I don’t want to go on this coach trip tomorrow.

[WheresTheSauce]

Oldest DC is going on a school trip to the seaside tomorrow. It’s going to rain.

Children must be accompanied by a parent/carer and siblings are invited as well… most people are bringing younger children.
some are going on the school organised coach, some are driving and meeting there.

originally our plan was to drive and the whole family (DH, myself and two DCs age 4 & 1) meet them there… but last week DH had a change of work plans and now can’t drive us. It’s two hours away and for certain reasons I am not up for driving this far.

so instead I booked the coach but now that means me dragging all the stuff on a coach, two hours each way for about three hours on the beach. I feel horrendous and will probably be ill on the coach, younger DC has a cold. I’ll have to try and keep a 4 yo and feral toddler safe by the sea without another parent to help, and to top it off we will probably be soaked.

ILs would usually help by taking younger DC but they can’t at the moment.

if we hadn’t paid £35 for the coach seats (non-refundable) I would call and say we can’t come now.

what was I thinking!? Someone talk me out of it

The journey sounds long but your child will be with their friends and won't need you to entertain them. Looking after 2 of your own children on a beach for 3 hours seems ok. If you aren't well tomorrow I would give it a miss. If you are sick you are sick.

I know you said that your ILs can't take your younger DC at the moment but would one or both of them fancy taking your older DC on the coach trip?

I’m genuinely a bit surprised at the number of people who are surprised that the pre-school want a ratio of (effectively) 1:1 at the seaside.

I thought it was fairly common for the big end of year trip to include parents (although I would expect staff to cover those children who can’t have an adult come with them). If you want a pre-school level trip to be staffed purely with nursery staff or volunteers, you really limit your options with where you can visit.

I'd definitely drive and throw loads of necessary and unnecessary stuff in the car!

That sounds like a nightmare. Just tell DC that you will be going another day (and wait until a nicer day, when DH can drive you).

So why do you feel horrendous?

I wouldn't have been able to take two young DCs on a coach trip during early pregnancy on my own.

Maybe the in laws might enjoy the seaside coach trip more than looking after a baby at home

I mean it's quite pertinent info 😳

So it’s late but

The bags are packed. Calpol, toys, bin bags, wellies… you name it it’s in there, thanks for your suggestions.

The lunches are made. Crowd pleasers only.

I had a relaxing bath, making the most of any shred of peace before tomorrows chaos.

I feel like a gladiator, poised to enter the arena. Prepared, calm, ready. No bold seagull, no wilful child will distract me from my purpose.

Get ya sick bags out lads, WTS is going to the seaside

Not really. As long as I’m not going to make everyone sick, which I’ve already clarified I’m not… what difference does it make why?

I’m cautious that this thread could be outing if anyone else going on this trip reads this, so I’m keeping it to myself. If someone works out it’s me it’s not something I necessarily want to be questioned about. It’s not a big deal.

This right here! Being properly prepared for all situations rain/hail/shine will help your day go smoothly and right here is a wonderful list to help you do just that!

I do this to myself quite often (self sabotage), talk it up that I'm going to regret going/doing and then the day goes well and I think WOW I'm glad I went.

I hope you've had a great trip 🌸

Have a fantastic day. Tell us about it afterwards.

If it rains and it's a bit crap it could be a great bonding exercise with other parents, nothing like a bit of suffering to bring people closer ! Those parents and their children are going to be in your lives for years of schooling and having them as allies will be an asset ! Hope you have a great day.

Ah, I remember those days well. I hope you have a great time. You may of course have a crap time, or more likely it may be so bad it's brilliant!

Many years ago I took on running our local mum's and toddler's group, and for the 3 years I ran it I organised a trip each summer. One summer it was a trip to the West Midlands Safari Park. I'd booked an 'executive' coach with a toilet as it's an hour's drive to the park and then another hour or so on the coach around the park. On the day it was cold, windy and raining, and the coach was really late. I called the coach company to be told the coach had broken down and they were sending a replacement. When it arrived it was the most clapped out old banger you could imagine. It looked hand painted! The seats were worn and torn, the trim was hanging off and there was no toilet. In the window was a sign saying "Free bus to Brownhills market" (not relevant but it stuck in my mind!).

Got to safari park, everyone needs a loo stop, drove around the enclosures in the lashing rain, endlessly wiping condensation from the windows and peering out hopefully across the savannah, but didn't see a single animal as they were all very sensibly staying in their houses. After that, traipsed around the funfair bit getting soaked and went to the seal show. A friend took a picture of me and DD sat waiting in the rain for the seal show to start - cagoule hoods pulled tight around our faces, glasses steamed up, soggy cheese sandwiches in hand, but we're both laughing and look so happy.

That was 25 years ago and I'm still friends with some of the mums. We still occasionally recall that trip and have a good laugh, so if your trip today can't be good, I hope it's so bad it's brilliant!

We are on the coach. After a bit of faff getting on, younger DC went straight to sleep. Older DC happily chatting to pals and playing I Spy.

All going well until one mum a few seats down gave her kids Tuna 😭🤢🤢

it stinks.

Well done, op! Hope little one stays asleep, your eldest has a great time and it all goes well. And good luck with the tuna😅

Tuna! On a coach? What an arsehole. Do you have any hard boiled eggs you can retaliate with?

No but I have considered that baby Bels would make good projectiles 😂

Because it took you from sounding U to not at all U.

They bounce well.

Despite my earlier comment I'm glad you made it 😊

Tuna indeed 🤢

Ewww no tuna on a coach/plane/train etc is a no no (and i love tuna)
Hope you all have a lovely day op, nice relaxing bath once the kids are in bed.

How did it go OP?

I hope you're now at home relaxing x

Hi all! Thanks so much for the good will, I like this version of MN

The trip in itself was a mixed bag. We had Tuna on the coach mum for a start (who followed on later with smoked salmon fgs) but I managed not to barf so very pleased with that. We had about ten mi it’s on the beach in total because most of the day was torrential… like soaked through, sideways rain torrential. Younger DC also dropped most of packed lunch in the sand as well so most of my lunch was sacrificed to a 1yo. Thanks to your suggestions the rain was ok because we had plenty of bin bags & spare clothes!

we did however, have a lot of fun at mini golf and older DC discovered a love for the arcade. And of course we managed a lovely ice cream. We didn’t think DCs best friend would be there but they drove so we had a nice surprise when we spotted them too and DC was over the moon.

all in all we got through it and I think I’ve got some mummy brownie points, I’ve got a very happy little one 💚

thanks everyone xxx

*ten minutes