To think he is our child and we will manage just fine Thankyou and have fun as well

[Driftingthoughlife]

We are going abroad for 2 weeks on Monday me my DH and five year old DS.
The two times we have been before with DS grandparents have come as well. This time it will be just the three of us.
The amount of people saying we won’t manage well without grandparents and we will find it hard work with DS
DS is what I would call a normal (whatever that means) five year old boy.
We are fully prepaired for the four hour flight with loads to do and also brought loads of games for DS to play with in the pool and on the beach. There is also a kids club if DS wants to go
I know he will drive is mad at times as all five year olds do but aibu to think we will be ok. We are after all his parents and quite like him

We took our son on foreign holidays from aged 2 - just the three of us. We not only managed but had a great time. Don’t understand why people today think they can’t manage without lots of help.

You'll have a great time without the GPs or other help.
I've noticed lots of friends including Dsis tends to go on holiday with grandparents and other family members now they have DC, whereas never before DC.
Is prefer to go as you are. Enjoy.

So people other than the GPs who haven't been invited are wondering how you will cope?

I can understand the GPs might be upset not to be included but why would anyone else even think this never mind actually say it to you. There must be more to it, millions of families go on holiday every year, no one wonders how 2 parents will cope with one 5 year old.

Who is saying this? Is it the grandparents who haven't been asked this time?

In your shoes I would be horrified that so many people have been doubting my parenting skills. Do either of you have a disability or a medical condition that means that parenting your child can present with particular challenging? Has there been any safeguarding concerns raised about your care of him?

You are doing what most normal families do. I am a SP and happily take two away (one with significant SN).

What? That’s so weird! I have three kids and I’ve taken them on holiday by myself several times! Admittedly not abroad, but involving 4-5 hours by train!

Utterly bizarre comment.

What a weird thing to say. I've regularly taken two children on holiday solo since they were younger than 5! Yes, there are moments, but that's parenting. There are moments if we stay home too.

What’s the backstory?

I think you must have told people your DS is a nightmare for them to think you won’t cope with him by yourselves on holiday.

I agree with others, if multiple people are saying this to you, I'd wonder why.

Is there a specific reason why people are assuming you won't cope with one child on holiday abroad?
I wonder if it's just the grandparents, who want to be included, and are trying to knock your confidence, so that you'll give in and ask them to come along too.
If you had 5 children under the age of 5, I could understand the concerns, but one 5 year old?

The mind boggles that even one person would think it needs four adults to 'manage' a five year old on a measly 4 hour flight! Why does everyone think you and your DH are so incompetent?

"The amount of people saying we won’t manage well without grandparents and we will find it hard work with DS "
Are these people friends of the grandparents by any chance? Doing their bidding?

Of course you'll manage.

The amount of people saying we won’t manage well without grandparents and we will find it hard work with DS

How many people have said something to you??? I'd be interested to know.

We have never gone away with GPs. Have never used kids clubs either. We managed.

Why on earth wouldn't you be ok? How silly.

Yes it's nice to have a break from being 100% responsible but that is extra icing on the cake.

Is this the first time away without extra hands. Do you get lots of help for other family members with DS.
The only reason, I can think of is their used to seeing you both take extra help with DS, some folk are like that with their DC.
I have to do it all with my DC, my DSIS constantly needs help shopping, on holiday, in restaurants etc with one fairly quiet spoilt little girl.

How peculiar!

I am completely bewildered by people thinking this would be anything other than totally lovely.

Bonkers.

We’ve taken our five year old along with our three year old and our newborn.

We’ve also taken kids of 13, 12, 10, 7 and 1. (We took along DS’s mate in addition to our 4.

And our best ever holiday was six adults and 12 kids (our friends have lots of kids too). I will admit they all basically went feral for 2 weeks and we hardly saw them on that holiday. Probably why we all enjoyed it so much.

Bloody hell one 5 yr old would be blissful! No sodding fighting!!!

This is very odd. We have been on holiday with ours at various ages (they’re currently 5, 3 and 12 weeks, since the first was born we’ve been away with one or both 6 times, and have a holiday booked with all 3 for July when they’ll be 5, 4 and 6 months). No one has ever questioned how we’ll cope, it’s just a normal family holiday! Many many people do it.
Do you usually struggle to cope with him?

Who's saying you won't cope?

We've travelled with a 2, 5 and 6 year old on 3 hr flights and that includes getting them up at 3am!!!
No issues at all.

Actually, a holiday with just me, DH and our 5 year old would be absolute bliss! We’d actually get to relax.

Almost reads like you just wanted to boast...