would it be utter madness to take 3 under 5 to oz for a month?

[BrandyButterGalore]

Have recently dispatched my younger brother to australia to grow up find himself grow up broaden his horizons.

would it be utter utter madness , do you think, to take the ds's (4, 3 and nearly 2) to see him for a month at easter? would take my mum as dp swears will never take that long a flight ever.

would quite like to go again (spent a year there myself about 5 yrs ago) and would love to take the ds's... but maybe they are too young for now... or i should wait till summer maybe and go for longer?

Try shutting yourself in a small room with them for 20 hours with little entertainment and see if that makes your mind up...

oh god

maybe ill go alone (joke)

I took mine when they were 2 (she had her birthday on the plane) 4 and 5 (nearly 6). It was fine but the journey itself was an ordeal and I have to say they remember very little about it now beyond what they have seen in photos.

We are going again next year. This time we will have 4 and they will be 5, 8, 10 and nearly 12. I am hoping they will all remember it much better this time. I have a feeling the journey will still be an ordeal!

Oh yes, 20 hours shut away with no children is very appealing

You say about waiting for summer - don't forget that's their winter.

Have you thought of buying a webcam,and making do for a couple of years?

Depends on where you are going, plan to do. The flights at Easter will be very busy so lots of families on board no doubt. I know its hard enough with one at 2 long haul, no idea of the stress of 3 though, so I guess it would probally help if you are mad. It would be ideal if they can amuse each other, but sods law will mean that they all sleep/want to eat at different times.
Good luck

Don't under-estimate the effects of jetlag. It isn't just the 20 hour journey that is a killer - it is the 20 hour journey plus a week of jet lag (which will probably hit each child differently).

yes, i think ive decided to wait till theyre a bit older to do it. make it a really long holiday, pack it with things to do and give them some memories to last a lifetime. should make the flight more bearable!

sod my brother, he'll be alright without me i miss him already [stooopid as i didnt see him that often when he was an hour or two up the road )