Christmas day: would you travel in car 1+ hour each way with 2 young dc to family and back?

[zombina]

Trying to keep this neutral to see if I'm BU.
It's been suggested that we go to a family member for Christmas Day (along with other members of the family who would also be there). However it would involve driving at least an hour each way with DDs (4 and crawling weaning baby who wakes up loads in the night). Not able to stay over.
I'm thinking the hassle, trying to get DC plus equipment in the car on Christmas day and trying to work around sleep make this an awful idea but family have expressed surprise.

I generally also don't think it's fair to make people try and work around a baby's (or toddler's) routine and when they don't sleep/eat when they need to it's just a bloody nightmare and no-one can relax. But it's more the travelling I'm a bit at.

If you have multiple young DC would you do this?

NO, no, no ...... did it when mine were small - now 27 & 23 wouldn’t want my eldest with a 2yr old to
do it. It is very stressful.

Well, it's only an hours drive and I would do that many times over the year to visit family.

However, we decided not to on Christmas Day, especially when dd was smaller. We decided Christmas Day was always to be at home, so dd could enjoy her presents and we could enjoy a relaxing family day alone, have a drink and not have the hassles of getting out and about, etc.

So, it depends on what you actually want for your family Christmas.

I don't think you're at all unreasonable to not go, but since you seem to be outraged at the very notion of being invited you do seem to be being a bit unreasonable. I'll be 'schlepping a baby in the freezing rain' (does your car not have a roof?) on Christmas Day for a similar journey and I'm very much looking forward to the day. It's not a mad thing for someone to do.

Yes. Its an hour. Unless theres a back story cant see why you wouldnt. Maybe if new born but your baby is great age to travel as is your older child.

You are being a little bit insulting oP. I ‘clearly understand’ what having a young child and a baby is like as I have them - and I still think YABU! You sound very inflexible to me. But - if you don’t want to go, don’t! I think your mind was made up before you posted this and you expected everyone to agree with you!

Nope not a chance .anyone is welcome to ours ...but we stay home.

Let’s not forget that you will be schlepping a baby in the freezing rain TO ANOTHER COUNTRY 😂
Op you don’t fancy it and you’re not going. Fine. But I don’t think people have forgotten what it’s like to have young kids. It’s just that taking the children to see relatives for a day, whilst having it’s challenges, isn’t quite the Bear Grylls style survival challenge you’re making it out to be.
Your family weren’t weird to invite you or think that you might want to go!

Sounds like a good decision My parents drove us just over an hour every Christmas Day and it wasn't a fun way to spend the day, I mostly remember the rush to get ready, car packed and having to select just a few small present to take. Making the trip on Boxing Day is a good compromise.

Kids want to be at home with their toys. I always say I have an open house Xmas day but I am not travelling with the kids to see others. My children's Christmas is priority !

An hour either way isn’t too awful, does baby nap in the car?
I wouldn’t see this as too much of a problem tbh, but if it doesn’t work for you, don’t go, have a family day at home instead.

Yes of Course and I will be doing just that

We used to drive nine hours to see family. Obviously we stayed five days or so. But an hour is nothing.

Oh definately not with such a going baby. Stay at home have an easy cosy Christmas and maybe go next year instead when kids are older.

young +*

Also when you’re sleep deprived Op the drive wouldn’t be helpful. Do what suits you and your family.

Where we live it's 40 minutes to Sainsbury's , an hour each way's nothing really. Even though we are less than 10 miles apart it's 20-30 minutes to our daughter's house!
There'll come a time when you can't all get together, our table got bigger and bigger, then it declined over the years and now it's going up again!

It's an hour..... okay it's another country but I'm only an hour from Norwich and that's a different world.

Children need exposure, to the world and away from thier norms and routines so they can expect change. We've got severely disabled child and an autistic child too.... Just go with it ....I'm sorry but this us a massive list of "I don't wanna go!!!" Do don't!

Yes I've had a 2.3 year old and 3 month old...that rest 240 miles from home we had to go into hospital ....

A small snack would keep your DD going..even some chocolate. A selection of beer toys would keep her happy! I'm sorry but yes... everyone would expect you to change baby in another room....

Your children rule and demand everything you do...maybe if you'd mixed it up s hit the kids would sleep better anywhere.

Not sleeping at night. Severely disabled child is 9 and usually wakes for the day at 1am...I still need to drive !!!

Just don't go!!!!

If you don't want to go don't go. But I really can't see why travelling an hour each way and packing baby things for a day in a car is such a big deal. So I would add, if you don't want to go, day you have some other plans rather than use these excuses which sound a bit contrived.

How do you know it'll be freezing rain? Just admit you don't want to and move on.

It was sunny and warm here last Xmas and the one before!

Actually I have three kids including a baby and i’d do it so my memory is perfect thank you. You’re just making it hard work 😂
Anyway, enough is enough. You’ve made your decision and if you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters