Have a 10yo dd who is at boarding school ( please dont let this get into a boarding debate).
The school runs a place in France where they send several classes every year for a few weeks at a time to help improve spoken French. There is also an element of the usual school trip activities, shopping in groups, mountain walking and biking, swimming etc.
I went to a meeting at school last night about the trip and left feeling pretty sick. I am just panicked and freaked out by the whole thing. I thought I would be OK and know she will have no homesickness problems because she usually opts to stay in school for weekends instead of coming home. SO I know its not the seperation aspect that scares me. I think it is the unfamiliarity of the place and 2 of the staff that are French and run the residence (only 1 staff member from the school goes).
So far I have visualised a plane crash, terrorist attacks, bus crashes, avalanches (unlikley in the summer)kidnap, rape, my daughter getting lost, falling off a mountain, drowning etc etc.
The school run these trip several times a year and set classes go at the same time of year every year. Its a big thing for the kids and they are all so excited. I know DD is expecting to go - well we assumed she would go. The head said at the start of last night that it was a very full trip as no one had opted out of going. So now I feel really pressurised into letting her go even though after last night I just dont want to let her go. Its impossible for us to say NO to it now, she would hate us for ever, havung to stay at school whilst her class has a jolly get away in France that will no doubt be hot gossip over the coming months.
HELP!! Am I being stooopid? insane? Irrational??? (that I am sure). Please are there any mumsnetters with older children who have been through this that can help, advise or reassure me, cos I am sobbing here, just not knowing whether to let her go or not.
apologies for my typos!!