Leaving a child at the airport

[Longboardpedro]

I have 3 kids with my wife. She is from Germany but we live in the UK. She had tickets to head back to see family for new years.

Unfortunately my eldest daughter only had 2 months left on her passport so when they reached the final gate for departure, my eldest was turned away from flying.

I had to collect her and bring her home whilst my wife carried on with her trip to germany with the 2 other kids. My eldest was heartbroken.

I was shocked, as this is something I could never do. We either all go or no one goes is how I approach things but keen to get some feedback from other parents on their opinions if that was OK?

I can’t understand some of the responses here. The OP has been admonished for not checking his DD’s passport (turns out mum and children go to Germany regularly so mum looks after their passports), not being at the airport to say goodbye (he was but then left to come home and turned back to collect his daughter), been shamed for not wanting to spend time with his daughter and been accused of being annoyed as he won’t get to do his own thing and his fun alone time has been curve balled by having to parent. Meanwhile mum who couldn’t take her 9yr old daughter to Germany has had an easy ride

I would have made the same decision. It was the best one in difficult circumstances. You can make it up to your DD

I wonder if the posters saying OP is getting a hard time cos he's a man would be gullible enough to believe this implausible account if he weren't.

What do you mean?

The OP says that the passport has 2 months left on it, where are you getting that passport control was wrong?

Infact, once your eldest's passport comes back renewed, you can show your wife how it's done properly at the airport next time and take all three children yourself to visit the in inlaws. Then your wife can enjoy some well deserved child free time 🤪

Flights to Germany must be cheap as chips. I wouldn't have left an upset 9yr old alone at an airport. I'd have kicked myself for not checking passports, returned home and rebooked to go again. It's a quick flight to see relatives on a run of the mill trip, easy to rearrange.

I can't see where the OP has said the wife left the child at the airport? As in they left and the child was waiting for you there? How old were they? Was a member of staff looking after them?

Obviously she takes the children, I assumed that didn't need to be said in the context of the post

ETA i see now that I think misunderstood your post. I'm confused now about what your saying

Sorry.

What I meant was why did you mention Germany asks for 3 months? It will still out of date for travel there.

It's all in the first post.
He dropped them off, he had to go back and pick up the 'abandoned child' after her mum had left.

Same

Report if you think it's a troll.

OP said in the first post it was a trip for New Year .

This. Poor parenting from both of you.

Because the pp who originally posted said that you need 6 months, I was clarifying that that isn't right for Eurpoe

Flights aren’t cheap at this time of year.

She frequently travels with the kids to Germany, so clearly they can afford these frequent trips. She should've rearranged. Who leaves a 9yr behind because no-one has bothered to check that the passports are valid.

I am surprised people think it was a joint responsibility to check validity of passports when the OP wasn't taking the trip.

I doubt he would have been expected to if he had been female, so it does feel like double standards.