Christian retreat with toddler in tow - possible?

[ErnestTheBavarian]

I've got a week in March where dh going away with 3 ds, but I'll still have dd aged 2.9 I would love a quiet retreat in uk, but would have to bring dd. Any ideas?

Just going to cottage in middle of nowhere won't do as dd would need entertaining. Guided retreat would be wonderful but seemingly impossible - or is it?

have a look here

There may be somewhere nearby that you can stay, and there are beautiful beaches for playing on and a small local playgroup one day a week. Also daytrips to the neighbouring island.

thank you so much. I am really sorry though, forgot to mention it´ll need to be easily reachable from Gatwick/Stansted.

Ernest, I've never been on a retreat (would love to though) but I would have thought that the point is to be able to shut off outside daily distractions and direct your focus on God. Maybe you are a very different person to me but I would find that impossible with my kids around. Even if it were one of my teenagers, I would be constantly aware of them, putting their needs first, wondering if they were okay/bored/hungry

Am sure others will have more helpful suggestions though! Good luck and hope you find something

I know what you mean about taking the kids, it would be handy sometimes, that age appropriate stuff could be done for them too.

I came back from a lovely weekend retreat once to find DH and the kids squabbling, and the atmosphere was dreadful!

Not sure if that sort of thing is possible...

Maybe there's a Christian marketing opportunity here!! A bit like Mark Warner where you have child care given by qualified nannies and kids' clubs but instead of playing tennis or sunbathing, the adults get to spend time in prayer or contemplation!!

I took DD on a family retreat at Worth Abbey which is v near Gatwick - it was wonderful and not everyone was Catholic. At the time dd was 18 months old and I was a single parent. There were other families there. It was a v happy experience.

This got me thinking... we did a MN prayer thread meetup once, and hired a church hall, and had fellowship and worship with the littlies joining in. It was fab! :)

Ashburnham is nearish Gatwick (I think). HAve only been there during Revive! week though so not sure if they have kids work going on all the time. It's a beautiful place.

thank you, I tried Worth And Ashburnham, but neither can help - I could stay at Worth, but just as a guest, not spiritual direction/prayer or anything, and Ashburnham don't accept children under 11. And wouldn't have any prayer/guidened retreat aspect to it either, so. :(

But thanks for suggestions. I'll have to think of an alternative, as I don't just want to rattle at home for a week with dd. Hmm, what else could I do, that would also give me a break?