Have you ever backed out of a multi-family trip last-minute?

[Anonymous]

Will you regret it when you see all their #makingmemories posts on social media?

[Anonymous]

You have to consider you will never be asked again and that you/your kids may be frozen out of the group forever.

[Anonymous]

“Guys I’m so sorry to do this but my boss recently quit and left me in a lurch. I’m absolutely drowning in work and I just can’t get away. If there were any way to avoid it I would, and I was really hoping somehow it would work out, but things have only gotten worse. I’m truly disappointed because I look forward to this so much but I’m barely holding it together right now.”

[Anonymous]

You are doing multiple trips and now just worried about Covid. Hire a housekeeper for the laundry and go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to consider you will never be asked again and that you/your kids may be frozen out of the group forever.

This. I would just suck it up and go.

I would think you were flaky and not invite you again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Guys I’m so sorry to do this but my boss recently quit and left me in a lurch. I’m absolutely drowning in work and I just can’t get away. If there were any way to avoid it I would, and I was really hoping somehow it would work out, but things have only gotten worse. I’m truly disappointed because I look forward to this so much but I’m barely holding it together right now.”

They are going to immediately pounce with:
“You can work from the beach house—we have WiFi!”
“We’ll watch the kids while you work!”
“We’ll take your dinner night, no worries!”
“We’ll bring the groceries for you, just bring yourselves!”

Which is all very nice, but if OP truly can’t handle it, the above speech WILL NOT get them off her back.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, I have a tight group of very old friends from high school who I don't even see very often but I would totally understand if someone texted to back out under these circumstances. Part of being solid friends is knowing when someone just *can't* do it. If you haven't flaked repeatedly in the past there's no way you'll be iced out in the future. Friends care about each other and I think they should understand. They'll be disappointed bc they love you!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t skip, OP. Of course, I would also feel so lucky to have a group of family friends like this. We have never had this.

[Anonymous]

Call one of the people in one of the other families that you are close to and tell her how you are feeling and ask her to talk you into it. Usually works. You just sound like you need a good night's sleep.

[Anonymous]

Op, you to need to go. Go to bed ridiculously early tonight. It will make an enormous difference.

[Anonymous]

I would feel like your planned poorly and your other trip and camp were just more important to you. I’d wish you would have declined from the beginning and I’d put you in the “flake” category going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would feel like your planned poorly and your other trip and camp were just more important to you. I’d wish you would have declined from the beginning and I’d put you in the “flake” category going forward.

Even with a long-term friend?

[Anonymous]

Just go or you may be permanently out of the beach house group. Kids can pack their own stuff. Keep it simple. You’ll have a good time once you get there.

[Anonymous]

I would still go but tell them about your boss quitting and that you are swamped at work. Take one day and go to the public library and treat it like a work day. Morning and evening do things with your friends. My DH has a crazy job and he has to do this often on vacation. When he is present, he is really present, he just has to carve out time to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to consider you will never be asked again and that you/your kids may be frozen out of the group forever.

What kind of psychos are you friends with? Op has made it 10 years. They might be irritated at the last minute cancel but I highly doubt they would drop her entire family forever over it. Your friendships must be so damn stressful if you think any misstep = permanent banishment.