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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

Holiday as a single parent

26 replies

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 13:06

I’m a single mum to 4, I’ve never taken my children on holiday as quite frankly could never afford it, recently I’ve been thinking about it and thought I could take 2 away at a time or maybe even one? Each year and not always to the same places but it would be the only way I would be able to afford it and managing 4 alone on holiday would be difficult. They don’t have contact with their father but my mum would have them for a week if it’s only once a year. Does this sound ok or is it bad to leave 2 at home?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RedHelenB · 25/02/2022 13:19

I always think of holidays as a family thing. I took 3 away on my own. I suppose their ages cone into play too 4 under 5 would be stressful.

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 13:22

They are 10 9 7 and 4 but oldest has asd so can be challenging

OP posts:

thanktor · 25/02/2022 13:24

Single parent here

Abroad or uk?

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 13:27

Abroad

OP posts:

Danikm151 · 25/02/2022 13:29

Could you save up and your mom come with you.. take that bit longer to save up so it can be a family holiday.

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 13:32

No my mum would not be coming, I can’t offer to pay for her and doubt she would pay herself so that’s not an option though would be nice if it was!

OP posts:

gogohm · 25/02/2022 13:35

How old? If you drive Self catering in northern france might be an option, 3 bed chalets are reasonable.

Yika · 25/02/2022 13:37

I think it’s a great idea! Not at all unfair so long as everybody gets a turn. The younger ones will probably enjoy themselves more staying with your mum anyway - I think travel can be quite stressful for young children. You can all have fun planning, and bring small souvenirs back for the ones staying.

Yika · 25/02/2022 13:41

Plus I think the one-on-one time will be wonderful and memorable for the one with you, while the others can enjoy special time with your mum. Altogether a great solution.

Gowithme · 25/02/2022 13:46

Would the oldest want to go? They might prefer to go to your mums anyway. Then you could consider taking the other three or you could also leave the youngest with your mum until they get a bit older as they wouldn't really know what they were missing and might not be too fussed.

thanktor · 25/02/2022 13:54

How serious asd

What are the other children like?

What’s your budget?

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 16:20

I don’t want to take them all away at the same time it would be too much work for me on my own; my daughter has LD so needs a lot of Help and supervision. Looking at Spain and around £2000 seen some free child places with tui and jet 2 (thinking Oct half term)

Yika thank you definitely think it will benefit them to have some time away and some 1-2-1 time

OP posts:

gogohm · 25/02/2022 16:24

My dd has asd and should would have preferred to stay with my mum given the chance anyway to get fair. She's an adult now and hasn't been on holiday since she was old enough to be home alone (she doesn't have a learning disability though but does have a long list of mental health issues alas)

thanktor · 25/02/2022 16:29

Will you take them all but on two separate hols?

Won’t they miss each other?

If I were you - I’d get somewhere with a brilliant kids club

So… you can drop 3 and have 1-2-1
And sometimes… drop all of them and have some time to yourself
As a single parent - it’s important to factor this in on holiday

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 17:01

@thanktor

Will you take them all but on two separate hols?

Won’t they miss each other?

If I were you - I’d get somewhere with a brilliant kids club

So… you can drop 3 and have 1-2-1
And sometimes… drop all of them and have some time to yourself
As a single parent - it’s important to factor this in on holiday

No they won’t miss each other 😬

Yes I mean 2 one year 2 the other

OP posts:

thanktor · 25/02/2022 17:03

Honestly
I’d look into a fabulous place with kids club.

All go.
Combine the budget of 2 holidays in to one
And enjoy 1 on 1 AND alone time AND family time

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 17:12

I can’t manage all alone, not on holiday I’ve already said that. My oldest has asd and LD she wouldn’t be able to attend a kids club

OP posts:

thanktor · 25/02/2022 17:13

Well in that case
Go for it!

thanktor · 25/02/2022 17:14

Out of interest
Do you never take them out as a 4?

Flexitarian · 25/02/2022 17:17

I think if that’s what works for you and you do it fairly it’s a great idea. I’m a LP to two very different teens who want different things from a holiday so I’m thinking a long weekend each for them.

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 25/02/2022 17:18

@thanktor

Out of interest Do you never take them out as a 4?

Every day but that’s not the same as a holiday in a foreign country that we’ve never been to before with pools and sea

OP posts:

thanktor · 25/02/2022 17:20

I think you’d be surprised
But obviously I don’t know how serious your child’s asd is
Or how your other children behave

So sounds entirely sensible to do your suggestion

So get off the thread and start holiday hunting!!

LaMagdalena · 25/02/2022 17:21

If everyone is happy with the idea of alternating holidays/staying with Grandma then it sounds like a good idea.

There's no point arranging holidays that would work for other people's families if it wouldn't work for your's, if you know what I mean.

TerraNovaTwo · 25/02/2022 17:28

Best thing I ever did wrt holidays is book a few nights away in a private room in a YHA hostel. They have food and amenities on sight and are usually quite near places of interest/tourist attractions.

www.yha.org.uk

Original poster

RedCandyApple · 26/02/2022 00:27

Thanks all I think I will go for it, I have taken them to the beach before in the uk on my own and it was quite challenging as my oldest will walk off constantly if not being watched she will wonder off, so I had to constantly keep my eyes on her, then if she wanted to go in the sea but my youngest didn't I couldn't leave her to it as she wouldn't stay in the shallow part she would keep walking and walking until she was going in too deep (she can't swim) so I couldn't leave her to play in the sea I would have to go in after her as she wouldn't come back when called meaning leaving my youngest on the beach unsupervised, so it's not really the same as a typical day out, it wasn't relaxing at all and it was hard to have a good day, I think a holiday with all of them on my own would just be very hard and I don't think any of them would enjoy it. So just trying to think of what would be best for everyone.

OP posts:

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