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

Single parent, so yes by necessity.

Although travelling to Canada with 2 and 6 year old and driving a huge motor home before satnav was a thing wasn’t a necessity, just a fun trip to spend time with my sister that lives there.

Obviously it depends on the age of the children and the nature of the activity. There were some things I felt confident to do alone sooner than others.

Yep! Single parent so no choice.

We have done Legoland twice with overnight stays
London weekend
Paris for 4 days
2 abroad weeks away
And many many day trips.

Next year we are going to NZ for 2 weeks. He will be 7 by then

I used to. I still do but they are big now, so doesn't count. Another alternative other than being the only adult or going with your partner is going with a friend who has children. We sometimes did it like that because it more fun but actually gives flexibility - I went to the panto with a friend and her kids. When my littlest became scared I had to take him out to the corridor but my big one was happy sitting with my friend and her kids and didn't miss out. Similarly sometimes my brother in law and I did trips with our similar aged kids and I felt comfortable sending my son to the toilet when there was a man to send in after him, likewise I took my nieces to the loo. It makes it more fun and less stressful especially if you have similar outlook on life (we had similar gift shop policies, liased about bikes and scooters, would take it in turns to take snacks for everyone, so they were a group for the day).

No, but only because big days out are infrequent and tend to be family events.
Do plenty of smaller or less exciting days alone with one or all of them though.
I can see it happening more as DC get older and they develop more of their own interests.

I don’t tbh. We either go as a family with DH at the weekend or I’ll go with friends and their kids. mines are just turned 4 and 20 months. The toddler hates the pram and the reins so I don’t feel able to safely manage him on my own in a busy crowded place. As they get older and he’s less likely to bolt yeah I would go on big days out myself. At this stage I prefer smaller enclosed places.

Yes, of course. Our preference is to go as a family, but our leave doesn't always match up so both of us have organised solo days out.

Well yes, I am a lone parent!

In the Christmas holidays we went to a theme park that was 1hr15 motorway drive away. Last time we went DH grumbled so I preferred to take the children alone. For me it is easier now that they can mostly go on the same rides. A few times I let DD queue for a different ride and came back to meet her, which I was a bit worried about. They don't always agree e.g. where we have lunch but that would be the same anyway with DH there.

Yes I do/have. I find it easier entertaining them out of the house, especially when they were younger I constantly went to soft play, farms and parks, museums on my days off with them. I am lucky I can drive and we usually take a picnic which keeps it simple, I would find it more hassle if I had to take a bus everywhere.

We split school holidays between me and DH to minimise holiday clubs so are out and about on our own with them most days.

Now they are primary age we actually do more 121 time because they have different interests and abilities and enjoy time with one parent.

One place I would never take both of them alone is the beach as I find all the equipment carrying and sand a massive hassle!!

Yep all the time, single parent. I really enjoy big days out so we go quite often and for overnight stays as well.

No.

2 adults are required for any sorts of days out really. My middle child is Autistic and requires constant supervision so 1 adult for her, 1 for my eldest and youngest.

When we only had our eldest, the answer would be Yes. Often went on days out with just 1 of us because of conflicting work schedules.

Yes but I only have 1 and share 5050 with her dad, we go on weekends away, day trips, fun activities - we do all sorts. I dont drive either but she loves an adventure. My friend is a single parent to 4 between 2-10 and she does all sorts with them alone, I have no idea how she manages it.

Yes.

I've taken all 3 away for a week on my own and Daddy has taken them to a destination wedding on his own (granted we did only have 2 dc then and his family were on hand to help)

DP has taken them on big days out alone, as have I.

Depends what you mean by big day out - somewhere like a full day out to a country park or something, yes absolutely. Somewhere where it is very busy like a theme park or Zoo at peak times etc I would need to think about 1) how easy/safe it would be with only one adult, 2) how much fun/stressful it would be and would it be worth it.

A lot of big days out we did to busy places I went with SIL and niece rather than dh as it was more relaxed/fun. dh has a tendency to get stressed out in busy places after a couple of hours - they are just not his thing.

I was about to jump on and say "yes of course" but thinking back I'm not sure I really did. If DH wasn't coming then I'd tend to go with friends and their DC- that's more from a personal enjoyment perspective than a "coping" perspective though.

Always. To everywhere. All the time.

I’m not a single parent but my husband is very moody so I just bring them out myself.

I haven’t brought them on holidays abroad, that’s the only one I haven’t done.

I've been a single parent since my daughter was 2, so yes I've took her to a variety of continents alone

I do. I have 3 DC
(4, 2 and 7 months).
I'm a SAHM and DH works long hours so I do most days on my own. I prefer to go to the beach/theme parks/zoo/whatever during the week because then it is less busy so all of that is on my own with all 3.
During the holidays we will go camping/hiking or so together with DH. We haven't done big holidays alone, but most definitely days out weekly and big days at least monthly if not bi-weekly. If we had to wait for DH we'd only go over the summer hols and Christmas

I find this bizarre, Im a single parent... we do go places

Not usually for big days out because we plan them for the whole family specifically. If I were a single parent then yes I would.

Yep. I have always taken my children out alone, even when I was married. Ive taken them on holidays too by myself. 3 DC's, one with severe SN.

Yes, I've taken him abroad alone a few times too.

Yes i was a single mum all his life hes a grown man now.
But unlike some i just got on with it and did it myself i didn't need a village to help me raise him.
And i didn't have any child maintenance either what my son had got and where he went i paid.
And many many mothers and father's have done the same.

Yes, definitely - when they were younger and now they're older. I like taking them into London to the theatre, or to various exhibitions, we've been on weekends away without their dad, all sorts. He does the same too, I went away for a week in November and it looked like they had an excellent time.