Edit

I want to thank you all for your help and advice. In the end, he didn't come. I couldn't bring myself to make him come as some of you and some of my friends and family suggested. I know it was within my rights, but I did so out of respect for his wishes, and in the hopes that he will learn a valuable lesson from staying home. My daughter and other son are now on vacation with me and having a great time; however incomplete it feels.

My 11 year old son recently dropped a bomb on me saying that he didn’t want to go on a vacation that I had planned to take him and his brother and sister on next week.

A little background. About 3 weeks ago, he broke his growth plate in his foot while skateboarding and is now in a boot to immobilize it. I booked a trip to northern Michigan which, beyond outdoors stuff, doesn’t have a lot going on. It was meant to be a trip to just spend time together, instead of just a few hours at a time, which my parenting time currently consists of. He thinks that we’re still planning on going hiking and walking, swimming, etc. I’ve explained to him, as has his mother, that if he were to come, the plans would change to accommodate his current condition. But, he just doesn’t want to come; insisting that he won’t be able to do everything we’ll be doing. His brother and sister have even told him we’d do different stuff to no avail.

My biggest concern, besides missing him during a trip that I had planned and saved for all summer, is that without him, we will be doing things like hiking and swimming, and it will only serve to reinforce his preconceptions.

At this point, it really doesn’t look like he’ll be going. I’m disappointed that he feels this way, but also understand where he’s coming from. Just looking for any advice to help change his mind or calm mine.