Ex taking children abroad

[Wednesdayafternoon]

He sends 2 nights a week with eldest who is 5. Youngest doesn't sleep overnight, he's 1.

Whilst he sends 2 nights a week with them and that sounds a lot, in this time is school and then dropped off at school so the 121 time is not as it seems.

He wants to take them abroad and I don't feel comfortable.

At what age would be reasonable for ex to take children abroad?

It's a sensitive matter so don't come for me in the replies.

Given his lack of input is he really going to sort their passports out? Buy the necessary gear? Manage them alone? How about 'that's nice pet' ?
And leave him to it. Given Covid is it likely anyway?

I don't think you get to decide to be honest, he has to agree. My divorce lawyer essentially said if he keeps her safe he can do what he likes in his time whether I agree to it or not 🥴 do you have an agreement in place that he has the kids for x amount of time in school holidays or such?

Has he connections to another country that makes you worry he won't return them?

Unless you have concerns that he would leave them abroad and not come back, I do not see how you could stop it. He has parental rights and is allowed to take his children on holidays, right? I have been alone with my child abroad many times to visit family and just on holidays. It is hard but if he wants to do it and carry out all the organisation involved, then what can you do? He might pick an all-inclusive in Spain, for example, and make his life a bit easier. No covid tests needed and overall quite safe

It sounds like it would be a nice time to spend with his DC and get some quality time in? Unless there's background reasons you believe they'll be unsafe / not provided for etc?

Has he connections to another country that makes you worry he won't return them?

This! If so, I’d apply for a prohibited steps order.

If it’s a trip over to France or a package holiday in Spain/ Greece etc then maybe when youngest is 2, and they’ve worked up to it by having some staying contact. My exh took my Ds to France on holiday when he was 2 and that was fine (well, he had to take him to a french hospital for reasons that we’re down to any poor parenting etc, but they are excellent)

Sounds like he's better just taking the 5 year old.

Unless you have genuine reason to believe he'd try to take them out of the country permanently, it's not an unreasonable request. But until the youngest is old enough to do overnight stays and is happy staying overnight, I'd say no.

Perhaps a test run with a long weekend somewhere in the UK might be a good idea first. If that goes well then a longer overseas holiday could be feasible.

He should be taking the youngest over night before taking them both out of the country imo

If he wants to take his DC abroad, he needs to build up contact to include overnight stays with the 1 year old.
Or he just takes 5 year old?
Unless you have any serious concerns, YABU to prevent this.

I don't see how he can expect to take a child abroad to stay when they don't even spend a single night with him in his home.

Abroad for a holiday? I think that needs both parents agreement.
You probably need to find out more
Is it for a holiday
Or to visit family

If family will he return

Temperament of your DC and how they will feel being away from you.

Ime df's are full of great ideas. My sick bastard exh made dc repeatedly pack cases and never ever took them for a day out. But blocked me taking them also.