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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

booked a cottage to take kids away but now panicking!

25 replies

yummytummy · 08/08/2015 14:08

So in a rare brave moment few months ago i booked a cottage in wales for a little break for me and kids. No flying still in uk fine i thought. But we go next week and i am starting to feel a bit Aaargh!

I was ok but u know how u tell people and theysay ooh but u will be alone u are going alone how will you manage blah blah

I know logically it will be fine and its not like i am not usually alone with them anyway but still am starting to worry

I didn't want kids to miss out just coz i can't afford abroad etc and even this was hard. Also as ex loves to rub it in re his fancy new life flash holidays new woman and child.

So anyway please someone who has done this reassure me we will be fine and its still a holiday as i am really anxious

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NickiFury · 08/08/2015 14:12

It'll be friffing fab! I take my kids away regularly and love it. No big baby man child to accommodate, no moaning at how long the queue is, no stopping at a pub every half hour to keep him happy.

I'm taking mine away long haul next month, going to driving and everything! I can't wait.

Good on you for doing this, I find it so annoying this limited thinking that a grown woman needs a man to manage .

Zeitgeistic · 08/08/2015 14:16

Who has told you you won't be able to manage? Bloody cheek. You do it day in day out on your own, you can manage a holiday!

I took my kids away on my own at the beginning of the summer holidays and it was a fab. It was a bit stressful driving somewhere unfamiliar on my own but I did it. And then kids loved being away. Yours will too. Have a brilliant time!

Original poster

yummytummy · 08/08/2015 14:16

Ooh long haul wow! Thats great good for you. Has it been ok before when you have taken them? I was worried re evenings but no different to at home i guess

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Original poster

yummytummy · 08/08/2015 14:17

Oh cool thanks zeitgeist i too have a long drive

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ginmakesitallok · 08/08/2015 14:22

Of course you'll manage! My mum brought us up on her own, we went for on UK holidays with her and had a fab time.

Have a great time!

NickiFury · 08/08/2015 14:24

It's been great, mine are 8 and 12 but I was taking them from when they were smaller. Nice bottle of wine, MNetting in the evenings, catching up on all my reading and to be honest they stay up a lot later because we stay out for longer. We go for meals and do everything as if there were two adults there.

nozzernoodles · 08/08/2015 14:27

I take my DS away on my own all the time. We've been on lots of breaks in the UK and to Spain and Ireland too. In October we are off to the U.S.

We have a great time and actually I find it better than being stuck at home all day - it's an adventure, we do fun things together and go and have dinner out sometimes, then others snuggle in for the night and play cards, watch a film, order a pizza, etc.

I actually find it less stressful than going away with family, or DP

Original poster

yummytummy · 08/08/2015 14:30

Wow thanks for all your lovely positive words feeling more confident now! Its just hard adjusting to being a single parent even though i realise now that ex was awful and it is much better to not live in fear violence and abuse. But it is hard as i have no family support.

Maybe next year i will be brave and try abroad

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OccamsLadyshave · 08/08/2015 14:31

Of course you'll be fine.

My last holiday with ExP he forgot his driving license so I had to do all the driving anyway, he kept getting road rage at all the other drivers and shouting at them out of the (passenger) window, he moaned about the food and was rude to the house owner.

Last year I went away for 4 weeks with DD backpacking around South America and we had no problems whatsoever.

This year I went to a cottage in Cornwall with DD and DFoster child. We had a blast. And we hardly spent any money (apart from on the rainy days).

How old are DC? Take lots of games, crafts etc and have a look at this.

EnlightenedOwl · 08/08/2015 14:31

You'll love it, just back from a cottage holiday and it was fab. Even doing the simple things like setting up camp on the beach for a beach day makes a great day out. Whereabouts in Wales are you going?

piebald · 08/08/2015 14:38

It will be brill, lots of i spy in the car and stuff like that, pack lots of snacks and wee games. Story tapes in the car are handy. When you are there find a charity shop and get some different toys and games , look out for local shows that might be on. You dont say what age they are
They will have the best time, relax and enjoy

Original poster

yummytummy · 08/08/2015 14:38

Dc are 7 and 4. Usually quite good most of time! Going to north wales on the coast

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addictedtosugar · 08/08/2015 14:38

I unexpectedly had to take the 4 and 6 YR olds away on my own at the start of the summer bastard DH work cancelled the holiday after it had been approved and we'd booked. It was great. Had one or two panics round the swimming complex - the 4 YR old jumped into the deep end while I was suncreaming the other. Thankfully he had arm bands on, and only did it the once after the bollocking he got.

The kids loved the freedom of being outside everyday. And the change was good from being at home

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 08/08/2015 14:42

I've taken mine away without DH. It was fine although I think DH was a bit lonely back at home

I'm contemplating taking some unpaid leave and doing it again for October half term.

starlight2007 · 08/08/2015 18:59

I took my DS on holiday last year on my own for the first time he was 7..I thoroughly enjoyed it been just us..Some things I had to think through however most of it was much easier we had no one else to please or consider..I enjoyed it so much I took him abroad this year.

EnlightenedOwl · 08/08/2015 22:16

some good days out round there I love North Wales x If you are near to Conwy visit Anna's Tearooms, lovely.

CherryPicking · 10/08/2015 16:12

Hey yummy, I'm currently on my first ever holiday as a single parent. Been here 3 days and must have had half a dozen people commiserating me on how tough it is. Haha, clearly they never met my ex

paxtecum · 10/08/2015 16:17

It will be great.

Don't forget though, that you may all be tired when you get there and not in the best of moods. But after a good night's sleep everything will look much better.

I learnt long ago, not to criticise or be disappointed with holiday accommodation on arrival. It looks so much better after a good sleep!

ToTheGups · 10/08/2015 16:18

I did it this year for the first time. I have only been a single parent less than a year and I have three DC 10. 7 & 2 I was realky nervous but can honestly say it was the best holiday I have ever been on. We pleased ourselves and it was amazing not having to please a sulking man. I remember thinking that I was honestly truly happy. It was fantastic. We went to Majorca

BlackeyedSusan · 10/08/2015 16:49

tips: pack the car with everything but morning essential the night befor eyou leave the cottage.

you will be fine. I have done it several times. their dad has been around but not staying so running the place and minding children has been down to me. also with an elderly mother that is no help.. (she may be able to wash up occasionally but makes more work in compensation)

PeterParkerSays · 10/08/2015 17:16

North Wales coast will be fab - take them to the Zoo in Colwyn Bay and to Llandudno. They're a great age to be going.

If this programme is ever on BBC4 again, watch it. It features awoman who towed a caravan by herself, with her kids, abroad, back in the 1970s. If she can tow on the continent, you can drive to Wales.

Pack a seperate bag with wipes and bin bags and water in case you have someone who is car sick and cover any luggage in the car with towels, then borrow a talking book from the library for you all to listen to and off you go. The kids will think it's an adventure.

Letitgoletitgo · 10/08/2015 20:52

You'll have a fab time! I took my dcs on our own aged 1.5 and 3.5. We had a big adventure, they stayed up "late" and when they did go to sleep I got wine, a bath and a book :0)
This year went with dp and dss - awful, thinking about going on our own again next year even though I don't "have to". Enjoy it, be a child and have fun with them xx

littlemissblue · 10/08/2015 21:07

Not sure if this has been suggested it we're going to a cottage in Devon next week and I've ordered a sainsburys shop to be delivered to the cottage the evening we get there - that way you don't have to pack so much in the car! I have 3 young children so ordered nappies, formula and lots of wine and nice food!

Hope you have a great time :)

cestlavielife · 10/08/2015 21:51

Loads to do in northwales and take Dvds books games.
I go every year.. to north wales... family there but they leave me to myself in day time. pack up sandwiches each morning so you only spending on ice creams and extras. If raining swimming pools cinema soft play. If sunny lots of places to go...

Original poster

yummytummy · 11/08/2015 12:25

Oh wow thanks for the lovely messages feel much better now and less wobbly. I can see the appeal of only pleasing ourselves. And the tips about packing car and ordering a delivery are amazing! Thanks i will report back hopefully having had a great time. Any more tips and morale boosting most welcome! Its so encouraging to hear how many others have done it and are doing it.

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