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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

Would this be mad?

18 replies

PumpkinP · 24/01/2020 09:58

I really want a holiday but I have no one to come with me. Would you take 4 children away on your own without any help? Am I mad to even consider this? Abroad I mean.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Namechangers87171717 · 24/01/2020 10:03

How old are the kids is a big one? If all under six I’d hold off till older- if a mixture go for it! Older ones can help out at the airport etc

ShoppingBasketOfCars · 24/01/2020 10:05

Yes. Totally mad. I did it with 3 (all under 8) and still recovering 4 years later.

We do short breaks in the UK now.

Original poster

PumpkinP · 24/01/2020 10:17

They are 8 7 5 and 2. And have never been abroad.

OP posts:

Clymene · 24/01/2020 10:19

I would go on a single parent holiday. Single with Kids or Mango or similar. Then they will make friends and you will have adult company. So that you can ask an adult to watch your 2 year old by the pool when you go to the loo rather than having to take them with you

userabcname · 24/01/2020 10:24

I guess it depends on the holiday - if it's one of those all-inclusive, transfers included, English speaking reps at the resort type holiday with a kids club and entertainment it would probably be ok. Although a 2 year old on a plane is not much fun (dh and i took our 2yo to Italy last year and we have vowed no more planes until he is at least 10 which should give you an idea of what that was like). Also if you'd prefer a holiday that's not AI or resort-based it will likely by a lot trickier as you lug all 4 of them around while trying to figure out public transport/where to eat/overcome the language barrier. I'm sure it's do-able but personally I would wait another couple of years until your 2 yo is a bit less....toddler-y.

Starlight456 · 24/01/2020 15:26

When mine was little ( I only had one . We did Haven . It worked far better. Although not sure if they have pool ratio’s

Original poster

PumpkinP · 24/01/2020 16:30

Tbh I wouldn’t want to stay in the uk. I haven’t been abroad in 10 years and starting to get jealous of my friends constantly on holiday. One has 4 booked for this year!

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SansaClegane · 24/01/2020 16:37

I took mine on their first abroad holiday last year. It was very daunting but went ok! That said, they were older (10, 8 and 5) than yours; and I did the all inc, airport transfers, English speaking rep, holiday club, splash park resort hotel type holiday. That certainly helped! I'm not sure I would have done it with a 2yo though.

ShoppingBasketOfCars · 25/01/2020 08:27

Could you look after that many near a pool? That was what make it exceptionally hard for me. One always seemed to need the loo (which meant us all going) or a snack or something which risked me being distracted. I did not relax for one minute of any day.

The travelling etc didn't phase me - I'm used to that. It was the extra trauma of holiday routines / activities which made it too hard to do again.

I'll take them when they are teenagers!

MissSmiley · 25/01/2020 08:41

I have five and I have taken them on holiday on my own in the UK but not until they were much older and never abroad without another adult

If you can afford it can you offer to take a friend with you

lyingwanker · 25/01/2020 08:55

Holidays are hard work with a 2 year old because you have to permanently watch them like a hawk around the pool. It's not like you can lay on a sun lounger and listen to them okay like you can with the others.

I've got 4 kids 13,12,4,2. My older 2 have been able to help keep eyes on the younger 2 around the pool for a couple of year but I've always been very very close by. We hire a villa with a pool because I find it less stressful. Once the younger 2 are a little bit older we might go back to doing all inclusive holidays.

notjustamother · 25/01/2020 09:49

I also have four 10,8,6 and 10 months and although I'd love to take them abroad I've resigned myself to the fact it would be quite impractical (think if one needed the toilet, my main worry was what if one got ill and I had to take them to hospital etc) I can't be in two places at once and even with me and ex with 3 it wasn't relaxing. So if I want to go abroad I think I would pay and take a friend or go with a big group of family.

I think I would holiday in the UK with them all though and tbh we have had just as much fun in the UK holidaying as we have abroad!

Anotheruser02 · 28/01/2020 14:28

I would do something like a eurocamp type thing, fill the boot with toys and games and then you may not feel the need to be constantly in the communal areas for the whole day where you'll probably feel more 'on duty'. Use the kids clubs to separate them a bit so you can have some time with two alone and then the other two in club the next day. Some of those places have the most amazing pools and playgrounds.

Bettalife · 29/01/2020 06:33

Do it. I took my 4 to Barcelona - cheap flights and rented an apartment - when they were 10, 7, 4 and 3 and we had a brilliant time. I’d steer clear of swimming pool type holidays until they are a tiny bit older. But with a shorter city break there is so much for them to see and do. It was exactly the break we all needed. Last year I took them to Namibia (they were 11, 9, 7 and 4). Although when we were there I was staying with my best friend - so apart from the travelling, technically I wasn’t on my own the whole time. Why should they miss out on travel experiences just because I’m on my own with them?

muddypuddles12 · 29/01/2020 14:14

Ok so what's the worst case scenario? It's stressful as hell and you're miserable for the entire week. The kids will no doubt enjoy it regardless, and you can take it as a lesson learnt and never do it again.

Fact of the matter is, you won't know until you try. You can ask for opinions of course, but you may be more (or less) equipped to deal with it alone than others.

Do it, you may live to regret it but it's better than constantly wondering "what if"....

Tiredtiredtired100 · 29/01/2020 20:12

I second @muddypuddles12 go for it. I took my 4 month old overseas and my mother thought I was downright mad but it was great. Yes airports are stressful, but if you’re going on holiday somewhere you want to go then once you’re there it can’t be much more stressful that a week at home entertaining 4 kids and at least you will learn what does/doesn’t work for you.

Original poster

PumpkinP · 29/01/2020 23:30

Thanks everyone I’ve though about it some more but I’ve decided against it as I really wouldn’t manage it! It’s a shame my ex is a useless deadbeat as I would leave 2 with him and take 2 then swap and take the other 2 another time but not an option as he is absent. But yeh I Will be giving it a miss! Shame as oldest is desperate to go on a plane.

OP posts:

Muddlingalongalone · 29/01/2020 23:36

I would struggle with 4 in the pool or the sea alone, mind you I'd struggle with 4 fullstop! I don't think I'd ever relax.
Would you consider somewhere with a kids club & rotate them so that you had 2 at a time for activities but the 4 for meals & safe entertainment/excursions like zoo??

If your eldest wants to go on a plane I'd suggest a short trip to a city with kiddy activities for a long weekend. Even a UK flight to Inverness to see Nessie or something??

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