Please help! I need a confidence boost

FBaby

Look at it as an adventure that you are sharing with the kids. They will love it. I used to take my kids a lot when I was single and they loved it, they were alwaya well behaved. I am now with a partner but still take the kids away once a year just on our own. We had the closet time and special memories from these times. It is scary, but if you do see it as an adventure and involve them in all of it, they will love it.

meer53

When my ex left, in a fit of anger, i booked a holiday to Florida for myself, my daughter (who was 3) my son (then aged 15) and one of his mates.

I was carried along on a tide of "sod him, i can do this !" UNTIL, i got in the car in Orlando. I'd booked flights, villa and car, not a package.

Well, it was dark, the kids promptly fell asleep and it was raining. I had to find the villa from some tiny map with a route picked out with a highlighter ! I'd never driven on the wrong side of the road but at least there were no gears to worry about !

I got lost, once, and managed to find the villa after a very "Challenge Anneka" type journey (showing my age here !) Had to find a Management Office, pick up an envelope from a lock box, this had the directions to the villa in it, then drive to the villa.

You wouldn't believe the euphoria i felt when i opened the door to that villa ! The holiday was fantastic, one of the best i've ever had. I've done it 5 times since ! Off again this year.

OP, this holiday will make you think so differently about yourself, my advice would be to take things hour by hour until you get to your destination, just make sure you're in the right place at the right time. Once you're there, completely relax and enjoy yourselves, you'll be sooo proud of yourself. I hope you all have a fantastic time xx Let us know how it went when you get back

RedBern

Lots of good advice already. I get stressed about getting to the airport - once I'm there it's fine - so allow loads of time. If you've got a couple of youngsters why not get a picnic for when you get to the airport (depending on what time you're travelling) and just get there with lots of time to spare. If you're going to Bristol airport then it's easy once you've parked and it's not a big airport at all, so not much to do or places to get lost! The satnav takes you via the city centre (I'm assuming Bristol as you're in s wales). We went via M49 recently (if you go on new Severn Bridge it's the turning immediately at the end of it) and then followed the signs from there for the airport and it's much faster and doesn't go through the centre of the city.

Good luck - think of us all tomorrow when you're in your nice warm resort and we're all freezing here....

ollow

Thank you for all your kind words.

Yes we are flying from Bristol Airport, I was just going to put the post code in the sat nav and hope or the best.

Unfortunately not going somewhere warm but we are off to Disneyland Paris. We've been saving for 18 months for this trip so I just want it to be special for the children.

bellevie

Hope you have an amazing time :-)

poet123

Have a great time. You can do it. Could you do a trial run?

Seanymph

Oh disneyland is easy! I've done it several times, there are endless people to ask.

You need to book for some things - like to eat at the pirate cafe, or for character breakfasts.... so they are worth checking out on the first day.

If your children have ANY sort of disability take proof - you get support, queue jumper passes and the like, they are really geared up.

Don't worry, you can't go wrong there!

Sommer43

What a fab time you and your children will have. You will be able to do this and once you've done it, you'll wonder what all the worrying was about.

I have been driving for over 23 years and I am still learning to drive. Keep focused, use the sat nav and read the signs for the airport parking.

Come back and let us know how you get on. Looks like everyone is rooting for you and you'll have a wonderful time. Paris is great and the children can even pick up a few French phrases. The Severn Bridge this time, in a few years, the Brooklyn bridge and the Golden Gate bridge. Take your time, keep up with the speed limit, enjoy your drive. I love driving and particularly to an airport to go on holiday.

My ex-husband worked away and I remember the same feeling of fear when I had my daughter and how I was to going to drive to the supermarket with two children. Couldn't rationalise it in my head. But when it came to it, I worked it out and it was fine.

Good luck.

suejb2

The first of anything is daunting. Be easy on yourself you,ve done right by giving yourself more time .Enjoy your time away and you'll think "crikey I am good...damn good"

marisco_2

You are travelling on a Sunday, so hopefully the roads will be quieter than usual. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and sort out the parking. There are always clear signs so you can find your way around and there will be plenty of people to assist you.

If the thought of driving to the airport and using airport parking feels overwhelming then dont do it, accept the lift you were offered. Or if it isn't available now just book a cab. Maybe not very MSE but sometimes there is more to life than watching every penny. Peace of mind and being able to enjoy the start of your holiday with your children is more important.

Your airline should be able to arrange meet and assistance from the check in desk to the boarding gate. Phone them up and ask for it. Just explain to them that you haven't travelled before and most are only to happy to help you out.

Get all the bags packed today. Sort out all your documents so that tomorrow you can wake up, get ready, have breakfast and leave home without any added pressure or panic.

I am also a lone parent and have travelled with my two children. I use to travel the world and not give it a second thought when I was in my teens and twenties. It is a different scenario when you have two littlies to be responsible for. So, so worth it though and I am sure you will all have a wonderful experience.