To think I wouldn't send my child away for the summer

[PeachPiePrincess]

The title is not quite nuanced enough. I'm wondering what others' opinions are on this

As a child (in the 80s) my parents sent me off in the summer holidays with my aunts to the seaside town they were all from. My parents stayed in the city to work and visited at weekends. (I had a great time I'm sure.) I was probably around 2½ the first summer and knew my aunts very well. I would have been in Creche all week otherwise and home with my parents in the evening.

As a parent now myself I wouldn't send my children away even though I can see that they might have a better time at the seaside . Would you?

For the voting
YABU - I'd send my children off with family members to the seaside
YANBU - I wouldn't send my children away without me

I didn't choose that phrase consciously. I must have subconsciously felt/feel that that was the case.
The comments here are helping me see the other side of the coin

😂

I’d 100% consider this if I had any decent family! Probably not for extended periods, not more than a week or two max, and I’d join them at weekends if possible, but it sounds like a good option to me.

This sounds fabulous ❤️

It’s common on threads about childcare - children are always ‘dumped/shoved/thrown/chucked’ into nursery, for example. Apparently ‘attend’ and ‘go’ are useless verbs.

Born in the early 70s, my late DM had to work full time to make ends meet. Childcare options weren't so creative, supportive or available then. I went to stay with an aunt & uncle 45 miles away every school holidays, not just the 6 weeks of summer, right up until I was 12 or 13 and was trusted at home alone during the day. Even then, I still went to my aunts for a couple of weeks in the summer.
Times were different, I think but as others have said, as a parent you do what's right for you and your family.

Sorry, realised that doesn't read well to start. I was born in the early 70s

Were you only 2 and a half OP? It's far too young and most toddlers would be upset and wouldn't settle with an aunt.

I used to spend a lot of time at my Nan and Grandad's, they also had a caravan near Tenby that we would go to. Lots of lovely memories, it didn't seem strange to be there for a couple of weeks in the summer. Similarly my other grandparents had a caravan in Cornwall where we used to go, my dad also lived abroad and we'd go there a few times a year too (parents divorced). It gave me lots of experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise.

I wish very much that my own parents and my husbands parents had been able or willing to have our own children like that, they've never had them at all, ever, which is sad.

I send mine away to my parents or the inlaws for as many holidays as I can. Usually not the whole holiday because they wouldn’t have them. But for a week or 2. They come home for weekends.
Holiday club is £70 a day for 2 children. It basically negates me working by the time I’ve paid for it. The kids enjoy spending time with their extended family. Aunts and cousins as well as grandparents and I get childcare

I was born in the late 60's. I used to spend school holidays with relatives, over summer was usually in Wales. As said, childcare wasn't regulated and I was probably better off with family. I missed the cat more than my Mum

I’ve noticed that. It’s very telling.

It would be utterly selfish of me not to let my kids go. They have an amazing time and they’re already talking about the summer.

And DS has asked more than once “if we all have kids you and Dad are having a caravan, right?” 😄

I used to spend weeks of the summer holidays at my grandparents house. Oh those halcyon days!

I used tibget sent ti my grand Fri the summer as my mum was working. I had the best tine ever. I was on holiday please don't judge others. Everyone does what's best for their family at that time

DCs regularly spent a fortnight each summer with GPs who spoiled them rotten and took them swimming to the beach most days (north coast of Scotland - not warm!) They loved it.

DC2 went to Canada on her own and went on a summer camp with her cousins in Northern Ontario. She was 10 and was away for 6 weeks. She loved it.

I was a single parent - I needed as much childcare as I could get.

We were sent from a town/city to our Gparents every summer for about 4 weeks, from the ages of about 6 & 10. Mum & dad were always working/tired - whereas Gparents used to take us out, we had the same local "summer friends" every year & went everywhere on our bikes. It was fab.
Always makes me sad that one trip would be our last & we'd never play out there again (sentimental/daft I know)

Fucking hell, chance'd be a fine thing

My DH often went to stay with family around age 2, he still remembers hoe much he loved it. I think it would depend on the child? I stated with family (grandmother and aunts/ uncles and cousins for summers about age 8 or 9)

I don't know, I think some toddlers would I was in hospital when dd1 was 2 and she stayed with her Aunt and Uncle for a week and she had a great time and I didn't see any I'll effects when she got home.

That's not really the choice though is it OP. More like:
Would I send my child to the seaside with family so that I can work, or
Would I put my child in full time childcare so that I can work

I know which I'd prefer

It's different if it's with family I think. My two wouldn't go for more than a night without me, even now at 15 and 11 so it's never come up. I don't know how some Americans send their kids off for 8 weeks at summer camp though. Not a criticism, each to their own and all that. I just can't imagine waving my young child off for that long.

My son since the age of 4 goes to his nans for at least 2 weeks every summer holiday - she lives 2 minutes walk from the beach in a south west holiday resort.
hes 11 this year and is already excited about going, he would be most upset if I changed his plans.

I’m a single mum with no nearby family. I work full time. DD has two full months off school in the summer (NI). There are no all-day summer schemes. I get statutory holidays. What exactly am I supposed to do with her?! Too right she goes and stays with her auntie for a week, she has an amazing time, loves every second and comes back refreshed.

I used to be very jealous of my school mates who got packed off every summer to go and visits tons of cousins in Ireland. They’d be away for the full six weeks while I sat around at home with my parents at work, watching telly and amusing myself (and getting very bored at times). They’d come back to school in September with many tales to tell - some quite scandalous, or at least to me! I had no grandparents or extended family so have no experience of being ‘released’ into the care of my non-immediate family. I therefore can’t imagine my own kids being disappeared off for weeks on end but I can see the appeal at times 😃

Maybe instead of asking yourself how they do it you should ask why they do it. And what are the alternatives.