To think this is cruel on the children?

[Phillipconnarthy]

I know it's not my business, my children etc. But I'm just sharing an opinion.

A friend has two children, a boy aged 5 and a girl aged 9. Every summer, they're shipped off to their grandparents for the majority of the school holidays.
Their grandparents live 300 miles away. Obviously they get updates, facetimes etc. But I think that's pretty cruel, particularly on the 5 year old.

A week or so I could be totally on board with, but nearly 6 weeks? Anyway it's up to them, just wondered what people thought.

Presumably the alternative is six weeks in holiday club which every child tolerates at best

Not only summer, but other breaks like Easter too.

Many people do this. Eg working parents.
They are grandparents not an orphanage.

True, but even if you did that your parents would presumably be there in the evenings I guess.

Whats cruel about it? They’re their grandparents.

Presumably they are happy and safe with their grandparents. It’s not something I would choose but I can see why it works for others.

It's funny as there's another thread going where apparently it's not necessary for kids to even have a sleepover at grandparents?

Very normal. My Dsis's son did this for years. Coincidentally, they also lived 300 miles away.

Yep I agree. Really mean on the kids. They're going to have a lot of issues. Unless there's some major factor we're overlooking and I can't think what it could be.

Families do what works for them. It’s not for you to judge.

I think it's cruel for young children to not see their parents for 6 weeks?

Perhaps the parents can't afford holiday clubs or have limited annual leave.

Go and ask in that thread then if you just want an echo chamber for your own opinions?

Oh no, kids going and having fun for a few weeks with loving relatives while being in frequent contact with their parents.

Poor little mites 😭

Do the kids like their grandparents?

if both parents work there’s limited annual leave.

it’s probably grandparents or holiday club.

As i said, I'm posting an opinion. I never said you have to agree..

Necessary? No
fun if you have nice grandparents? Yes
i spent the majority of my weekends and holidays with my grandparents and I have nothing but good memories of it.

What about children in boarding school? You don't know about the relationship between the children and grandparents either.

Well no it isn’t necessary but it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun or helpful for parents to have this as an option.

It works for some families. Many grandparents would love it, and many adults look back so fondly on long holidays with grandparents.

I had to do this. Single mum, very little support from their dad ( one week in summer and half a week in February) with normal limits of annual leave. My children now adults have wonderful relationships with both me and their grandparents. Yes I felt guilt, yes I cried driving back down the motorway or looking at their empty rooms but that didn’t pay the bills.
Don’t be so quick to judge

BiL and Sil used to send their DC off to maternal grandparents every school holiday for the whole holiday except for their annual trip to the sun. Sil worked part time.

You know some people send their kids to boarding school and are encouraged in certain circles to do this. By comparison summer with grandparents is nothing

Sounds like someone never read Enid Blyton

I think it’s rather lovely actually. Used to stay with my grandparents every year for 4 weeks during the summer holidays in Devon and I have such happy memories.

My dad would stick me and my brother on the national express from London Victoria to Bideford , with a panda bottle of pop and some pic n mix. My Grandma would meet us the other end. Happy days.