Don’t want husband to take kids 7 hr drive away

[Purpleplanes]

Would be good to get some general views on this. My husband wants to visit his sister who lives a 7 hour drive up north from us. He has suggested that as he has more leave to take from work he could go and visit and stay with her for a week and take our kids with him who are aged 1 and 3 years old. Unfortunately I don’t have much leave available to take and I could only visit for a weekend instead.

i feel im being unreasonable but I really don’t feel comfortable with my 2 small kids being so far away from me and for so long. I know they are with my husband but still just feels so far away 😢. It is causing me lots of anxiety. My husband and kids could possibly fly up north which would reduce travel time but I feel overwhelmed the thought of him trying to manage our two small kids at an airport on his own and then hiring a car at the other side and then continuing their travels….feels really overwhelming. I’m wondering how others would feel in this situation? I think I’d feel much more comfortable them going alone in a couple of years and when the kids are older and their behaviour is more predictable etc. they just seem so young. Thanks

100% agree with this. Travelling a short distance with toddlers is bad enough.

Thanks everyone! It has been helpful reading replies. I think there is probably a middle ground to be had. I am probably over anxious and need to let go a bit and trust a little more that all 3 will be ok without me. Probs need to practice that a bit more closer to home first before trying to feel more comfy with them being much further away. I am not trying to make things difficult for my DH, I can’t help how I feel. I can imagine being more comfortable in a couple of years time but I’m just not there yet. Will discuss more with DH and hopefully find some kind of compromise

I totally understand! None of my three kids would have wanted to go without me for a week. None of them have ever settled away for a night, nevermind a week at that age.

I also have a husband who although he loves his kids, is very laid back where safety is concerned. For example, I'd want my kids rear facing at that age for that length of journey, OH would just put them in a seat that they fit in with loose straps probably. His answer to everything is "they'll be fine". Sometimes there needs to be one parent who worries more when the other parent is too laid back about everything. Things like chargers plugged into the wall etc, he doesn't seen any danger.

If you can go for the weekend does that mean the kids will only then have around 4 of 5 days without you? Could they possibly settle for that if they've had you there for a couple of days?

Ignore all the nastiness in this thread. We all parent differently but some of us have a much stronger bond with our kids for various reasons.

It's not a you problem, it's a them problem!

I wouldnt be happy my toddlers going for that long and he must be potty doing a 7hr journey with a 1 yr old on his own. Whats he going to do when the child gets hacked off and starts creating in the car? He hasnt thought it through. When my youngest was a small child (hes 17 now) people would tell me to leave him for work, nights out, weekends away. I did the nights out but never over night til he was much older. I didnt want to and thought "who am i trying to please here" if it makes you anxious just say no. Why make yourself miserable and possibly your child/ren. He might be their dad but he isnt thinking it through really is he. Do it another time when you can all go.

You are being unreasonable. They are his kids too and he is their father and he will be fine