What would you do?

[Starryeyed]

Its my 30th birthday soon, and my husband has asked me to choose my present. I can either have a macro lens or I can have a 2 night 3 day stay in Disneyland Paris.

I want both. LOL! The kids will LOVE the disneyland thing, we went in June and had an amazing time. Its a very long drive (and we would drive not get eurostar) about 16 hours each way with a 4 year old, 2 year old and 8 month old. Last time we went we 5 nights 6 days which meant we recovered from the drive before having to do it again. Plus the baby was only 8 weeks old and slept A LOT, he doesn't now!!! and I'm also going to have to take the 4 year old out of school (he's just started 'big school' this week).

The lens, ahhh, I really want one. But its a very selfish present - only I'm going to get any joy out of it and other than the pictures taken with it, its kind of usless to anyone but me.

Will the journey be too long for the kids if we're only staying for 2 nights? Is the lens a very self-indulgent present? Am I just using the journey as an excuse?

What would you do? Honest answers please!

Love Natalie x

[gturner]

I have kids the same age, so I understand the dilemma. Trekking that far for 2 nights is heavy on the kids and you. 3 nights would make a big difference.

You are worried about the bad mother tag - don't stress, get the lens and take pics of the kids to ease your guilt

[Chip]

I have one daughter. She's 12. So I have some idea of your situation. Honestly, 16 hours each way, for a relatively short stay, when the kids are that young? When the kids get a bit older and can appreciate things like Disney Paris even more, you'll still have quite a long time to do things like this with them. But right now, I wouldn't volunteer for all that goes along with this sort of trip.

Any way to compromise? Maybe get the lens, practice with it, then take a fun, inexpensive day trip, to some new place, with the whole family?

I'd take the lens. My 2 cents.

And have a Happy Birthday!

[Carl911]

Get the lense and take the kids to see the new disney movie, 'Up' which should be out in the next few weeks at your local cinema.

Carl

[fletch]

So you went to Disneyland Paris 5 months ago... And now you don't know whether to go again? Most kids don't get to go once in their lives, let alone twice in six months so I'm sure you don't need to feel guilty about not taking them. Especially since its term time.

I'd say ditch the kids and go to Paris (without the Disneyland!), afterall it is your birthday and you will get to take lots of pictures there. Take the kids to Paington Zoo instead.

[Starryeyed]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I agree, its a very long way to go for just 2 nights, and we did only go a few months back. Perhaps we can save and go again next year (It was brilliant!) but for longer. I have guilt about not doing something for the children, but like Fletch rightly points out, most children will never get the chance to go.

Oooo, Paignton Zoo!! its ace! We have a membership there and go nearly every week. I'll take the kids to the zoo, and maybe get the lens and take some nice macro pics while I'm there!

Thank you for not saying I'd be a horrible mummy if I did something purely for me.

Natalie :0)

[pax]

Uhm..I'd take the lens.....Well its easy to say that now,But given the same choice,I'd also feel guilty..

Who's birthday is it? Yours or theirs?

Take the lens.

[DogHeadGod]

Get the lens, it's YOUR birthday! A holiday is a "household" gift, and as my mother always says "Don't even think about getting me a household gift you little ingrate!"

[Saralonde]

Me? I'd take the lens and get some adorable pics of my children. The 100mm lens is a great close-up portrait lens. Disneyland is fun, but you were just there and a 3 day vacation with kids is a bit hectic.

Moms have a tendency to give and give and think that anything that's for themselves alone is "selfish". Sometimes a little "selfish" is a good thing .

Just my opinion.