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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To NOT take my autistic daughter to Butlins?

32 replies

bettydavieseyes · 03/05/2026 08:43

I booked and paid for back in December a butlins break in June for me, my wife and 2 girls age 11 and 9. My 11yo DD is profoundly autistic with LD. She needs a large special needs buggy everywhere outside the house and is full time care and pre-verbal. I booked a 3 bed apartment because they cant room share. As its got closer, I realised that this is probably not a good idea for us anymore. We last went to Butlins together 2 years ago and it was ok but DD was in a smaller (and easier to push) SEN buggy then and a bit younger (less hormones). But even then we couldnt access everything and spent a lot of time in the apartment. Over the past 2 years we have been going out less to do typical activities as a family and having 'one child each' on seperate days out etc. I think I just had it in my mind this suits us because we have been going to Butlins every year since they were toddlers and my ASD DD has always loved it. My wife said she should stay at home with her and she says i should just take DD 9. Theres a big part of me which is so excited at the idea of a 'normal' holiday and one to one time with DD 9. We could eat in resturants and go to evening shows (cant do with DD 11) but I have the most crippling guilt! The idea is that later in the summer we would leave DD 9 with her Grandad and big sister (she is 22) for 2 nights while we take DD 11 to a short, calm and possibly more suitable seaside break on her own. I know DD 9 wont mind this (because she went to Butlins and also has a school residential this year) and I know DD 11 wont know we have gone to butlins or understand and can cope without me and DD 9 for the days we would be away. Its the guilt. I just feel awful about it. She hasn't been on holiday for 2 years or seen the sea. I dont even have the alternative break planned yet and when ive looked it all seems so expensive in summer so im not even sure if the 2nd part of the plan is feasable. Wwyd?

OP posts:
noctilucentcloud · 03/05/2026 09:47

bettydavieseyes · 03/05/2026 09:24

Thanks for replies. If we take both girls we would be seperate a lot, taking it in turns with both (we did this last time) but it didnt actually suit DD 11 because she is disturbed by changes (eg swapping between me amd my wife) and upset by DD 9 going out with one of us, she doesnt say so (she cant) but her behaviour would fall apart while we were out at a show for example and she wouldnt settle. Its almost too complicated to explain it all!
My wife isnt u happy about staying at home with DD 11 (apart from missing us) because she doesnt actually want to go. She is anxious about the whole thing and would be glad to not do it. She keeps encouraging me to go with DD 9 on her own. I have never taken DD 9 away for a night on her own yet and would absolutely love to do this, normally they have similar routines which dont suit DD 9 eg. Going to bed at 8pm. I would love to keep her up with me. I would also love to do resturants and shops with her and actually go on the beach. With DD 11, one of us is waiting on the path because her buggy wont go on the stones and DD 9 gets short moments on the beach. On our own we could have a picnic and paddle. It would be so different. However, I do feel guilty and would miss DD 11 of course. An alternative would definitely happen but it would take some planning.
Yes, I would save money taking one child but not a massive amount as we never paid to do stuff anyway and couldnt do resturants with them both.
I cant cancel the holiday as I didnt pay for cancellation and although im happy to lose the money spent, it seems a waste! Cancelling for both girls was my first thought but my wife said why not go with DD 9.

I absolutely think you should take DD9 on her own. Going all together doesn't work - if you do things as a four you have to stay in a lot and DD9 misses out, and if you try splitting up during the day it upsets your DD11 routine. So your realistic options are either take DD9 alone or don't go at all. I think taking DD9 alone is the best of those two - it sounds as if both you and your DD9 would love having some time alone and no restrictions, and that your wife is happy staying with DD11 (who can still have fun that week and do some things she enjoys). So don't feel guilty, this is the best for everyone. Take DD9 and have a wonderful time.

ItsAMoooPoint · 03/05/2026 09:51

Being fair to your children means doing what's right for the individuals, not giving them both the same thing or the same amount of things.

The right thing for your DD9 would be to go to Butlins. The right thing for DD11 would be to stay at home. If you can figure out an alternative holiday with just DD11 at a later date, great! If you can't, you've still done the right thing by both your DDs. There's no need to feel guilty about it. By acknowledging they have different needs, likes and dislikes you have already shown that you love and respect them equally and are willing to act accordingly.

Parenting guilt is HARD! Go easy on yourself.

PeopleLikeColdplayYouCantTrustPeopleJez · 03/05/2026 13:15

Please don’t feel guilty. Think about what your youngest daughter will get out of this.

I don’t know how close you are to Wales but have you considered Bluestone?

kscarpetta · 03/05/2026 13:17

Really not sure why you would feel guilty about doing separate holidays.

I have three children, they are individuals with different needs and interests, and we often do trips and holidays 1:1.
I can't see the negative.

bettydavieseyes · 09/05/2026 06:25

Update: I found the perfect local rental (and booked it immediately) for the 2 nights DD9 is on a school residential to have a lovely mini break with my wife and autistic DD11. It is a really lovely house with a hot tub, bbq facilities and garden next to some beautiful river walks and it is a short distance from her SEN school. This is perfect because she can go to school on the first day and the 3rd day which means she can keep her routine (she loves school and routine) and wont be stressed by us packing on the last morning. She will be so excited to go there after school, then have a lovely day off the next day with us and 2 nights there. It is also before the butlins break which feels nice because when I do take DD9 to Butlins I will feel like DD11 had her holiday already. I am at peace now! I then asked DD9 if she minded us going to butlins, just us 2, and she was extremely excited about this plan! She kept asking if this is definate and whether we could go to the sweet shop in butlins (we have never been in there because DD11 cant have too much sugar) She knows not to talk about it around DD11.
I am convinced I have done the right thing for them both and the guilt is less bad. I still feel a bit of sadness because it will be peppa pig week in butlins and DD11 loves peppa pig...I need to stop being anxious!
Thanks for your reassurance!.

OP posts:
Fairyvocals · 10/05/2026 09:39

I’m so happy to read this! It sounds perfect.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 10/05/2026 09:42

Sounds perfect ❤️. As someone with a profoundly disabled sister, please do take her away, it will be such a special memory for her.

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