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Parenting

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my wife won't allow me to travel alone with our 4-year old daughter

51 replies

fritzke72 · 11/01/2018 22:29

Hello,
I'm looking for some advice here.
My wife cannot make it to the family weekend my parents organize every year. She has to work on the Friday and Monday so traveling from Sat to Sun with our 1-year old boy for about 4 hours each day, doesn't make much sense. I agree with that. It's hard enough for a 1-year old boy to sit in the car for that long.
I would really like to go and suggested to take our 4-year old daughter from Sat to Sun, staying there overnight for 1 night. She doesn't want me to take our daughter away from her for one night. She says that that is not an option in the foreseeable future. She just doesn't want to be separated from her for any night.
I am finding that hard to understand. I look after the kids a lot, and she trusts me fully with looking after them. Why would she not let me go with our daughter for 1 night? I don't know how to deal with this.
Any advice is welcome, thanks.

OP posts:
MsGameandWatching · 11/01/2018 23:57

You need to stand up to her and say you will be taking your DD on this trip. End off.

Please don't do that. Not unless you want to really put a big crack into your marriage.

Mxyzptlk · 12/01/2018 00:07

our dd has a strict diet but everyone in the family respects it

I can imagine a scenario where your DD takes some food that she shouldn't eat, from a table or someone else's plate. Or a relative gives her something that they think will be fine.

Your DW may trust you to be vigilant yet still she knows she'd be anxious about it all weekend. Could that be it?

PositivelyPERF · 12/01/2018 00:09

I'm just going to ask again, OP. How does your wife get on with your parents and family?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

ruleshelpcontrolthefun · 12/01/2018 00:15

My DD 4yo and I've been away from her one time when I was in hospital having DS but even then she was in her own home. I wouldn't be thrilled about DH taking her away for a night but if I thought she'd enjoy it then I wouldn't interfere. What are your DW's reasons? I'm a SAHM and do the majority of the day-to-day parenting due to DH's work hours. I do most of the bedtimes, any night wakings, deal with any illnesses, I prepare every single meal and know what she likes and doesn't like. I do most of the disciplining. Not a moan - it's just what suits us. I'd still "let" her go though.

ruleshelpcontrolthefun · 12/01/2018 00:18

You need to stand up to her and say you will be taking your DD on this trip. End off.

This is terrible advice. Don't do this.

Bufferingkisses · 12/01/2018 00:19

Why does your dd have a strict diet?

Health issues will certainly increase anxiety about separation.

Goddamitt · 12/01/2018 00:22

Would she expect to be able to take your daughter away herself without you and not ask your permission?

genever · 12/01/2018 00:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElphabaTheGreen · 12/01/2018 00:29

I do always have irrational anxiety when spending the night away from either or both of my DSs. I catastrophise like you wouldn't believe. I'm currently in hospital - my boys are perfectly safe with their competent and loving father who is on the same page as me parenting-wise, but I can't sleep. Because they might fall out of bed and break their necks. I know DS2 had to get picked up from nursery with a temp today, so I'm convinced he's going to overheat and have a seizure in the night. I was convinced DS1 was going to get hit by a car when coming to visit me today, despite being safely accompanied by DH. When DH took them away for a night to the Lake District during the school holidays I was a basket case - falling off boats into Windermere featured highly.

These thoughts are awful and really unpleasant for me and I cannot seem to stop them, although mindfulness/breathing/distraction helps a little. The problem comes when they make things unpleasant for my DH or DSs.

They had a BLAST in the Lakes with their dad.

DS1 simply adored his daddy/son trip to London and Paris in another school holiday and seeing a photo of him grinning his little toot off in front of the Moulin Rouge made the panic worth it (until they went up the Eiffel Tower and falling from a great height or terrorist attacks were going to happen).

I could not and should not rob my children of these experiences because of my own personal issues and neither should your DW. Your DD would absolutely love that trip. I work FT and don't like my DCs going away at the weekend either, but a one-off like this isn't going to break the bond forever, so that in itself isn't an excuse either. If it was every weekend, yes, but that's not what's being suggested.

Get your wife to FULLY talk about her anxieties with you - she, too, could be catastrophising, but thinks you'll mock her because she's being ridiculous. Expressing them out loud, or writing them down is definitely the best way to purge them though, rather than grinding them around in your head.

Do NOT insist she 'just enjoys herself' having time alone with your DS. It gives me the absolute red-mist rage when people do this because I know I won't, but feel obliged to force it when people suggest I must.

If you do convince your DW to let you go with your DD, BOMBARD her with photos and details of every little adorable thing she does, but just as statements of fact/running commentary. Avoid at all costs any hint of 'see? I told you she'd be fine.' My DH is just brilliant at couching this, mainly I think because he just loves sharing with me what our DCs do, and this is the place where it should come from, not first and foremost as a form of reassurance.

Finally, encourage her to look into mindfulness and counselling. How she feels is not normal and not pleasant. But at four, it's probably denying your DD a lovely, memorable trip to get better acquainted with the rest of her family.

Good luck!

WhatIWant · 12/01/2018 01:02

You wife is being really unfair to your daughter and to you. It's important for each member of a family to spend time together. My kids and my husband relished time together when I wasn't there. They obviously loved being with me too but sometimes it was good for them to be alone with their dad.

I would ask her to be honest with you about what the reasons are and if it's 'just' anxiety see if there is anything you can do to make it a little better, for example, perhaps you could offer to call frequently and let her know you are safe or whatever. It does seem as though she might be using her anxiety as a bit of an excuse if she is happy for you to look after you DD alone at other times. 🤷🏻‍♀️

WhatIWant · 12/01/2018 01:03

Great insightful post elphaba. Hope you feel better soon. 💐

ElphabaTheGreen · 12/01/2018 01:12

It does seem as though she might be using her anxiety as a bit of an excuse if she is happy for you to look after you DD alone at other times.

Not necessarily. My DSs were at full time nursery from 8mo old - normal levels of initial anxiety from me, then absolutely fine and there is/was no one else I'd rather them be with during the day (even me, sometimes, if they're going through a particularly challenging phase!). I have no problem with them being with DH by himself during the day - at home or in the vicinity of home. Slight anxiety and irrational thoughts when they're with DH's parents, but manageable.

Nights and going away, though, is where it truly kicks off. Dunno why. Wish I could turn it off so I could enjoy my DCs' fun vicariously.

Thanks for the get well wishes. The post-op IV morphine is lovely and taking the edge off the anxiety slightly (note: not a recommended long-term coping strategy Grin)

WhatIWant · 12/01/2018 01:25

Nights and going away, though, is where it truly kicks off. Dunno why. Wish I could turn it off so I could enjoy my DCs' fun vicariously

Ugh, that must be so frustrating for you. It must be annoying knowing that you aren't being logical but not being able to control your feelings. Sometimes I think humans weren't designed very well. 😜 Hopefully you anxiety will get better as the kids get older. (Although there always seems to be something to worry about when you have kids 🤔 ).

Rainbowsandflowers78 · 12/01/2018 01:45

I understand where your wife is coming from - it’s not you - she just doesn’t want her daughter away from her. Don’t take it personally.

Why not just enjoy a child free weekend?

ElphabaTheGreen · 12/01/2018 01:53

It must be annoying knowing that you aren't being logical but not being able to control your feelings. Sometimes I think humans weren't designed very well.

Vulcans have it right. I think I aspire to be a Vulcan 🖖

Hopefully you anxiety will get better as the kids get older.

I honestly think gritting my teeth and letting them go is slowly helping, thanks (note this, OP).

Graphista · 12/01/2018 02:06

I'd love to hear op's wife's side of this. So much unanswered which are pivotal to the question.

Where is this weekend taking place?
How are you travelling? You say 4 hours each travel day, that is a lot for a little one over a weekend. If you're driving it can be difficult to properly keep an eye on child AND drive paying full attention.

If you're driving does your wife consider you a safe driver?

why does your child have a strict diet? Medical issues?

Does your wife and your family get on well? Do they agree on child rearing mostly or not?

What reason has SHE given?

That op has given VERY little info suggests to me there may well be a GOOD reason wife doesn't feel comfortable with this.

NinaMarieP · 12/01/2018 02:47

I'd love to see the replies if a woman said her husband wouldn't let her take their child to visit her parents for the weekend because he couldn't go too.

pallisers · 12/01/2018 02:51

If a woman posted this there would be links to womans aid. Not suggestions that an adult male couldn't possibly drive and mind a 4 year old for 4 hours or oversee his child's diet away from home the same way he does at home.

I feel for the OP's wife. She clearly is very anxious and it is difficult for her to be without her 4 year old for a night. But that is no reason for the OP to have to resign himself to never travelling with his children alone, never bringing his children to visit his family alone. There must be a compromise.

Elphaba's post is truly helpful.

Cavender · 12/01/2018 03:09

Could you chat this through again with your wife looking at the positives.

Being able to care for your D.C. solo is actually a great thing.

What if in future she was ill, needed an operation, needed to travel for work or wanted to attend an event with her family or friends that isn’t suitable for the kids?

You having a nice safe, low key trip with your DD to test things out in a family environment sounds like a great dry run.

You can suggest regular texts, calls, FaceTime etc to keep her up to date.

If she's truly anxious pushing it might not be the best idea but it’s worth gently and positively discussing it with her further.

Try not to be insulted, or doesn’t sound like this is a commentary on you as a father.

alltheworld · 12/01/2018 03:23

Anxiety is irrational but it doesn’t mean it isn’t real. I know a mum who won’t let her kids go on sleepovers or unaccompanied day parties. In all other respects she is lovely but she cannot separate in that regard.
So you are within your rights to just insist but she may genuinely not be able to cope.

Oblomov18 · 12/01/2018 10:32

This is not Ok. Talk to your wife and make sure she understands that this is not normal. Your wife needs to go and see her GP Re her anxiety. Or if she refuses, maybe make an appointment and go with her, so you can express your concerns to her GP.

uhoh2016 · 12/01/2018 11:35

This is a really sad situation. Your daughter is missing out on a fun weekend away with her extended family all due to the anxiety of her mother. I have suffered from anxiety too so I know how much it can take over your life, if I was in this situation then quite frankly I'd just suffer for the weekend for the benefit of my child. It's 2 days not 2 weeks and she's with her Dad not a complete stranger. Unless there's some issues you haven't told us about like drugs alcohol violence etc then there's absolutely no reason whatsoever why you and your daughter shouldn't have a lovely weekend together. I hope you both do go and enjoy yourselves.

Lushmetender · 12/01/2018 13:19

Sounds like anxiety. She’s probably concerned something might happen - my DH takes kids for overnight stays but I’m on pins. Concerned they’ll crash on the way (concerned for all including DH). Or whatever. I have a friend who’s husband will only take one child at a time to something particularly flying anywhere in case something happens. Mad I know!

Greenglassteacup · 12/01/2018 13:32

My guess would be that she doesn't like your parents / other family member but you haven't responded to poster's questions about that......

thethoughtfox · 12/01/2018 13:38

Reassure her: plan out what the trip will be like, how this will fit with her routine, where, when and what will be the plan for eating, sleeping, occupying her and if, and when, she gets upset and misses her mother. Show her you have it covered. Maybe you shouldn't have to but if she is the primary caregiver and has anxiety, this would be the decent thing to do.

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