Would you go?

bim38106

My cousin is getting married next summer and has asked for both my girls to be her flower girls. The wedding is in Belgium, which is an 8 hour flight + a 3 hour layover + another hour flight. My entire extended family lives there and I would get to see everyone. I'm not super close to my cousin, mainly because I moved to the US when I was 4..though I did spend every summer there growing up.

DH can't go, but my mom would probably (hopefully!) be able to do the trip with me. For that long of a flight, we would buy a seat for both girls...tix are around $1200 a piece...x 3!

Also, we'd probably have to rent a car and car seats for both girls (since US seats don't install properly in European cars. We know for sure because we took DD1 there to visit family when she was 7mos). And once we're there, I don't know how much activities we'll have for the girls to do...and we'll be staying 1-2 weeks for the trip to be worth it.

Another issue (kinda) is that I haven't been teaching French to my girls. I know, bad bad me! I want to, but I'm really losing my French and it's hard. I don't know how out of sorts and uncomfortable DD1 will be surrounded by people who only speak French.

But on the other hand, my grandparents, who I am SUPER close to, are old (85 and 87). So I feel like this will probably be the last chance I will ever get to see them. They can't travel out to see us anymore, like they used to yearly. And I'd love for them to meet DD2 and get to see DD1 again. Gosh, I'm in tears just writing that, which may just give me my answer (Go!).

Thoughts? At the time, DD1 will be 3.5 and DD2 will be almost 2.

 

Telyco

I'd definitely go.

gobigblue

if you have the $ and someone to go w/ you to  help w/ the girls, go for it.  the flight will suck and the whole car/carseat thing will too, but what a great trip!

armandos_girl

I'd go.  Like a pp said, the flight will suck, but the trip overall will be worth it!

I was almost in a similar position - my sister gets married next month and originally the wedding was to be in Dubai!  I had no idea how we were going to do it with a 16 mo. old (I still don't and I don't know how it would have worked with me being pg on top of that) but luckily they moved the wedding to Ohio. 

lovemytwoboys

gobigblue:

if you have the $ and someone to go w/ you to help w/ the girls, go for it.  the flight will suck and the whole car/carseat thing will too, but what a great trip!

These were my thoughts exactly. 

If money is not an issue and someone will be going with you to help with the girls, I would definitely do it. It sounds like it would be an awesome trip, especially since you would get to visit with your grandparents. 

Temp159135562506975

i couldn't afford it - but if i could i would go.

HarrietNJMommy

I would go with those ages. 

I'm just waiting until DS is older (maybe in 2-3 years) to go to Greece for the summer. I would go sooner, but I have to do one of the legs on my own and I don't have help there and Greece isn't so child-friendly and there are 3 of my kids....... It's also about $1400 per ticket, and we'll need 5! UGH! 

LisaMarisa

I just took a toddler to Denmark this summer (he was 18 months) and I will never do it again.  The flight was horrible both ways.  He didnt sleep at all and was miserable, it is just too long for a toddler or preschooler to sit in a seat.  That said, we were able to use his carseat there, we just strapped it in with a seat belt, and it was a necessity for the flight, I never would have been able to keep him in his seat otherwise. 

Only you can decide if it is worth all of the hassle to go but I swore I would never do it again until my kids are old enough to understand being on a plane and the rules (like 5 years old).  That said, I didnt go to see family and if it was possibly my last chance to see my grandparents that might make it worth it. 

So maybe my advice is to just be prepared for a very stressful travel day and hope that your kiddos will sleep on the plane!

naturelle25

Goldie_Locks_5:

i couldn't afford it - but if i could i would go.

this. 

CaitlinJ22

I would do it, it will be a trip you will never forget...in a good way

Raffes484

I would go.

erbear

I'd go. the trip might suck but with family there, once you get there it should be fine. Especially if grandma's there!

bim38106

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to go for it! I mentioned it to DH again today and he said "who said you'd be going alone?" Umm...you?! So now he's considering going anyway... we'll see. It would definitely be less stressful if he did come! But even if he doesn't, I think I would regret not going if either of my grandparents passed soon after. I hate thinking about that, but realistically.....

Anyway, I have time, but I'm already stressing about the flight. It will definitely be worth it though. Just have to keep telling myself that