Summer holiday and mil

[Blossoms21]

Mil is generally OK, kids enjoy seeing here when she comes to visit but she has asked if she can take our kids (4 and 9) for a few nights 300 miles away from us (where she lives) with very little transport links to get to if something were to happen to the kids. Our options for getting there would be a 4 and a half hour drive then a three hour ferry then another hour drive. Or a very expensive plane ride for 45 minutes then an hour drive.

Our kids have never spent more than a night away from us and at very most half an hour away from us. I think they would very ok during the day but at night they may become upset and wouldn't want that for them.

I'm extremely anxious about the whole thing and thinking of saying no but offering a compromise to say they could take them somewhere within a 1 hour radius of where we live that way if the kids were upset or something were to happen we could get there.

Could really use advise on this one.

I'd say no.. I think your suggestion of her taking them somewhere closer is a great idea

Why doesn’t she come and stay at yours for a few days, and you can have a couple of nights in a nearby hotel? The kids would be in their own home which might be easier for the first time, and she can spend quality time with them / have a taste of what 4 and 9 full-time for a few days is like!

If you can't stay with her, why don't you all go away somewhere new as a family?

I think 4 is a bit young. I agree, you want to try some nights away but where it's easier to get them if it doesn't work out before considering something like this.

4 is too young if they haven’t been away from you for more than 1 night. It sounds like an amazing opportunity for the 9 year old to bond with their DGM and have an adventure though. Lots of schools have residential trips at that age. TBH there are only a few years left when your 9 year old would want a holiday with granny. They will have better things to do once they hit their teens. It would be a shame if they missed out on that childhood experience.

Maybe just the 9 year old could go? Or, as you suggested, have a trial run nearer home first.

Could you say ‘maybe next year’ and then in the coming year have her stay at yours and you leave her with the children for a night or two to see how it goes? You could be not too far away and the children would be in a familiar environment? ( ideally without the Akita)