AIBU to end our holiday early and fetch everyone home?

[Fraught1]

I am a lone parent to four DC. We are staying in a caravan miles from anywhere. Yesterday dd1 who is 15 dislocated her knee cap. After a surprisingly quick A&E visit she was discharged with strict advice to rest.
The problem is the caravan is tiny and I'm terrified of her tripping and injuring herself again. She is in lots of pain and I don't feel comfortable leaving her while I entertain the other DC. The holiday has turned into a nightmare tbh and all dd1 wants to do is go home (understandably).

Is it unreasonable to cut short the holiday? The younger two will be so disappointed but I am really struggling to cope.

I don't think there is a right answer. You need to do what you need to do for the best of you you. Perhaps mitigate the younger ones disappointment with promises of a few days out later on? Their choice of activities?

Can you make a cosy bed for DD on the sofa, get her some popcorn/chocolate and let her watch netflix/a film for a few hours why you take the younger 2 out? Did the hospital give you any painkillers?

How early would you be cutting the holiday short by? How long have yu been there?

How long have you been there and how long is there left to go?

I'm sorry to hear that. I think potentially you could still have a nice time but will require lots of planning/organising.

I'd suggest getting DD! a nice care package. Sweets, colour book (you're never too old to colour!), magazines, new book maybe. Also ensure she's set up comfortable on the sofa. Has drinks, snakes, remote, charger close by.

Limit your time away from her to may 1-2 hours. That's enough time to head to the park or a swim perhaps with other DC.

Unless you can afford another holiday later in the year, it would be a shame to cut this one short. How long do you have left?

Does your 15 year old want to go home? It does sound a bit miserable though. Perhaps you'd be better to cut your losses. Besides, depending where you are, the forecast is very bad, so you might end up spending even more time in your caravan.

At 15 my ds broke his toe! Home alone with no siblings would have been his idea of bliss!
In the caravan for a few hours will be fine. Is there a wheelchair hire available?

So we are half way, due to leave on Saturday. There is no WiFi here, so Netflix is impossible. I've bought a few DVDs from the charity shop and some puzzle books.

The hospital didn't prescribe any pain relief, just paracetamol and ibuprofen. No crutches either.
I've took the two younger DC out this morning and left dd2 with dd1.

I’d go home tbh.
Not really fair to leave your poor dd on her own, in pain in a caravan while you entertain the other 2.
At least at home she’ll have more to distract/entertain her.
Can you do fun stuff with the others at home ?

Having a husband with a broken knee, I'd say get her home.

The sheer managing around someone and making sure they're safe and comfortable is hard enough in a big house, I'd be cross-eyed trying to keep him comfortable in a caravan.

The other children can watch videos, have carpet picnics, etc.

I hope she's better soon.

Does she feel comfy being left? How much longer left on trip?

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer really.

How are you going to get her home? Is she Ok to sit in the car?

No you wouldnt be but....

If DD needs to rest you can do it there just as easy as if you were at home. In fact probably easier cos its all one level and compact. Be meticulous about everything being put away and keeping the floor clear. She is old emough to understand that whilst her holiday hasnt gone to plan that doesnt mean the younger two should have to miss out. Do shorter half day outings or stuff where you have a base she can sit and the rest and the rest of you satellite around.

Take a few hours for you, doing not a lot before you make a decision. DVDs books and playing around outside the caravan being the order of the day for the youngsters. Give yourself a chance to process and figure it out.

If you decide going home is best for you go for it. But staying is possible, it just might be a different kind of holiday than you intended.

I would just go home. How will you travel. Did they put her in a knee brace ?

Dd1 is desperate to go home now. Even the thought of 3+ hours in the car is not detering her.

If we pack up and go home this evening we will have lost two days of the holiday although we have already lost a lot due to time spent in hospital and the travelling as the hospital is over an hour away.

I feel so stressed by it. This holiday was a gift as we had a very traumatic experience as a family last year and we've been looking forward to it for months.

Also is it easier for her to get around a caravan than it would be a house due to lack of step and all being close by? How long is the trip home because a few more days may make that much comfier for her

ah shitty situation but I'd probably go home, let your DD get comfy at home and take the others out somewhere

No knee brace or any support. Just told to rest and not move unless necessary.

We drove here in an average size car.

Aww. What a shame. I would go home and order in treats/Netflix/etc.

You can hire a wheelchair from the Red Cross and maybe have a family trip to the cinema.

Having dislocated my kneecap at 15 right before a family holiday to Yorkshire, I'd say you can make it work if she's up for it.
Make sure she's regularly taking the painkillers (alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen), and putting icepacks on her knee at least every couple of hours. Comfort food etc for her (although bear in mind if she can't exercise she'll pile on weight very quickly).
It is important to keep moving though, so light activity like hobbling around a museum, or sitting on the beach is good.

Sorry didn't see your updates... in that case I think I'd abandon!
Worried about no suppor though! When I did mine I had to wear a full leg brace for 3 weeks!

I'm doing the ice pack ( frozen peas ) and alternating the pain relief.

Perhaps we should see how today goes?

Have you got decent 4G signal? Could you buy her some extra data so watching Netflix is an option?

Oh that is so shitty, I'm sorry! I'd take everyone home, get DD1 set up comfortably in her own home with wifi and everything she might need for a day, possibly also with a friend to help her out, and then take your other three out for a really special day trip close by instead.

I'm sorry OP. Hope your DD feels better soon!

I’d stay out. In a small caravan she’s got a short distance on the level from sofa to bed to loo.
Netflix / snacks and she can rest ip

For these two days, take the two painkillers together. They work on two different parts of the pain pathway. I was prescribed two of each together at appropriate intervals. www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-paracetamol-and-ibuprofen-together/