To ask if you take your children out alone

[ijustdontcareifhedid]

I don’t mean to the park or soft play, more big days out.

YABU yes

YANBU no

Dont think you have to be that rich to have meaningful days out. Lots of things to do that are free/low cost

Some women may have had an extremely traumatic birth and still be significantly unwell at 2 months. So for some women, it would be incredible to be out the house having lunch.

its great it was easy for you, but recognise the luck and privilege that you had health on your side and not be smug towards those that didn’t.

DH is off then so we all go out together in the holidays and weekends

Drive them over to Ireland every year on my own since they were 1 and 5. Was at London Museum on Monday with them. But they are good travellers. To be honest I find it easier than if my husband comes!

Of course

I have two boys 2 and 7 and take them out by myself as does DH. In the holidays we rarely take annual leave at the same time and alternate weeks off. I took them on holiday in the summer as well and my DH took them for a week to see his parents (he would still be doing all the looking after).

Yes, have been a single parent since DD was 7. Often took her out alone when married but in the last 7 years it's just been us. I've taken her camping, towed her to Scotland with our caravan, done weekend trips to Europe and did a week in Tenerife the year before last. Also done London weekends, museums, etc..

Yes but prefer it when it's with my husband if it's a long drive with both kis. Much more fun nd it means one adult hs hands free to help with the kids if they need anything during the drive (/stop them poking each other and having fights...)
For days out it's so much easier 1 on 1 as they're both little and inevitably one will need to dash to the toilet mid-lunch or when the other is on a ride or up the top of the soft play.
This is one reason we are sticking to two!

Well I've got 3 and I don't drive so we don't go anywhere that exciting if I'm on my own.. but I do take them places I can reach by train. Usually a trip to the city, go for lunch, to the museum.
When I just had one wewent abroad alone.
When I had two we went to France alone.
Now I've got 3 I don't think I'd try going abroad without my DH to help.. but that may be because my youngest is under 1yo. Perhaps I'll feel like I can do that when she's older. But right now that would be too much for me.

Absolutely. I started when DS was a couple of months old and we've never known anything different. Totally happy whether out and about in London/navigating public transport abroad/at the Zoo. He's now 5 and I'll happily take his friends out with us in the holidays - I get very odd looks when I explain I'd rather take 2 boys on the train to the Science Museum than have them ransacking my house for an all day 'playdate' 😂

Yes, of course. When my three were small I often took them out on day trips. Dad worked shifts so if I hadn’t gone solo they would have missed out on some exciting adventures. The only exception was swimming as I have very poor eyesight and it didn’t feel safe but we often went with friends and their children so there was another adult to keep an eye out.

Yes all the time if I’m off and my husband is at work. I’m taking our boys (4 and 2) away for a week on my own in May (I get more annual leave than DH).

Took them on 12 hour flights alone. To visit family. You just get on and do it.

If course why wouldn't you? Children need stimulation not cooping up all the time.

If I can avoid it I will, and I can, so I do.

DH is a teacher and off with the kids in the holidays, I'm in FT education so also off with them. We have three children and the idea of managing an entire day somewhere big and far away isn't my idea of a thrilling time.

If it was the choice between me doing it alone and them not going, I'll obviously do it though.

I wasn't sure if the OP meant "individually" as in one child at a time or "on your own" as in unaccompanied by another adult.

Yes to both but it is nice, when you can, to spend time with them on their own too. I'm finding that now with DD2, when DD1 is away at university. DD1 had me to herself for 3.5 years before DD2 showed up.

@LegoHouse274 your issues is obviously the lack of transport. All of my friends have access to their own car so it's not a consideration for them.

There's two years between my children - I would baby wear the 2 month old in a sling (I even BF in it doing my weekly shop) so I could be hands on with the 3 year old. The 6 year old will be fine.

I often take four kids out by myself (nieces too) so ages are (now) 3-12. As they get older I have found the extra two older children actually make outings easier.

i don’t think this is a weird question, I have a 2 and a 3 year old and it’s my worst nightmare taking them out on their own!

Yes! Every Saturday as DH works, always has. Kids are now 11 and 13. Obviously sometimes we're with family or friends but on the most part it's just me and them...
Days out
Theme parks
Museums and galleries
We go on train/bus/long car trips
Holidays just the three of us

I absolutely love it

Well, obviously, many parents have no choice...as they are single! I was a single mum of three from when my youngest was 6 months (other two were 2 and 4 at the time). I'd have led a pretty dull and insular life if I'd stayed home just because I was on my own! We not only had great days out, we travelled a lot as a little single-parent family of four 😍

My children remember our 'adventures' with great fondness. They are all in their thirties now, so I was doing all of this without the help of satnavs or smart phones...in fact I didn't have my first mobile phone (Nokia Brick 🤣) until my youngest was about 9!

To be honest, it never crossed my mind that I needed another adult...I just got on with parenting my children. My ex had very little contact (his choice) and by two years post divorce had disappeared completely and we've never heard from him since. Our full and exciting family life continued regardless 😆

I wouldn’t take my three out together on a day out on my own if I could help it. Eldest has adhd though so prob makes them more of a handful than average. Divide and conquer or go out as a family with DH as well is generally my preference.

My ex (their Dad) was lazy and disinterested. If I never took the DC out without him, they'd barely have gone anywhere. I've taken them for days out, theatres, museums, country parks, camping trips, and even one week long UK holiday without him before we got divorced. I was quite lucky in that my youngest loved being worn (and I was strong enough to do so), so I could lug her about without the pushchair. If I had had to battle her the whole way, I think trips out would have been far less appealing.

Years later and my DH (their step dad) is very happy to join us, and even organises and books a few bits for us all. But I would still be happy to take them solo if needed.

I also now get to take them for one to one days out occasionally. Usually when one of them needs new clothes, we do a day of shopping and lunch out. It's bloody lovely.

I did it often because DH works very long hours and also travelled a lot. If we'd waited for his availability we'd never have gone anywhere. Theme parks, caravan holidays, package holidays, Disney. I only had two DC though. I can see that a larger family might be harder to wrangle.

I’m a SAHM to a 18 month old and 3 year old and find parenting out of the house much easier! I never use a pushchair as I find them bulky and annoying. 😅 I either have a carrier for the baby if going anywhere far or I just let them both run around, it can be hard work to start with but tends to make them better at listening and walking in the long run imo

This. Ditto with people who are used to having a car and can’t believe you would take two kids around the city without a car. “You got the bus? All the way? How are you getting home??” 🤣