORNING

Original poster
Nerdybeethoven · 10/08/2018 11:22

We only have one loo and its in our only bathroom. We often have issues with long, leisurely dumps but luckily were spared that this morning. Or it would have been 3 hours. And DH remarked that he'd forgotten to have a shave. So could have been 3 1/4 hours ...

OP posts:
Topsyshair · 10/08/2018 11:25

I'd love to know the answer to this. We're never on time.

I can manage it if I've got a flight to catch, but otherwise we're always a good 2-3 hours later than we intended.

For us though I know the reasons, we never pack and load the car as intended, we never get up early enough, and I take way too much stuff of which only about 10% ever gets used.

Parker231 · 10/08/2018 11:25

Once they were teenagers they packed for themselves. Agree what time you need to leave and take off half an hour. If they don’t get up in time for showers or breakfast, they go without.

We travel a lot and have the process well rehearsed. Pack the night before, cases by the front door, traveling clothes out ready so only have to get up and go.

Seeline · 10/08/2018 11:25

Pack everything the night before.
Leave the kids in bed as long as possible
Once ready, get kids out of bed straight in to clothes and leave. One day without washing/teeth isn't going to kill them.
Packed breakfast in the car - croissants/cereal bars etc to keep them going until service station fry up.

30 mins max.

EdisonLightBulb · 10/08/2018 11:27

Everything packed the day before and into the car.
Clothes for the morning laid out.
DH and I showered, dressed and coffee before waking anyone else
Passport, tickets, accommodation emails etc. in file next to handbag
Family have to sit in car whilst I do last minute make beds and leave the house backwards picking up bits of fluff off the carpet and putting mugs in the dishwasher as I go.
Breakfast from Maccies on the way

We still do this now and mine are adults, at least now they make their own beds.

angelican · 10/08/2018 11:28

Everything packed the night before, clothes to travel in laid out, quick breakfast and go. We usually have a long drive to the ferry so are often away by 6 or 7am, has been earlier, because we have to be. If we weren't we'd miss our ferry. 😲 not sure how it can take 2.5 hours??!

mumsastudent · 10/08/2018 11:37

we cheated - we used to dress kids in jogging suits night before gave them a box drink for car stop after hour at motorway restaurant wash & clean their teeth than have breakfast! (actually we use to check for supermarket near route which did breakfasts -they were cheaper!)

Original poster
Nerdybeethoven · 10/08/2018 11:39

Some useful tips here - thanks! I'm looking forward to telling them all that from now on no breakfast, no showers and no long leisurely dumps. Grin I think that's where we lose time.

I just remembered that when I was a kid and we had a long journey ahead my parents would put me to sleep in the car the night before - laid out in the back of our estate car in a sleeping bag, then they'd go to bed for a few hours and get up at 3 am and we'd drive off. Maybe I should put the entire family in the car with all their belongings the night before!!!

Can people now share their stories of useless DHs and annoying kids and make me feel less alone?

OP posts:
mumsastudent · 10/08/2018 11:41

Oh & if its dh & he wants to get out of bed last minute give him tea/coffee in bed 2 cups :) at least

beetrootbang · 10/08/2018 11:44

Do as much as you can the night before, and then I write a list of everything we need to do on the morning we leave. Get up early, blitz down the list and leave. It saves thinking time and it saves telling DH time!

anotherangel2 · 10/08/2018 11:46

I made the mistake of putting toddler DD in clothes for bed the night before we travelled. She is normally a naked sleeper so she would not wear PJs. She did not go to sleep until 11 and I had to get her up 3.30!

Having a deadline to leave the house means you have no choice but to be organised. I agree to DH being the faffer. I have made him book the day off before our next holiday for him to sort out his clothes.

Will definitely be putting suitcases in the car the night before as well this time.

Topsyshair · 10/08/2018 11:48

My dh is an actual fucking talking clock.

While we're rushing around getting ready he repeatedly says "it's 8 o'clock, it's quarter past 8, it's quarter to 9".

I feel like throttling him because it makes me even more stressed.