Dm wants me to forgo car seats. Wwyd?

[Carseatdrama]

So we are going on holiday this week. Df has offered to drive us the ten miles to the airport which was gratefully received. It's about 10 miles, on motorway and national roads. Dc are 6 and 7 so have car seats.

Dm wants to wave us off at the airport and has just had a massive go at me for insisting on using car seats resulting in her hanging up when I didn't change my mind. Me and dc could fit in the back with no car seats but not with. She thinks im being ridiculous for insisting on putting them in them and therefore ruining her idea of being able to wave them off. She could say bye to them at my house before we go too.

Df is a taxi driver not to dripfeed so can get away with this as people would presume its a fare paying job so normal laws don't apply.

My take is that it's an unnecessary risk and I'm not comfortable with it. Df offered to drop her off at the airport before coming back to pick us up but she didn't want to sit in greggs for an hour.

Yabu - it's not a big deal, just ditch the car seats
Yanbu - safety first!

Well, car seats weren't a thing until relatively recently, but they are the law now aren't they? So you don't get the choice.
What does the DF taxi driver say?

I'd rather have my children safe than someone wave them off at the airport. If she's that desperate could your df make two trips?? Or she just waves them off at the house??

Its a huge deal. Your DM is being outrageous about your DC safety and all because she wants something. Is she always so me me me? I cant believe your poor DF was going to do 2 trips to the airport to try and appease DM.

No way would I agree to no car seats. Taxi car or not; it’s too great a risk imo.
Yes the chances of an accident are slim but children are more vulnerable to injury than adults are even in a relatively minor crash.

Df is backing her, but he wouldn't ever not.

can't she just wave you off at home? What an odd thing for her to make an issue out of.

Nope. The difference between waving you at the airport and on the house street is miniscule. She is being ridiculous.

Car seats ? It's political correctness gone mad, I tell you.

She is being ridiculous

While I dont think you're being unreasonable... what would you do if you had to book a taxi for a similar journey? Would you refuse it unless car seats were provided (some companies do).

She can wave them off at home. Not safe to travel without car seats

She can't be that desperate though, otherwise she'd "sit in Greggs for an hour."
She's being difficult, and no OP YANBU.

Yeah... car seats aren't just an accessory - they're to help protect a child if the vehicle they're in has an accident! Your childs safety comes before your incredibly selfish, stupid mother's wants.

Is she always a careless, bullying c**t who takes unnecessary risks with your kids' lives for no reason? I hope she's never left in charge of them.

Is it normal in your family to literally wave people off at the airport? That's quite unusual for most people I would suggest. DF dropping you all off, with car seats, without her, sounds perfectly fine and there's no need for her to be there at all. Taxis don't have massive forcefields around them meaning car seats magically aren't needed because they are somehow safer, so why does she think her wants trump everyone else's convenience and her grandchildrens' safety?

Your Mum is being ridiculous! She actually thinks her desire to “wave you off” (but not have to wait around at all) trumps your kids’ safety? She’s barking. Plus she is making your journey less comfortable but unnecessarily taking up the front seat.

She does know she can’t come through customs / into the departure lounge with you, so will just be “waving you off” at the luggage drop - or bizarrely watching you queue for customs?

Can you get public transport/ drive and pay for parking instead? I just wouldn’t entertain this sort of fuckwittery, but if your Dad is going to pander to your Mum then you can’t accept his lift.

Wave you off indeed, hasn’t she got anything better to do?

Edited the fact I clearly can’t spell!

This isn’t a car seat problem, it’s a narcissistic mother and enabler dad problem.

You've got a choice to either get the lift from them and engage with all the arguments and their demands. Or you get a different taxi/transport in peace. Which would you prefer?

If you haven’t got the money to go elsewhere, learn the lesson and factor that into your holiday budget next time.

Wow. Stand up for yourself and protect your children. She is unbelievably unreasonable!

It's when you think it's only once and it will be fine that accidents happen. If she won't wait for an hour in the airport could you go first and do the waiting? Assuming you trust them to use the seatbelts if you're not there to supervise.

Can’t a 6 and 7 year old sit on the £5 booster seats from Tesco and be safe but still have space for 3 in the back? But if you want them in big seats, that is your choice.

Yeah, the alternative would be to ask my grandad or we could use public transport.

I'm glad most seem to have the same response.

No, I don't know why she thinks it's necessary. We're literally away for a week so not that long.

Your children's safety greatly outweighs your mother's feelings! You'd never forgive yourself if there was an accident. Tell them NO, firmly.

I’d just take public transport but that’s how I do get to the airport when I go (but there’s a straight train to the nearest airport from us).

You don't need to justify basic safety with the woman, or doubt yourself.

Just tell her you don't require being waved at, thanks though.

Just imagine! Would be beyond awful, and there’s absolutely no need.