Evening all, I'm look for an adventure.I'd love to do the rally but I have a small 5year old problem my lad.
My lad gets 9weeks off school from July to September. Would taking him on the Mongol rally be the best thing ever for a 5year old or a complete disaster. He travels very well and distance isnt a problem for him (although hes not travelled 10000miles in a trip before) hes been lucky enough to go to the ring twice which hes enjoyed, Obviously the wife will be popping along as well. id would love to do it in a 1.1-1.2 panda.
Am I being foolish. I can't do it on my own as I'm a stay at home dad/cash point/chauffeur/his events organiser..etc. and I'd miss him plus he'd be pissed if he knew what i was doing without him.

You know your son better than anyone else, I doubt many could advise really imo.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

You know your son better than anyone else, I doubt many could advise really imo.

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I agree - but, if you need to ask the question, it seems you have some doubts so you might be better to go for something less ambitious at the moment. I'd have thought one problem would be that, if you had to give up for reasons that could be attributed to the lad - not suggesting any fault - he would know and might feel responsible/guilty.

You're a parent, so you have to (legally) provide a duty of care for the child. There is an increased risk of accident and exposure to disease in such a rally, and before you made any decision you'd need medical advice as to whether the child can even be vaccinated against yellow fever and malaria.

Then you have to decide whether your own medical/first aid skills can tell the difference between a child suffering from dehydration, and one suffering from anything else. On top of that, if you break down, rescue could be 48 hours or more away and the child could die of shock and heat stroke in a situation where an adult might not.

The child is not capable at five years old of making any rational decision about going, other than he'd miss you. You're projecting your ambitions onto him. If he gets very sick en route, you're going to have to fly him home. Got a quote for health and accident accident insurance for him yet?

Go to Torquay like everyone else.

I've got two sons, one 4.5 year old and one 2.5 year old. And no, it's definitely not something I'd want to do with them. I think there's plenty of time waiting till he's older for the likes of that. The rally has been running for years. I can't see it stopping in the foreseeable.
Go to a holiday camp, let him have some fun. I'd say he'd be bored after a couple of days of solid driving.

It's something to do with a 17 year old...

Your all right he is to young for this,maybe doing chez wrecks could be better for him. It's only a couple of days.

It's okay, I can appreciate your enthusiasm in wanting to get your son involved. I guess children just take ages before they grow up. In years to come if he shares your enthusiasm you could have an amazing time doing rallies all over, sounds brilliant.