Not taking the kids on holiday

[Snoreborewhoreee]

I'm due with my third child later this year, money is super tight, struggling to afford all baby thing whilst trying to find somewhere to live.. I have a 6 & 4 year old and I can't really afford a holiday this year for them even a poxy little one.. Am I an awful mother or is it alright not to have a holiday this year 😕

[lovelilies]

It's fine! Do the odd day out and have fun at home or locally

[LottieDoubtie]

Eh? If you can't afford one you can't afford one. Holidays are a nec luxury not an essential!

[LottieDoubtie]

Oops a 'nice luxury' even

[branofthemist]

I don't know anyone who feels obliged to take their kids away on holiday every year. A holiday is a luxury, not an obligation

[Rosae]

I remember maybe 3 ' holidays' growing up. I mean not counting staying with relatives. Tho I admit they are in different parts of the country. In the 7 years my husband and I have been married we have been on holiday twice. One of them uk based so relatively inexpensive. This will not change cos we have a child. Holidays are not a necessity.

[HeartShapedBox]

My kids have never been on holiday - I feel crap about it, but what can you do? If you don't have the money then you don't have the money.

[IamSlavetotheEU]

last year we did one night away by sea it was £90 and took sarnies etc we went early am and left late the next day, they got on the beach, it felt like much longer when we got home. in fact this year we had 3 night stay and it didnt eel any diff to the one night!

are you going able to save on baby stuff by using charity shops, papers etc? we hardly spent anything on second child.

[bibliomania]

Nah, it won't even register with a 6-year old and a 4-year old.

[honeylulu]

A couple of friends have had enjoyable short holidays at Haven or Butlins for just a few pounds with those coupons you collect in the sun.
But even if you don't go, please don't feel guilty. We haven't been on holiday for three years. We could afford it but while our youngest is still such a lively toddler I can't face it. Maybe I'm just a misery guts but it would be no holiday for me at all. Paying lots of wonga to get stressed out somewhere wise? No thanks!
A lot of people seem to think a holiday is an essential to be had at all costs. It really isn't. You sound like a lovely mum and that is what your children will remember about their childhood.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

At 6 and 4 they are going to be just as happy playing in the garden or the park, or visiting the beach if you live near enough. I can't remember any holidays we had before I was about 9.

If you have a tent, maybe you could camp out in the garden one night - they might enjoy that. Mind you, that probably won't be much fun for you if you are pregnant - do you have a DP/H who could do that instead?

Do you have any relatives you could visit for a few days and maybe give the children (and yourself) a change of location if it is really bothering you?

[malvinandhobbes]

It is fine! For the past several years we have had long holidays with lots of travel, mostly because we've been able to tag along with DH on summer work trips and then tac a holiday at the end. This year we are having a July baby so no holiday. My children are over the moon excited to spend the entire summer at home I have no idea what to do with them all summer. Young kids love a couple days out just as much as a holiday, I wouldn't worry at all. This year it is only me who misses the holiday.

[MisguidedAngel]

I thought you were going to say that you're going on holiday and not taking the kids (leaving them with grandparents perhaps). I would still have said UANBU. Fun days out - way to go.

[VenusOfWillendorf]

When I saw the title, I thought this was about going on holidays and leaving the kids behind!
YANBU - When I was growing up, my holidays were a few nights with my nana or a week at my cousins house. First 'family holiday' was camping when I was twelve - at that stage my sister was six, my mum had refused to go when she was younger as she said it'd be too much work!
Your kids won't mind a bit, have a couple of days at the park/beach/lake whatever with a picnic. They'll be just as happy, and at that age they like being around what's familiar to them anyway.

[HostaFireandIce]

Holidays are a nice luxury not an essential!
According to the people in the Daily Mail whingeing about being fined for taking cheap term time holidays, they're a human right!
But no, YADNBU. Lots of people don't go on holiday every year and I think most little kids are quite happy staying at home. Just make sure you do some fun things with them and they won't even notice you didn't take them away.

[DinosaursRoar]

I thought from your title you were going to go away just you and DH without the DCs!

It's fine not to go away if you can't afford it. (Although if you know anyone with a tent you can borrow, perhaps send your DH with the DCs for a night if the weather is nice, that will feel like a holiday to 6 & 4 year olds)

[Flumpnugget]

I think that there's a name for it...a staycation, maybe?! Where you plan a few days and do something out of the ordinary. This can be as simple as going swimming at a different pool, in the next town or city- picnics at different parks...etc etc.

There's normally lots on in the summer- get online and do some research and you can deffo have fun without spending much at all, but still feel like you've had a change of your normal routine.

[Skinnydecafflatte]

They'll be fine, mine will be 6 and just 3 this summer, we can't afford one. We've both taken two weeks off work and will be just spending quality time with the kids and lots of days out - local parks, beach, swimming and maybe one or two 'bigger trips' local farms etc. They'll have a great time and we'll have some happy memories.
Last year we did have a holiday, a week in a run down caravan park in Scotland, it rained a lot of the time and was cold. It was £299 I think, we hated it but the kids were happy as we were all together. This year we'd rather stay home and spend that money on trips instead. My kids have never been abroad and I doubt will in the near future, they'll survive.

[LagunaBubbles]

If you cant afford a holiday that means you dont go. Not sure why that would you an awful Mum though.

[Socksey]

Your children don't need to go on a holiday anywhere, especially if you can't afford it.
Just do stuff at home and locally, they'll have as much fun and it will probably be less stressful.
In my whole 40+ years of life, I've only ever once gone on a 'holiday'... 5 days in Portugal, it was great and I brought my DS who was 5 and he also loved it... but he doesn't expect to go there or anywhere else.

[dolkapots]

Mine have been all over the world and their best "holiday" memories have been on our local beach!

One school half term we did a staycation and it was brilliant. We treated it as a holiday, bought new clothes/toiletries in the run up and special breakfast food that is a treat. Other than that we ate out and I didn't do any cooking etc. Went to new places (most of them free!) and had a great time. Obviously if money is tight then you won't be doing new clothes etc but treat it in the same way that you would a holiday; perhaps do a "how many days left until our holiday" chart? my youngest loves that sort of thing and gets her really excited.

Holidays are overrated IMHO. As I said we have travelled extensively but anticipation is usually better than the actual event. The best holidays I have had are the ones that happen in my head :-)

Hope you have a great time OP.

[Morporkia]

how pregnant are you? would a couple of nights camping in the garden be out of the question? my kids loved doing that, especially if we had a mini bbq (foil one)... and a paddling pool...if you dont have the room maybe a friend or relative with a back garden and a penchant for sleeping al fresco?