You’re indoctrinating your poor kids

Good grief!

Their opinion DOES indeed matter. What an awful woman. I hate this attitude some people have towards children - it's outrageous.

Obviously children shouldn't get complete "free reign" on their lives as, as a parent, it is our job to keep them safe and guide them in an age appropriate way. If my son had his way when he was little, we'd all eat pizza and chips every day for dinner. Not the best of ideas.

Choices are so important in childhood development:

• It allows children to start making decisions for themselves, which is crucial for developing independence.
• It gives children a sense of control over their lives. This can be particularly important in situations where they might otherwise feel powerless, such as during transitions or when facing challenges.
• It helps children understand that their decisions have consequences, fostering a sense of responsibility.
• It allows children to express their preferences, interests, and individuality. This helps them develop a sense of self and learn more about their own likes and dislikes.
• It teaches them to respect the choices of others. When they experience having control over their own decisions, they are more likely to understand and respect the autonomy of their peers.

We've always done similar with holidays. Everyone gets to choose an activity that we all do each day. Starting with the youngest. So day 1 is always a beach day. DD always goes for a theme/water park. I like castles and stately homes, and DH always chooses something physical.

Everyone really enjoys it.

Surely indoctrination is the opposite to choice? Sounds like she is talking rubbish

It sounds more like it’s about you giving children a choice nothing to do with Disney. So a view that children should be seen and not heard.
You are going anyway so in my view it’s harmless saying do you want to see Mickey or Donald first or go on Dumbo or Small World.
I’d just ignore or say we enjoy it leave us to it good job you aren’t coming.

Indulging makes more sense although she's still wrong.

I don't she knows what indoctrinating means. I wonder if she meant indulgent??

You'll have to ask and come back to tell us.

You're enculturating your children into the western capitalist culture that we all live in. We all give children values and beliefs, both actively and passively by virtue of the social/cultural environment. It has its flaws, but I don't really see a value system working better anywhere else in the world.

I think letting children choose some of the activities is lovely.

I’m not sure comment about AI holidays is helpful or relevant. We go backpacking with our children and couldn’t justify the expense of Disney. That’s our choice. And although I’d be up for going as I did DLT as a child I think DH would rather stick pins in his eyes.

Generally I’m with you OP. Your children, your choice. Enjoy your holiday.

I also think she meant indulging not indoctrinating.

i think as long as you narrow it down to say 2/3 hotels you're happy with (location/cost etc) then it's fine. Same with activities.

But I have a friend who gave her kids a LOT of say, without much guidance and now at 14, & 11 feel entitled to 'insist' on going to their destination of choice, staying in the hotels they choose etc etc and have a proper strop if ever told 'no'. They get all 'it's our holiday too, we want to go here, stay there, do xyz. It's not just what YOU want'

Frankly, if they were mine they'd be staying at Grannies!!

they wouldn't be mine though as they'd not get to hold the belief that they rule the roost!!

it sounds like you're going to have a brilliant time!!

This is literally harmless

Ignore the daft twat

Did she perhaps mean you're indulging them rather than indoctrinating them? It makes no sense otherwise.

It sounds a nice idea. You’ll get lots of anti Disney comments on here. We watch Disney bloggers on YouTube and talk about what we are going to do eg which park we are going to first.
You and the children clearly like Disney already so it’s not indoctrination.

This. In no way are you indoctrinating them.

@Mmmmarmalade you seem to have a very narrow view of holidays. We have never done an AI or pool package or backpacked. We have been to hotels, cottages, villas, etc. Never, ever AI. I can't think of anything worse, with or without children.

Sounds like your mum doesn’t actually understand what the word ‘indoctrinating’ means.

If, as you say, she has no issue with Disney itself, and just thinks the kids get too much say in what you do on holiday, then it’s very much one to file under ‘none of her business’.

@Mmmmarmalade please ask her what she meant. It makes no sense!

I completely disagree about holidays for and with children being AI and pool. We never ever did that and never would want to. We swerved the AI option when we went to Eurodisney despite stating at one of the Park hotels. Who wants to queue for their evening meal.

Unless she is opposed to Disney (which you suggest is not the case) I don’t understand where the “indoctrination” comes in?

Is it just that she thinks kids shouldn’t have choices?

Bizarre attitude.

I think its lovely OP. Our family holidays lasted the best part of a year with all the planning and research beforehand then all the reminiscing afterwards. We'd do exactly what you're doing and the DC loved it. They're all adults now and still talk about our holidays, and the two with families if their own do exactly the same build up and planning, even when it's a caravan in the UK. Harmless fun and family bonding.