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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my children off school and travelling for a year?

155 replies

EliS667788 · 15/11/2019 18:57

Just the title really.

They'd have guaranteed school places for when they return.

Just looking for opinions and pros/cons while my husband and I consider.

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 15/11/2019 20:21

Do it! Do it do it do it!

Realistic me (ex-traveller) says: be prepared for serious challenges, kids getting jaded and grumpy with all the change, real lows when logistics go terribly awry and you're all ill with no back-up.

But if the kids are all up for it, and you're prepared to deal with whatever comes, and you've managed so the kids keep good connections with their mates back home...

Hell yes!

VanyaHargreeves · 15/11/2019 20:21

Channel 4 actually did a series of this idea, maybe around 2004/5

In some cases it worked

But I remember one family particularly were the children were angry, bored and resentful and at one point seriously frightened in a remote area.

One of the Blue Peter presenters did it as well IIRC and everyone had a great time apart from one DC who resented it

GnomeDePlume · 15/11/2019 20:22

EliS667788 dont expect your younger DCs to remember very much about it. We lived abroad for about 5 years. DCs were completely bilingual. Moved back when younger two were similar ages to yours. Their memories of that time are fragmentory at best.

MeTheCoolOne · 15/11/2019 20:22

What do your kids think about it? The 12 year old especially might prefer to be with his friends.

elmosducks · 15/11/2019 20:22

Do it. Just do it... your kids will gain so much

Juliehooligan · 15/11/2019 20:24

Definitely go! Just think of how much they will learn actually being in the big wild world, rather than reading about it in a book!

VanyaHargreeves · 15/11/2019 20:24

It was actually 2010 and called My Family's Crazy Gap Year

Try Youtube

MarshaBradyo · 15/11/2019 20:25

The only thing is my older dc really wants to be around his friends. He’d probably want to do be around them more than travel like this. I haven’t asked him though.

CantstandmLMs · 15/11/2019 20:25

Absolutely do it!

0ut0f0rderAga1n · 15/11/2019 20:26

Curious

Where do you plan to travel to ?

How are you going to fund the year of travel ?

Would the education system break down in the future if more people decided to do this, due to the opportunity of internet learning ?

PerkingFaintly · 15/11/2019 20:26

Realistically it will be very hard work, and there will often be someone REALLY not enjoying any particular bit.

Be prepared to change your plans as things unfold, and accommodate the fact that not everyone will be having a wonderful time just because you are.

joffreyscoffees · 15/11/2019 20:27

I wouldn't think twice about doing it.

Hellofromtheotherside2020 · 15/11/2019 20:31

Yes! Do it!! We did... And ended up staying in Australia forever! My children learned so much and are in no way academicly behind their peers (actually they're all ahead). They too were privately educated and their school was kind enough to allow distance education. You'll never get this time back and you can only regret what you didn't do!

BatEaredFox · 15/11/2019 20:33

Amazing idea, if you have the means and opportunity then just go for it!!

separatebeds · 15/11/2019 20:34

Do it

Drabarni · 15/11/2019 20:36

Definitely, go for it.

Frenchw1fe · 15/11/2019 20:37

Do it.
Children learn in many different ways.

DDiva · 15/11/2019 20:39

It sounds an amazing opportunity for you all and it's nprob now or never really......

I wonder if a year is realistic. If the kids would find that length of time too much and if yourselves would be able to keep up with it. Is there a reason why you want a full year and not a few months ?

SciFiScream · 15/11/2019 20:39

If I could afford it. I'd do it. In a heart beat (but without too much flying - environment is one of my "things")

ShinyGiratina · 15/11/2019 20:46

Do it! It sounds incredible!

Breaking out of your bubble and experiencing other parts of the world is so valuable.

MissMarpletheMurderer · 15/11/2019 20:46

Don't need to rtft. Just do it, you will not regret it.

Gatehouse77 · 15/11/2019 20:50

DH and I seriously considered this but then other life stuff got in the way, kids got older and it became harder. And we'd have had to sell up to do it and not coming back to the security of a home was too much for either of us.

I'd say, absolutely, go fo it.

Fuckenstein · 15/11/2019 20:51

On the surface it seems a fantastic idea but I would be worried about them missing out on friendships, socialising and relationships with wider family. I think 3 months would be better.

Also my son had to choose his exam courses in year 8 to start them in year 9, would your DS still be able to do that?

Honeyroar · 15/11/2019 20:53

Sounds like you've thought it out and the children could keep up with their schoolwork, so go for it. But try and make the trip worth it - try and visit some special places, ie, amazing things like the pyramids, Rome, or the Great Wall, Grand Canyon or somewhere they can practice a language.

Pottedtree · 15/11/2019 20:55

With the school fully onboard I'd do it. Have fun!