mel

Ok Nancy, we'll all ignore this post, just like YOU did! Put up or shut up honey.

Beth Y.

I have been visiting this site for about a year and am increasingly amazed at the, as my Mother would call it, "pure-T meaness" of many posters. Michelle, I am sorry you had to put up with this. There are many on this board who are very nice and helpful. There are others that believe that anyone who does not agree with their opinion are idiots and deserve to be blasted. What I find interesting is that these same people preach openess and acceptance of other cultures in travel to other countries. Go figure?!

angel

Michelle -- Is this really the way to treat an unborn baby?? WHO are you thinking of here?? <BR>

nancy

Michelle, <BR>I wasn't sure where to post this, here ,or on the "why do some people have to spoil" posting. <BR>I have a question for you. <BR>Why Europe? <BR>Because it is so different than the U.S.? <BR>If so, how about Montreal? <BR>It is much closer for airtravel, it is a beautiful city, and should still be warm enough in Sept. and it is a very different flavor of city than most in the North American continent. <BR>But the foods would be more familiar for your child. <BR>And you would be closer to home if the need should arise. <BR>If you really want Europe, go for It and Good luck/ Have fun. <BR>Nancy <BR> <BR> <BR>

Becareful

Actually, this probably is not a troll. Remember, trolls are fake posts, and this one appears to be real. <BR> <BR>This is something else entirely. I will call it a "chum." Chumming is the act of purposefully throwing bait into the water to attract sharks. Big, juicy pieces of meat work best. As previously pointed out, this post had bait to inflame many people, and it sure worked, and the sharks sure came. Be careful if you chum, because you may attract more sharks than you can handle. <BR> <BR>By the way, you have all pointed out a lot of provocative issues this thread raises. But there is one you all missed, and for my money, it is the issue that would make the greatest number of people go completely crazy. Heck, it has the potential to start an all-out war bigger than anything the board has ever seen. It is the idea that working parents with an au pair would bring her to Europe so that they could pass their kid off on someone else on a family vacation instead of spending every possible moment bonding as a family.

elaine

It seems that there are always those who, armed with a couple of facts provided in a stranger's question, confidently leap to conclusions about that stranger's parenting skills, cultural interests, family priorities, reasons for travel, prenatal care, and other personal issues that are unknown and irrelevant to the original request for information. But I guess the way of the world has always been that it's easier for some to make assumptions and pass judgment on a stranger then it is to confine themselves to the facts. <BR> <BR> <BR>

giveme

Hey, if you come here and smugly announce that you're wealthy enough to bring your kids and nanny to Europe but stupid enough not to even know where you want to go or why, get ready for it, because it's coming. <BR> <BR>I'm surprised the troller didn't say "Our au pair, Louise Woodward, will be caring for our children while we're out on the town every night. She comes highly recommended."

bored

Does anyone have any comments about TRAVEL?????

amanda

Michelle, <BR> <BR>I spent 10 day in Europe last fall when I was 5 months pregnant. I enjoyed it, but I definitely had to take it much slower than my previous trips. Generally, peope were pretty accomodating, but the walking was pretty tough, especially standing at museums, on subways, etc. In retropect, I think a more relaxing vacation with much less plane time would would have been more enjoyable, and I think that it would really be too tiring dealing with a toddler at the same time. Also, much of Europe isn't air conditioned, and you might get quite uncomfortable. <BR> <BR>That said,

xoxoxox

Original question: Any suggestions on where to spend a week with family and nanny while 7 mos. pregnant? <BR> <BR>Best answer: Home. Beach. Visit extended family. <BR> <BR>Not Europe.

Also xxxx

Why home, why beach, why relatives? <BR>Why *not*Europe? <BR>What does it matter to any of you where she spends her vacation? <BR>Do you think the Europeans will care if she is there? <BR>

xoxox

Question: Why home, beach, relatives? <BR>Answer: Under facts presented, these are the best choices, as explained by many people on this thread. <BR> <BR>Question: Why does anyone care where Michelle spends her vacation? <BR>Answer: Because Michelle asked, so I gave my opinion.

Ask

Michelle says she doesn't know where to go on her trip, so she needs our suggestions. Au pairs are usually from Europe. So why not ask the au pair (who knows the situation and child as well as Michelle) where to go instead of asking a bunch of strangers. <BR> <BR>And why spend money taking an au pair on holiday to Europe when the au pair is from, um, Europe. <BR> <BR>This post just didn't make any sense at all.

Diann

Guess I'll add my two cents to the pile....my husband and I visited England for ten days, flying direct from Boston, while I was about three months pregnant, leaving our four year old with relatives. We all had a great time, although I was aware of how fatigued I was...too tired to go out at night, etc. and I was in pretty decent shape...We took our first child to Vermont end of September while I was about 7 months pregnant and stayed in a condo; again, had a super, if more lowkeyed family time, looking at foliage (it turns earlier up there), riding the ski gondola, swimming in the large indoor pool at the complex, shopping, etc. It felt just right for my daughter and created some special memories...it is easy to feel resentful or jealous or suspicious of someone who makes it seem that they have plenty of money and don't know how to use it. A lot of us have to really prioritize, especially when it comes to the travel we love. A trip to Europe may work out great, but it is true that most of all, young children need predictability. This should be the priority of the people involved.

vosaki

In answer to which cruise line we took when our daughter was one and a half, we were on the Princess Line. They make a special effort for children. They have special areas for children and hire credentialed teachers to staff these rooms. At any rate, you'll probably have better luck if you stick with relatively short, inexpensive cruises. Longer deluxe cruises are not popular with families with children.

just

I don't think the suspicion here has anything to do with the purported wealth of the poster, it's the obvious trolling /chumming/fake posting that everyone is is suspicious about, for all the reasons mentioned above. <BR> <BR>Just FYI though for all you real travelers, you'll probably get better responses if you don't mention things like your financial situation. Pointing out your wealth, even if you think you are doing so subtly, is a very crass thing to do. <BR> <BR>This post just combined every controversial post ever listed on Fodor's and created one great big laughable troll. We've seen it here before and tend to recognize it when it's as obvious as this one.

Dave

If you think it's a troll, don't bite. If the substance of a post does not affect you, you have no right to criticize. <BR> <BR>Lighten up. Discuss simpler things, like abortion or gun control. <BR> <BR>