Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Taking children to potentially unsafe country

99 replies

Pred1cament · 21/07/2023 15:05

My husband and I aren’t in a great place. Together 15 years, married 8, 2 dc 1 and 5. We don’t argue and he has a lot of good qualities, but various issues over the years have sent us both in a bit of a spiral where we don’t feel particularly loved by the other, and it becomes a vicious cycle. We had a big chat last night and both said we want to make it work, but effort needs to be made big time on both of our parts. I’m definitely in the ‘what about the kids’ way in thinking about what if we split up. One issue we’ve always had is he’s African and he doesn’t think I take enough interest in his culture. There are various reasons for this that I could go into but will make this super long. But I do agree to an extent that I could show more interest. He goes home every couple of years. His home country isn’t a war zone or anything but it’s deprived and only a few weeks ago one of his friends and he were talking about if you become ill whilst visiting then there’s a high chance you won’t come out of hospital. My husband has lost 3 brothers who still lived there. His parents have never met our kids. We always said we’d go out there when they are a bit older but now his parents are getting old and his dad in particular is in ill health. He said last night he really wants us to all go out there next year. I expressed my concerns about healthcare which he kid of just dismissed, but I said if it’s important to him that we’ll go. I’m now worrying about it and what if my kids get ill whilst there. AIBU to say I don’t want us to go given I do admit I need to try harder with his family. I know if it was the other way round my parents would be devastated to have never met my kids. I just can’t shake the safety side of things. Please go easy on me, I was a bit shocked by some of what he said last night as although I knew we do t have a lot of time for each other at the moment I didn’t realise we were quite so far into the spiral of potentially not staying together forever. Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 21/07/2023 16:30

However I think that the general lack of interest isn't good. I've been really interested when I've got new friends from different parts. Does he cook? You are missing out if he doesn't.

Pred1cament · 21/07/2023 16:34

Ponoka7 · 21/07/2023 16:28

Posters don't seem to be getting that going to a tourist part of a country in Africa and staying on a decent complex isn't the same as a poverty stricken part, in a private house. I have three friends from Zimbabwe and none of them want to go back to visit. If you are white check how things would be for you. Again it's different than booking excursions with guides. Can you trust him enough that he will take you out and about? How is the attitude towards mixed heritage children and would you be perceived as having wealth, therefore there'd be a risk kidnap? My father was from SA and I've travelled around were people live, so not tourist bits and I've had to delay travelling because of the mood of the place.

Oh blimin heck, something else for me to worry about. I will ask him.

OP posts:
Mumtothreegirlies · 21/07/2023 16:37

Pred1cament · 21/07/2023 16:34

Oh blimin heck, something else for me to worry about. I will ask him.

Can you perhaps all meet in a more tourist location, nice hotel in Harare instead? That way your FIL won’t have to travel out of the country to see and they get a nice break too.

JasperHale · 21/07/2023 16:37

My friend and her husband are from Zimbabwe, they go regularly with their 2 children, stay for a month, never heard of any issues.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/07/2023 16:38

Pred1cament · 21/07/2023 16:18

We are all going together, he’s not taking them on his own.

It'll be fine, then. You have the income to deal with any problems as they arise.

Prescottdanni123 · 21/07/2023 16:40

What kind of illnesses were being referred too. Get all the recommended vaccines, drink bottled water only, be careful with fruit and veg, malaria tablets, mosquito nets etc.

SallyWD · 21/07/2023 16:45

Surely there are some good hospitals in Zimbabwe? I personally think you should go. Your children should meet their grandparents before it's too late. They should also see their father's country which is part of their roots. They are obviously 50% genetically from Africa and they deserve to get to know their father's homeland.
My children are half Indian and we've taken them to India many times. It's important to us that they see their family in India but also develop and understanding and connection to India. Sometimes we're in quite wealthy areas, other times we visit extremely deprived areas. To be honest I've never really worried about them getting ill there. You can book an appointment with the nurse at your GP's surgery and they'll give you lots of travel advice and the relevant vaccinations so you're protected. The one time we did see a doctor in India (my daughter had an allergic reaction to something) we found the healthcare to be very good. It's unlikely that your children would become seriously ill if they have the vaccinations and take any precautions against malaria.

BadGranny · 21/07/2023 16:49

My parents took me and my brother to an ‘unsafe’ country when I was a kid because my Dad got a job there. I remember it as an idyllic childhood, I was fully bilingual within months, though parents never learnt the language, and I was pretty much bi-cultural without questioning either my parents’ rather stuffy ex-pat lifestyle or my friends’/ school’s laid-back way of living. I had one medical emergency that was handled perfectly well by a local mission hospital. I think the OP is getting way too anxious.

Uggster1 · 21/07/2023 16:53

I don't know whether it's because we went to Victoria Falls, but the anti-malarial medication we had to take was pretty nasty (potential side effects). That would be a huge concern for me with young children. As I said, this may only apply in the Vic Falls area.

emsells · 21/07/2023 17:00

OP I have been married to my Zimbabwean husband for nearly 18 years. We have DS10 and DD 6m. I've lived in Zimbabwe, have visited lots and we recently visited in April when DD was only 12w. Happy for you to DM me.

Wenfy · 21/07/2023 17:05

Uggster1 · 21/07/2023 16:53

I don't know whether it's because we went to Victoria Falls, but the anti-malarial medication we had to take was pretty nasty (potential side effects). That would be a huge concern for me with young children. As I said, this may only apply in the Vic Falls area.

I’m allergic to antimalarials. When I go to my husband’s home town in India (it’s high risk for malaria) I take a high strength vitamin B1. It works better almost as seems to put mosquitos off. Recommended by my GP

Pred1cament · 21/07/2023 17:06

emsells · 21/07/2023 17:00

OP I have been married to my Zimbabwean husband for nearly 18 years. We have DS10 and DD 6m. I've lived in Zimbabwe, have visited lots and we recently visited in April when DD was only 12w. Happy for you to DM me.

Thank you so much, I will do xx

OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 21/07/2023 17:10

The FCDO advice makes Zimbabwe sound much safer than South Africa!

I think it will be a fabulous experience for your DC. DH is mixed ethnicity and although he has travelled all over the world he has never been to his Mum's home country (no big reason, just missed out, both his siblings have been and now for us with 3DC it's very expensive and there are very few direct flights from the UK). MIL is now too old to go back and it feels like we've missed the chance to go. Go now while you can.

ThroughGraceAlone · 21/07/2023 17:18

Girl, people travel to Zim often. Make sure you have travel insurance, but absolutely go. Remember that essentially you are taking away the ability for your kids to explore 50% of who they are. It is something they resonate with on a deeper level. One thing you might not have thought about is your kids potentially blaming you for never allowing them to foster a relationship with their grandparents or understanding/getting to know the zimbabwean side of them. Especially once they grow up

goshgollydarnit · 21/07/2023 17:25

Would it be possible to meet somewhere very touristy like Victoria Falls? I would expect that they will likely have access to the best medical care in the country as it's where most of the tourism is concentrated, plus it's very easy access to the airport. Imagine it's also likely to be one of the safest and most policed, I certainly never felt at all unsafe wandering about as a single white female whether in the main tourist parts or through the town. Make sure you have top insurance and double-check all the small print, and obviously take all the vaccinations and anti-malaria tablets etc. There are cheap places to stay so shouldn't necessarily cost too much, certainly less than them flying to Britain.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 21/07/2023 17:28

‘The FCDO advice makes Zimbabwe sound much safer than South Africa!’

That’s not saying much, the South Africa that Mandela led is long gone. Outside the tourist areas it is one of the more dangerous places in the world to be, especially as a woman.

I suspect that MN is not the best place in the world to post this sort of enquiry, OP. Everyone is cheerily telling you that the health care is fab, ignoring the fact that your own husband seems to pretty dubious about it given the unfortunate deaths of his siblings. One of your children is very young, I don’t see that a baby of that age is going to remember much about being exposed to half their heritage. Risk versus reward?

HelpMeUnpickThis · 21/07/2023 17:34

Ponoka7 · 21/07/2023 16:28

Posters don't seem to be getting that going to a tourist part of a country in Africa and staying on a decent complex isn't the same as a poverty stricken part, in a private house. I have three friends from Zimbabwe and none of them want to go back to visit. If you are white check how things would be for you. Again it's different than booking excursions with guides. Can you trust him enough that he will take you out and about? How is the attitude towards mixed heritage children and would you be perceived as having wealth, therefore there'd be a risk kidnap? My father was from SA and I've travelled around were people live, so not tourist bits and I've had to delay travelling because of the mood of the place.

@Ponoka7

Your post is utter nonsense.

OP@Pred1cament I am Zimbabwean - you can PM me.

Replacethelightbulb · 21/07/2023 17:49

I've travelled extensively across different African countries and healthcare won't be great in rural areas but there's a lot of good provision in cities (especially if there's a big ex Pat community). As others have said, load up on the health insurance and then go and have the adventure of a lifetime.

In terms of you learning more about your husband's culture, if you're close to a city you might find there's cultural groups or activities that you and your DC can join. I don't know a lot specifically about Zimbabwe but they say that Africa gets in your blood and from my first ever trip to Uganda and then on to many more trips to Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and beyond, it's definitely in my blood. Obviously every country is unique but it's an incredible way to grow up and I can fully understand why your DH would want your children to know and experience it.

Ponoka7 · 21/07/2023 17:49

HelpMeUnpickThis · 21/07/2023 17:34

@Ponoka7

Your post is utter nonsense.

OP@Pred1cament I am Zimbabwean - you can PM me.

It isn't utter nonsense, the points stand for many African countries. I just asked if because of perceived wealth she'd be at kidnap risk. You would be in many regions. Just bare in mind she has a husband that she is having difficulties with, or are you going to say that she can go wherever she wants, just like being in Spain?

hiding5675687 · 21/07/2023 17:54

Look into the hospitals before you go - there will usually be one with good facilities and some where facilities are limited and treatment based on payment upfront. The Aga Khan hospitals are often used by the wealthy and expats in east Africa, but unfortunately for many locals decent healthcare is lacking.

audweb · 21/07/2023 17:59

Oh I would go to zimbabwe - in fact my kids dad is from there and I’m sad we’ve not made it yet, purely money related. I wouldn’t even be stressed, it would be fantastic. I really want my kid to get there one day, and visit myself.

Chardonnay73 · 21/07/2023 18:02

I would be more concerned that if your marriage isn’t in a good place currently that you all get over there and he decides he’s not leaving and keeps the kids with him…