Or at least have a holiday before my holiday.
My DS are 10 & 7. They are both stroppy & argumentative. They can be lovely but also hideous.
They have been doing lots of sports clubs etc in the holidays so far and we've been to visit some friends.
What they really needed was a couple of weeks to be bored shitless at home.
I'm self employed so have been working flat out to cover client work so we can go away.
They are currently refusing to go to the kids club on holiday (they also refused last year) but I feel like I just need an afternoon to myself or I'll scream.
They say they want to spend time as a family which I whole heartedly agree with if they weren't so horrible to me and each other.
Please tell me it will be alright when we get there.
AIBU?
to not want to go on holiday with my children
fruitstick · 03/08/2016 08:35
It will be fine. There will be holiday strops - but I do find them easier with the sea to put my feet in/ ice creams to send them to buy/ a glass of wine to hand (all so much more acceptable on holiday). 
My DC are 10&8. Also very reluctant to go to play schemes. Somethung tells me play schemes are getting it wrong for post age 4/5.;
I don't really get a break when they're at sports club as I'm working.
They are digging their heels in.
I don't want them to go every day. I just know if they went for an afternoon and I could sit and read a book uninterrupted for a couple of hours, if be a far nicer mother for the rest of the holiday. 
But it's the stroppiness I can't abide. They rarely do anything I ask without argument or complaint, they are rude and obnoxious a lot of the time.
OK that's not fair - I seem to be surrounded by friends with thoughtful, helpful children having a wonderful time. I know that's not true either but it feels true.
I know it's my responsibility to make them thoughtful and helpful, and I want to enjoy my time with them. I just don't know how.
I know they are after attention but I feel like I have nothing left.
I need a holiday don't I.
YANBU.
How was the kids club presented to them? Do they know it's because you want time to yourself? Might have been better to wait until they got there, made friends and saw what was on offer before finding a mutually agreeable day to pack them off for an afternoon's activities.
Kids are horrible tho. Six weeks is a long time. But you'll soon be sat in the sun with a glass in your hand relaxing while they play in the pool.
Just keep it together until then 
restless I think they'd pick no holiday 
It's all part of a much wider issue.
I just want them to obey my every command do as they ask.
Everything comes with a 10 minute argument as to why they shouldn't/why they don't want to/ why it's not fair.
It's exhausting.
Yesterday I picked them up, took them to supermarket & let them choose dinner. I bought DS2 a holiday t shirt but DS1 couldn't find one he liked in his size.
Got in to massive strop from DS1 about how I clearly favour DS2 because he got a t shirt and he didn't. Both of them refused to take stuff upstairs etc because 'the other one wasn't'
My mum came round to see them before they went on holiday and give them holiday money. They were noisy, disruptive and rude.
It's exhausting.
I know it's quite normal and also my responsibility to sort it out but I'm not even sure where to start.
doreen I'm not sure if that's making me feel better or worse 
My kids are similar ages and EXACTLY the same. They are really hard work- lovely seperately (well, on the whole, my 10 year old is an uncooperative pedantic little so and so at the moment) but together they are uncontrollable. And for two kids who "hate" each other so passionately they refuse to go into different parts of the house alone!
Not sure if that's helpful, we've had some holidays ruined by their squabbling. Always nice to referee in a different environment though 
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Sympathies, mine are far younger but suspect we will have similar issues in a few years time!
Remember you probably don't see the sibling squabbles in other families, but they'll still happen regardless.
Maybe try a bit of reverse psychology re the kids club. So tell them that they won't be allowed to go unless they can prove that they deserve it, perhaps casually mentioning a fun activity of 2 that's being advertised at the kids club that you know they would like to join in with, and make a show of being uncertain whether or not to let them go if they then ask to. You'll agree in the end of course though
If that fails, maybe seek out other families with similar aged kids around the pool etc, in the hope that they will amuse each other. Also perhaps buy and hide away a couple of appealing new toys you can pull out for the novelty factor.
Although my own kids are still little, I work with children the same age as yours so know what they're like.
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