To take only one of my children to Lapland U.K. and not the other?

[christmasthoughts]

Am going to Lapland U.K. with MIL/SIL/nephew.
I have two DS's, aged 4 and 2.
It's a long drive from us and a hotel stay.
I am thinking of just bringing the 4yo (nephew is 5 and they are good friends).
My reasons being, basically it will be easier for me. The idea of bringing them both in the car and then sorting them both through the trip makes me feel a bit stressed out as you never know what the 2 year old will be like (typical 2yo).
DH happy to have two year old for the night.
My problem is crippling mum guilt on youngest missing out, and his brother missing him.
On the other hand I could have some quality one on one with my eldest and we'd both really enjoy the trip.

For reference, I am very likely overthinking this.

Wwyd?

Oh yeah. A two year old wont appreciate it and wont care

Save your money

@eurochick

Wait one more year and then they will both be a good age for it.

I would do this 👆 Gives your husband a year to buck up his ideas too

Thanks for all the replies, I will probably just bring them both and it will be slightly less enjoyable abs definitely not relaxing for me but I suppose I did have two.

Honestly don’t be guilted into it by strangers on the internet. I’ve actually booked a night away at a theme park this month for me and my older 2. Some people are shocked when I tell them I’m leaving 3yr old at home but 1-he hates rides 2-he throws mammoth tantrums 3-he is a runner 4-a lot of the rides sit 2 which means one of my girls will forever be sat on their own. He is going on an amazing day out with my parents instead which is far more suitable.

As a PP said, treating them fairly does not always mean exactly the same.

As a PP said, treating them fairly does not always mean exactly the same.

Exactly. And the converse is true: treating them the exactly the same might be treating them unfairly.

My 2 are that age and I cldnt do that to my 2yr old. She's hard work but she wld love it too.

I thought u were either going to say a baby that wldnt know or get anything out of it or a much older child.

My 2 year olds didnt know what Xmas was. Let alone Lapland (UK).

Just package it as a fun weekend with dad.

Definitely leave the 2 yr old at home. Concentrate on giving the 4 yr old, who will be very excited, a great time!

Its fine op and good for your children to have some one on one time with a parent. Treating your children equally does not mean treating them the same

Don't feel bad, I think most of it would be lost on a 2 year old anyway; they won;t feel left out. There'll be plenty of other occasions that you can involve your youngest x

My mum took me on holiday with her and my aunt several times, and I'm the eldest of five - they didn't mind, there was a big enough age gap that it didn't matter to them that they stayed home x

Sounds sensible. Am sure the 2 year old will have a fab time with Dad.

OP - it is Lapland UK, basically a theme park. You are not excluding your youngest from a trip of a lifetime (which they would not remember anyway). Go with your eldest and enjoy some time together.

For what it is worth- we did real Lapland for a week over Xmas when DD was 8. We did everything indepently and had a great time (Saariselka) however families with very young children really struggled. They obviously spent a fortune but the small kids did not get the memo and rather than being magical it was just cold, dark, loads of layers and hard work.

@Rubyupbeat

You can't leave 2 year out, that's really unfair.

Seriously??

Why?

They won't know or understand, they may well not enjoy it anyway!

Yes of course it's fine.
Youngest gets Dad to themselves for the day. Doesn't matter what they do, one in one time with a parent is good.
Mine are 16 and 20, since number 2 as about 6 months I have often taken one child and not the other. Nobody looks at the photos, no one cares who did what. They never counted up the treats. Over the years it all balances out.

Lapland U.K. is wasted on a 2yo…
It is brilliant though. I would say 5+ best age to go. Went for first time with 5 and 7yo and remember thinking was perfect age. Bumped into friends there whose 2yo just kept saying “I want to go home now!”
In your position I would probably just wait a couple of years and then take them both!!