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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to end our holiday early and fetch everyone home?

123 replies

Fraught1 · 07/08/2019 11:55

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.

OP posts:

GlitchStitch · 07/08/2019 12:19

I've dislocated my knee twice and both times I was in a non weight bearing plaster followed by a knee brace, was also prescribed strong painkillers. Never known pain like it! I'd be concerned they haven't provided any kind of knee support tbh.

Mammajay · 07/08/2019 12:21

Compromise perhaps. Explain to everyone that you will have a magical holiday today.. Perhaps give them a ( very each to spend f you can afford it and will drive home in the morning?

GreenishPurple · 07/08/2019 12:26

Oh that's a rubbish situation, maybe some sort of compromise, stay one more night, and if there was anything particular your younger DC's wanted to do, do it today, I do think you may have to go home early, it does suck but it is part of life

Lovemenorca · 07/08/2019 12:26

Lone parent
4 children
Caravan in the middle of no where

Why? Why?!

SeaToSki · 07/08/2019 12:27

Wow, round here a dislocated knee cap is immobilised with a brace and then non weight bearing for at least 2 weeks. For it to dislocate the ligaments and tendons have to be severely damaged and they need protection to start to heal. I would go home to get some better medical advice and keep it straight in the mean time. On the way home, sit her in the back row of the car on the side that she can put her foot on the center console for the front row Put a bag of clothes under her knee/thigh/calf to support it.

bigredship · 07/08/2019 12:28

Poor kid, definitely take her home! Being trapped with no internet sounds hideous. Get her home and then have a staycation with the other two - do fun local activities that you wouldn't normally do.

managedmis · 07/08/2019 12:28

Yeah go home

GiveMeHope103 · 07/08/2019 12:32

Poor dd. Definitely take her home. Once home then you can take the other two on little trips out while dd will be comfortable at home. Can you get some support brace for her for the drive home?

kateandme · 07/08/2019 12:36

its not just about whether she is ok in pain terms either.its trough to hav that happen and then being ill/injured on your own can feel pretty gloomy so i get why you thinking the way you are.
what do the kids want to do.could a family discussion help.obviously the ball is still in your court on the final say as you know best but maybe they could suprise you with what they suggest.
if you go home could you set up a camp style lvingin in the lounge oe one of the younger dc bedrooms.
perhaps if money is ok you could all say lets have a weekedn in a travel lodge somehwhere or small b&b lter in the weeks?
agree to go home get the best takeaway in and crash together.
if you make it so this isnt just going to be going home and forgetting about them needing good times it might help.
only you know.hard decision but dont feel bad or let the fact it was a gift sway you.otherwsie you will go home ruining the gift if you stay hn you shouldnt

CrispbuttyNo1 · 07/08/2019 12:37

If you have Netflix and can get to somewhere with WiFi then you can download films and watch them offline.

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/08/2019 12:41

Lone parent
4 children
Caravan in the middle of no where

Why? Why?!
Er to take her dc on holiday, what an odd thing to post.

Op I would take pp advice and download Netflix to watch offline. Buy her mags ice cream , sweets etc some cards for you all to play.

Lovemenorca · 07/08/2019 12:45

I’m a lone parent

And you know to make your life easier where you can - as there’s no one to support if go pear shaped

So four children, one parent, in a tiny caravan in the middle of no where doesn’t sound like a recipe for success

oakleaffy · 07/08/2019 12:45

Definitely don't cut short the holiday..it is only til Saturday..
I'd have loved to be alone at that age {we used to do caravan holidays}
It is strange that if the injury was that bad that the hospital didn't give elbow crutches and painkillers..
Son had a broken leg, and stomping around with a huge pot while living in a multi storey house was not easy...a caravan is much easier to move about in, as others have said.
If there is no Internet, then books and magazines..or even the radio.
Seems a shame to cut the holiday short for three so the fourth can go home...can you not buy a walking stick from a charity shop to make weight bearing easier?
What exactly did they mean by ''rest''?...complete immobility? or is some careful walking allowed? :)

bluebluezoo · 07/08/2019 12:51

can you hire a wheelchair? at least you may be able to get our a bit with her.

Do you have travel insurance? you may be able to claim if you do leave early...

Butterfly02 · 07/08/2019 12:55

Have the caravan park you're at got a wheelchair you can borrow?

QuestionableMouse · 07/08/2019 12:55

Try some Co codamol. You can get it from the pharmacy. Use it rather than paracetamol and maybe start with a half dose. Getting a knee brace would probably help a lot. Can you go back to A&E? Or does the camp have a doctor?

DontCallMeShitley · 07/08/2019 12:55

I get that she wants to go home where it is familiar, but it is only a few more days and she will have to rest wherever she is. Unfair to spoil it for the others if you can arrange it so that everyone gets to do something they like.

Try to hire a wheelchair or get some crutches for her, and remind her that there will not be another holiday for a year and that she will be home soon enough.

timeforawine · 07/08/2019 12:58

Is there a cafe with wifi anywhere near to some attractions so she could stay there and watch films/have drinks while you took the younger ones for an hour or 2?

opinionatedfreak · 07/08/2019 13:04

Paracetamol every six hours
Ibuprofen every 8 hours.

Teenage care package on the sofa for 1-2hiurs while you go and burn off some of the other kids energy.

I think she will be more comfortable in the car when things have settled down.

Karmin · 07/08/2019 13:04

Go home, get an urgent GP appointment, and take the younger ones out somewhere close by

jennymanara · 07/08/2019 13:06

Although it hurts, a dislocated kneecap by itself is a not a serious injury although it is often immobilised with a splint or brace.
Pain makes you feel miserable, but being in a caravan will be easier than at home where there is further to walk to the toilet, etc.
Personally I would get her lots of comfort food, data so she can go online, and then take the other 2 kids out morning and afternoon coming back for lunch.

jennymanara · 07/08/2019 13:07

I also think a 3 hour car journey will be less painful by Saturday. I would not want to drive her this far so soon after it happened.

Loyaultemelie · 07/08/2019 13:15

As someone who broke their knee in February and is still on 2 crutches I would hold off as long as possible on the 3 hour car journey! Painkillers by the clock and keep it elevated on the sofa with crap tv

PeoniesarePink · 07/08/2019 13:16

She's going to miserable with it for a few days whether she's at home or on holiday.

Go to a pharmacy and get her some co-codamol, and some nice books/magazines. And leave one DC with her so she's not alone.

Not fair on the others to cut a much wanted holiday short.

Bluntness100 · 07/08/2019 13:27

Can she walk at all? The reason I ask is basically how does your house layout work? Is it easy to get to the loo, bed etc or is there lots of stairs? A caravan may actually be easier for her.

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