Minor rant: in Europe with completely useless in laws and a toddler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you trying to take buses with a baby and an elderly couple? Is this some sort of budget trip? That’s your first problem right there. Loosen the purse springs and spring for a taxi and other small luxuries and things will go better. You won’t be trying to find the bus stop while your in laws watch you and try to prevent your kid from running into traffic.

PS, that kind of travel might have worked on your study abroad, but you’re not in college anymore. If you’re the group leader, then you need to make reasonable arrangements for your group.

My kid is 2. We can’t do a taxi because they don’t have car seats. We are staying at a nice hotel in Kensington. This isn’t a budget trip, but we have to make some adjustments for the fact that we have a toddler.

No car seat needed for travel in licensed taxis or mini cabs. Do your research.

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

I’m aware of the rules. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to take that risk. I’m not comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to give them the option of down time. At dinner tonight, discuss tomorrow's activities, both morning and afternoon. Ask them if they want to do both. Give them an out if they want to rest in the afternoon.

If all else fails, when you go to a museum, can you pick a spot and meet them in an hour. Traveling can be tough when others won't ever take the lead or express something they might want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you trying to take buses with a baby and an elderly couple? Is this some sort of budget trip? That’s your first problem right there. Loosen the purse springs and spring for a taxi and other small luxuries and things will go better. You won’t be trying to find the bus stop while your in laws watch you and try to prevent your kid from running into traffic.

PS, that kind of travel might have worked on your study abroad, but you’re not in college anymore. If you’re the group leader, then you need to make reasonable arrangements for your group.

My kid is 2. We can’t do a taxi because they don’t have car seats. We are staying at a nice hotel in Kensington. This isn’t a budget trip, but we have to make some adjustments for the fact that we have a toddler.

No car seat needed for travel in licensed taxis or mini cabs. Do your research.

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

I’m aware of the rules. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to take that risk. I’m not comfortable with it.

. But you will go on a bus with a car seat? Aye yi yi. Critical thinking skills are not your forte, eh?

[Anonymous]

Ha! OMG! So useless, like my ILS! They came to my wedding, to their son, and we took a train from one capital to the other, and then I got them a sleeping car, explained that it will be crazy busy and we have to be ready to leave the train half an hour before, my country was in huge economic crisis at that time, people swarming the train.... and they are SLEEPING when the train is about to leave for Romania! It was like taking care of the babies, they left early morning on my wedding night!!! And even though my cousin was there, took them, took care of everything, to the detail, they called us some 30 times at the hotel! And FIL brought two suitcases of food, that he didn't eat at all, and took it BACK! After seeing how bad my country was and that stores were empty(Balkan War.) Never, ever, ever, travel anywhere with your ILS. Now, my parents used to travel around Europe, but they don't speak English, and honest to God, my dad was able to drive and find his way, and my mom did the same exact thing your ILS did here. Somehow this same woman who vacationed in Greece was unable to go across the street unless I held her hand, just about! Yes, any travel involving parents is anathema to me! My mom got lost in our two street suburb! The only way to ever take older people anywhere is exactly how tourists from Asia do it. I am not kidding, rope around them, huge scarf above, every single step with a tour guide. What were you thinking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you trying to take buses with a baby and an elderly couple? Is this some sort of budget trip? That’s your first problem right there. Loosen the purse springs and spring for a taxi and other small luxuries and things will go better. You won’t be trying to find the bus stop while your in laws watch you and try to prevent your kid from running into traffic.

PS, that kind of travel might have worked on your study abroad, but you’re not in college anymore. If you’re the group leader, then you need to make reasonable arrangements for your group.

My kid is 2. We can’t do a taxi because they don’t have car seats. We are staying at a nice hotel in Kensington. This isn’t a budget trip, but we have to make some adjustments for the fact that we have a toddler.

No car seat needed for travel in licensed taxis or mini cabs. Do your research.

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

I’m aware of the rules. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to take that risk. I’m not comfortable with it.

. But you will go on a bus with a car seat? Aye yi yi. Critical thinking skills are not your forte, eh?

Wow, you’re nasty. No one has seatbelts on busses, and yet seatbelts are required for cars, including cabs. There is clearly a difference.

[Anonymous]

It's your kid. Why are you blaming your elderly in laws for not helping rather than getting annoyed at your husband for staying back at the hotel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's your kid. Why are you blaming your elderly in laws for not helping rather than getting annoyed at your husband for staying back at the hotel?

I’m supposed to get annoyed at him because he had work to do?

[Anonymous]

Wow OP, I was sympathetic at first, but honestly now I just feel sorry for your inlaws. They are on their first trip ever to Europe, your husband is working in the hotel, and you are dragging them on some ridiculous excursion by public bus (and getting lost in the process) just because you don’t feel safe putting little precious in a London cab without a car seat, even though the ridiculously protectionist British government says it’s perfectly legal to do so. Maybe it’s you who isn’t cut out for foreign travel. Just wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you trying to take buses with a baby and an elderly couple? Is this some sort of budget trip? That’s your first problem right there. Loosen the purse springs and spring for a taxi and other small luxuries and things will go better. You won’t be trying to find the bus stop while your in laws watch you and try to prevent your kid from running into traffic.

PS, that kind of travel might have worked on your study abroad, but you’re not in college anymore. If you’re the group leader, then you need to make reasonable arrangements for your group.

My kid is 2. We can’t do a taxi because they don’t have car seats. We are staying at a nice hotel in Kensington. This isn’t a budget trip, but we have to make some adjustments for the fact that we have a toddler.

No car seat needed for travel in licensed taxis or mini cabs. Do your research.

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

I’m aware of the rules. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to take that risk. I’m not comfortable with it.

. But you will go on a bus with a car seat? Aye yi yi. Critical thinking skills are not your forte, eh?

Wow, you’re nasty. No one has seatbelts on busses, and yet seatbelts are required for cars, including cabs. There is clearly a difference.

Yes, it's called compartmentalization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP, I was sympathetic at first, but honestly now I just feel sorry for your inlaws. They are on their first trip ever to Europe, your husband is working in the hotel, and you are dragging them on some ridiculous excursion by public bus (and getting lost in the process) just because you don’t feel safe putting little precious in a London cab without a car seat, even though the ridiculously protectionist British government says it’s perfectly legal to do so. Maybe it’s you who isn’t cut out for foreign travel. Just wow.

Wow, ok, let’s slow down here.

1. DH was working once. One time.

2. Our “ridiculous excursion” was taking a bus to the Tower of London. Crazy, right? We were lost for about 10 min and then I figured it out and we got there. We didn’t take the Tube because ILs aren’t comfortable helping with the stroller at stations without lifts.

3. Despite the rules, I don’t think putting a toddler in a car without a car seat is safe. Doesn’t matter if it’s a cab or a regular car.

4. I’ve been to well over 30 countries on 4 continents.

[Anonymous]

I love when people complain on here about how they're so sick of the people in their life's complaining.

Uh pot calling the kettle black?

All you do is complain in here OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love when people complain on here about how they're so sick of the people in their life's complaining.

Uh pot calling the kettle black?

All you do is complain in here OP!

I would view it as expressing frustration at being a tour operator, but if you want to call it complaining that’s cool.

[Anonymous]

DP. I ride buses all the time. I take my toddler on them. I also take uber/taxi a lot. I would never put my toddler in one without a carseat.

Buses move slowly. They start/stop constantly. Uber/taxi drivers drive like they're in the Indy 500.

Also, riding the bus is one of the best ways to see London (I used to live there). I would always take guests on certain bus lines, especially the double decker ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: my teen aged DDs were seasoned travelers but on an extended trip at about the week point like your ILs they just wanted familiarity. They found a place called Johnny Rockets (it truly wasn’t THE chain. I stomped off angry that they weren’t taking in all the culture etc etc. That recharged them and changed mood for all. Why not make tomorrow a super simple ‘familiar’ day for them. Your vision of breezing through all the sights and sounds obviously is not theirs. They are thrilled to be included so embrace that and see the trip from their eyes as much as you can.

I will try to do that for them. It’s a good idea.

This trip really was meant to be for them. They kept talking about wanting to go to London and Rome and were telling all their friends how amazing it is that we organized this trip. I never got the impression they thought being with our toddler was a hindrance; if anything they keep wanting more time with her. I think they just underestimated how unfamiliar everything would be (even in London!) and are overwhelmed. My MIL is significantly overweight and said her feet were swollen after 2 days. We’ve been really trying to keep things slow for them, especially after hearing that.

Huh. For some reason, that did not come across at all in your original post ...

Maybe try to remember that this trip is for them, and it sounds like they are very grateful to you and DH for planning it. Besides, it's not like this is your first time across the pond (as you told us in exhaustive detail), so a) they aren't ruining a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you and b) why WOULDN'T the more experienced traveler(s) in the group be the de facto leaders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. I ride buses all the time. I take my toddler on them. I also take uber/taxi a lot. I would never put my toddler in one without a carseat.

Buses move slowly. They start/stop constantly. Uber/taxi drivers drive like they're in the Indy 500.

Also, riding the bus is one of the best ways to see London (I used to live there). I would always take guests on certain bus lines, especially the double decker ones.

OP here. Yeah I find the anti bus comments weird. ILs like them because they’re easier than the Tube and I like them because of the ease and the cheaper cost. You also get to see a lot of the city.