What a Trip

Shove over!

If you are about to embark on a road trip, will the backseat be squished all the way to the cottage? If you have other siblings, will they be resentful if they have to bunk together?

How well do you know this kid?

It’s better to invite a friend you know well than, “You know him, Mom, that kid who came by last summer.”

Have a choice of a few friends

If the chosen friend cannot make it, your trip with your tween will be worse than if you’d never asked a friend along. Before your child decides on whom to ask, look at a list of a few friends and send out feelers to the parents before making a formal invitation to see if it would be feasible. It will help to have ‘back up’ kids who you know would be a good fit on the trip if the first choice can’t come along.

It costs how much?

Here’s the tricky part. As you are the person extending the invitation, good etiquette dictates that you need to absorb the friend’s costs. Most parents, however, will offer to pony up some extra to help with the expenses. Consider the finances of the friend’s family, too. If you know they couldn’t afford to help out, let them know, diplomatically, that you are offering to cover all costs.

Just to be clear

Before your child excitedly runs off to invite his buddy, let him know that the invitation must come from you to the parents. That way you can give the parents a chance to ask questions and to discuss any concerns they might have. You can then find out the child’s food preferences, health concerns, discipline preferences and any tips they might have to help you on your journey. Supply the child’s parents with an itinerary and contact numbers.

✽Be sure you have the friend’s health card, directions about any medications and an emergency contact in case you cannot reach the child’s parents. If you’re planning to cross borders, get consent letters. They need to state that you have permission to take the child on holiday with you, and should be signed by both of the child’s parents if possible. PC