To not sit in the back so kids can sit in the front?

[Threedoa]

Disagreement with DH tonight. So would you sit in the back so your kids (say under 18, as I can maybe see the argument for over 18) can sit in the front of the car?

YABU - Yes, it’s normal to take turns for who sits in the front passenger seat
YANBU - No, adults in the front, children in the back.

You're not being unreasonable if you don't want to sit in the back. Both my sons are a lot taller than me and I would always offer for them to sit in the front (they're both adults) for the legroom. They are happy to sit in the back though and it's my choice. If I wanted to sit in the front I would.

Children are in the front more due to DH's decision but usually it's children in the back, adults in the front. On some long journeys, by agreement, I will sit in the back and one child in the front. I will then sleep to cope with travelling.......... also stops children spatting!!

Only if the kids get travel sick

This is absolutely not something I could get aerated about!

I sometimes let them have a turn in the front yes.

I was the child with parents that never let me sit up front. I was horrendously car sick, would vomit almost every journey then get told off for being sick 🙄 Even now, sitting on the back makes my stomach flop, so if this is the reason a child wants to sit in front you are being deeply unreasonable.
I let DS2 sit in the front for part of long journeys, because he’s autistic and can struggle in the back for too long.

Children in the back here, including young adult children. I own / pay towards the car and they can have their turn when they have their own car. I’d go in the back if they were picking me up after a short journey.

Adult DC (very tall) always sit in the back. Without question. I do most of the driving. Every family I know does this. Why is he changing it op? Feels like power play dynamic to me.

I sit in the back with my dd 6 and my ds 13 sits in the front, otherwise there's chaos. They just constantly bicker and wind each other up.

You seemed to have missed the deeper meaning. It’s not just a seat in the car is it. So I would say op is right to raise it.

YANBU. Is he trying to make you sit in the back? Tell him to fuck off.

If you drive, tell HIM to sit in the back.

Only reason I did it as an older teen was on long journeys, as I can't sleep in cars and my mum goes out like a light within seconds. So I went in the front to keep Dad company/navigate (this was pre-sat navs) and Mum and sister would sleep soundly in the back.

DS2 was 6'2" at 17. I let him sit in the front.

You should let your dd in the front too. Otherwise your DS will take it as his due.

OP has said nothing about the DC getting car sick.

Tell him you’ll drive and he can sit in the back. Problem solved..

This.

Also tell him if he wants to take turns then you ‘ll drive and he can sit in the back

Our nine year old is a better navigator than my husband, so he regularly sits in the front for longer trips.

I’m the size of a 12 year old girl so I don’t mind at all sitting in the back. I wish I had problems like this!

No I would not. If I’m in the car I’m in the front. My husband wouldn’t sit in the back either.

DS sits upfront due to travel sickness.

I bet your husband has all sorts of reasons why he shouldn't sit in the back.

My DD talks for England and my DH is nearly as bad so I love to put them both in the front and tune out in the back seat. We all love music though so there’s usually some bickering over control of that!

My kids used to fight to sit in the front once tall enough, until they became teens and got their phones and realised they could be playing on those in the back seat.

My kids are taller than me, so sit in the front, usually DS if we’re all together. If you’re taller, then I’d probably say you would sit in the front, unless for reasons like car sickness.

If you don’t want to sit in the back then you shouldn’t have to, because I think adult preferences generally should come first, unless there’s a good reason why DC would struggle in the back e.g. car sickness or v tall teen/young adult then that should take precedence.