Am I being a wimp? Would you do this?

[Kitsilano]

Sorry for this fairly minor issue being so long...

Good friend and her DC has moved away (about 5hrs drive). Have invited me + two DCs (4 and 2) to visit for the weekend - originally Fri-Sun but now just Sat night as they are away before.

Have just looked up trains and it will take us c. 1hr to get to the station from us plus 2hr 45mins train journey on the way there (changing once) and about 3.5hrs (changing twice) on the way back (plus then the hour's journey back from the station). We would be there for just 24 hours.

Really miss them and want to see them but the thought of doing this with 2 small kids on my own for a 24 hr visit is filling me with horror.

For various reasons this will be the last chance to go and visit them for 6 months. (Will see them in London though.)

Cant drive as am having back problems and driving for more than an hour is agony.

What do you think? Should I just be a bit tougher and do it? Or would you be reluctant?

I wouldn't go tbh too much just for 24 hrs

Would`nt do it for a 24 hours visit
The stress and tiredness is not worth it for 24 hours

Your friend will understand - explain to her that it's just too far to go with 2 small DCs and with you unable to drive.

Yes, sorry, but it's not just you who will be suffering from the journey, but your DC as well

I would have done it for a weekend but not for just 1 day...

Friend will understand, and perhaps you can go later in the year when it is convenient for both of you for the whole weekend.

If you're suffering from back problems to the point of not being able to drive for long, there's no way I would contemplate it. By the time you have done all those connections with your two little ones you'll be in a lot of pain. She's your friend, she'll understand.

No I wouldn't do this either. You'll barely have time to recover before you're leaving to come home.

No, I wouldn't do it, it's the number of changes more than the length of the journey that would worry me - one leg of the journey gets delayed and you could potentially be stuck at a connecting station for an hour with 2 cold, hungry, tired DCs and that is Not Fun.

no way

I personally wouldn't put my children through all of that for one day. I'd wait until the 6 months is over and then plan a longer visit.

agree that it's too long....meet in 6 mths time for longer..hope your back is better

I would have if it was just me, I love travelling on my own (unsociable git) or with my children at the ages they are now but not with little ones. Far too stressful for all concerned.

I wouldn't. Could you meet half way and stay in a travellodge or premier inn?

Fairly unanimous then. Guess I am not just being feeble - and you are right it wont be much fun for the kids to be travelling for that long on 2 consecutive days.

Hmmmm... have to say that I'd do it. The chance to see a good friend would make me want to go. And I remember from back in the day when I didn't have kids, friends would wimp out (using your phrase!) and expect me to go and see them all the time. Sometimes a little effort goes a very long way!