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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

117 replies

Driftingthoughlife · 06/04/2019 12:27

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 Grin

OP posts:
Mummadeeze · 06/04/2019 15:58

I took my DD to LA and Hawaii when she was 5 on my own and we had a holiday of a lifetime! Have a lovely holiday and tell anyone criticising to butt out!

needsleepzzz · 06/04/2019 16:05

WTH are they on about?? We've been taking our daughter long haul since she was 10m old and never struggled. Bonkers opinion, ignore and have a great holiday

MrsSB99 · 06/04/2019 16:11

We travel to Spain 2/3 times a year for 11 days at a time with our 2 they are now aged 8 and 11, have done for years. No problems. Went to Hastings when the smallest was 10 months for 3 nights was torture! I’d go abroad any day, so much to do in the hotels, pools, beaches, kids club.

sewingismyhobby · 06/04/2019 16:15

What a strange post? Why won't you cope?
I'm just wondering if the grandparents can't afford a holiday because they spend their all time caring for your children for free and they're annoyed at being left behind?

Daenerys77 · 06/04/2019 16:20

If two adults can't cope with their own child, how did the human race survive?

LizzieMacQueen · 06/04/2019 16:39

4 hours since OP posted, 80 replies, do you think she'll be back?

Longdistance · 06/04/2019 16:46

Well, I travelled back from Oz to the UK and back again on my own with dd2 13mo (not walking) and dd1 not quite 3. A 5yo would be easy.
The grandparents must be annoyed with the non invite.

LuckyLou7 · 06/04/2019 16:48

It's a lovely time of year to be going on holiday, it will be lovely and sunny but not heatstroke-inducingly hot.
Have you and DH expressed concerns to people about coping with your son on your own, without grandparents around to help?
It all seems a bit bizarre, for lots of people to think you won't be able to manage to have a good holiday with two adults looking after one little boy.

Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 06/04/2019 16:56

No there no reason to think this. We are full on parents. DS spends most of his time with us (when not at school). He gets picked up one night a week by grandparents but that is because they have asked to do this.

OP posts:
Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 06/04/2019 17:01

It’s just three sets of people really both sets of grandparents and a couple of friends. One of which does not have kids and one does but hates going on holiday with his kids as it is a drag!!!!
My parents have never liked me going abroad full stop as they have never gone abroad and are always thinking we will be in some kind of disaster.
Other grandparents have been invited but have declined as they are having a 3 week cruise this year just the two of them. Kind of a holiday of a lifetime for them which is totally fair enough

OP posts:
Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 06/04/2019 17:02

Everyone else have said how lovely it will be

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 06/04/2019 17:38

So you have the child free and the child hating brigades, the nervous grandparents and the ones who are upset that they are not going to be invited along for a second holiday.

Big shovel. Salt...

Enjoy your holiday with your little son. Your plans sound wonderful.

Richmond1972 · 06/04/2019 18:05

i would be majorly offended if anyone said this. ESPECIALLY the people that, presumably, see you parent the most and see your child the most. basically theyre saying youre shit parents if you wont manage well. i would do a head tilt and ask "what makes you say that?" next time they bring it up

justjuggling · 06/04/2019 21:22

I’m a single mum and have been taking my 2 DDs on holiday since they were little. We’ve been camping, done city breaks and enjoyed beach/pool type breaks, no holiday club in sight. You will be FINE. No idea why anyone would suggest otherwise! There’s two adults and one 5 year old, relax, enjoy and have a wonderful time! X

imip · 06/04/2019 21:27

I have 4 dc, 2 with ASD now aged 12, 10, 9 and 7. We have travelled with them to Australia and the US a total of 4 times since very small, not to mention a handful of European drives. A holiday with one 5 year old sounds like bliss!

ChicCroissant · 06/04/2019 21:29

Other grandparents have been invited but have declined

Although it seems like not many people at all have actually mentioned this to you, OP, is this the first holiday abroad you have taken without the GP with you? I wonder if that is where it is coming from. I assume you have taken your child away 'on your own' before, just you and your partner?

Amanduh · 06/04/2019 21:30

People are like this with holidays. It’s weird. The things you will hear include : ‘it’s not a holiday when you have kids!’ ‘You won’t be able to relax with a child!’ ‘Holidays aren't the same with kids!’ ‘You can’t enjoy a holiday with kids!’ ‘Good luck being out of routine!’
People are stupid.
On holiday I drink cocktails, swim, stay out late and wander by the sea. Ds enhances it all, naps in his buggy, and errrmm we all have a lovely holiday, funnily enough!

CarolDanvers · 06/04/2019 21:32

I’ve taken my children all over the world by MYSELF since they were 5 and 8 respectively. They both have additional needs too. Do your parents maybe want you not to be able to cope without them?

Mumshappy · 06/04/2019 21:33

I took three dcs away last oct half term on my own and ds was only six months. We had a great time. No cooking or cleaning! Very bizarre comment to make just ignore them and enjoy your holiday.

Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 07/04/2019 00:48

Yep we have taken DS away loads in this country on our own stayed caravans, hotels and camped with him
We have been away twice abroad with DS and the grandparents and one was a family wedding

OP posts:
RSAcre · 07/04/2019 00:57

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

Who are these people, & how is it that they appear unaware that you have practiced having a child for, oh! 5 years now ..?

FFS. Some people just love to doom-monger, & act like they know more than the folk whose ears they are boring off.

Original poster
Driftingthoughlife · 07/04/2019 02:48

My mum is also worried that DS will be kidnapped as he is blonde with blue eyes and warned us not to put him in the kids club

OP posts:
Gobolino80 · 07/04/2019 03:24

Ignore them. My best friend and her husband went abroad with a 6 year old and 4 year old twins and everyone survived and had a wonderful time.

TheGrey1houndSpeaks · 07/04/2019 09:57

They think he’ll be forcibly abducted from a room full of kids and appropriate adults? I hope to God you don’t send him to school, he’s obviously at similar risk there.

SoyDora · 07/04/2019 10:29

You can tell your mum that my blonde haired blue eyed daughters have never been abducted in all the times we’ve taken them abroad on holiday.