Lapland - When to tell DS?

[MamaPizza]

I need Mumsnet jury's help.

We are going to Lapland on the 17th December. We are also getting married there.

DS is 5 and fully believes in Santa, elves and all the magic.

He doesn't know yet, it's been hard keeping it a secret since January, but so far so good.

It's getting close now.

Me and DH (to be) just had a mini argument (again!) and we are letting Mumsnet decide.

He wants to tell DS at the airport / the morning we fly. He thinks it will be the bigger surprise on the day. We have to leave in the middle of the night as the flight is at 6am.
I am reluctant to wait this long as I need to pack the weekend before and get everything ready for the wedding. No hiding places in the house for suitcases.

I want to tell DS on the 7th December as it is a Sunday and ten days before the big day, meaning DS can enjoy a countdown, can watch youtube videos on husky rides, sledging etc., look at maps on where we are going and share the excitement with us. Packing will be much easier as it won't be a secret.

So, mumsnet jury - tell ten days before or on the day? It's your call

We went to Lapland a couple of years ago. We told DC a couple of days before. We went out for a meal on Thurs evening, gave DS1 a Christmas card to open which said we were going to Lapland on Saturday (he was 8) and DS2 (5) had pages cut from the brochure showing where we were going and what we were going to be doing. They still remember now how excited they were when we told them and they loved going to school next day and telling their classes and teachers who were also super excited too. The anticipation of going was important and I think it worked well that they had a day to be excited then we went! Have an amazing time!

OP here. Sorry for late reply, didn't have a laptop and I can't get the hang of the app.

Thanks for all your replies.

Thanks to you and your stories DH has agreed to tell DS on the 7th.

I'm now putting together a master plan on how to tell him. I am thinking of getting a basket / hamper filled with hints:

• A cuddly husky and a cuddly reindeer. He loves his soft toys anyway, he is like that boy in the JL advert, taking them everywhere and playing with them at all times.

• Some fake snow

• A map of our destination (above the Arctic Circle!)

• Pictures of the travel brochure

And then a rolled up message that he can open last with "We are going to Lapland!" or something like this.

Anything else I could add? Any ideas? I think I need something 'Santa' related, but apart from another cuddly toy I can't think of anything.

We will break the news of the wedding separately afterwards, first he needs to get over the shock of that he is going.

He then has just over a week to tell his friends at school, we already got authorized absence thankfully as his attendance is 100% and it's our wedding.
His teachers know, bless them they kept it a secret and in the past weeks have been lots of winking eyes when he started talking that he wants lots of snow for Christmas and he wants to build five snowmen (as he is five...). They want to share the joy with him too.

Leeds, that must be the one. It's in the snow village where is also a hotel, ice bar, etc.. The chapel is one part of it, but we are planning on staying there after to celebrate.

Lovely thread! Congratulations . One thing - will you tell DS the same day that you're also getting married, as he'll go into school excited about Lapland but if you haven't told him about your wedding the teachers may inadvertently spoil the surprise....

Have a wonderful time!

Thanks.

Yes, we will, but a bit later, in the afternoon or so. But the morning surprise is the fact that we are going to Lapland.

I think this is wonderful, and for you all. One other thought - put a countdown calendar in the hamper x

Good idea, Jill! Something to cross out every day, he will love that