To not understand the "holidays with small children is just parenting in a different place" complaints?

We did camping with our two from babies 'til late teens. Loved it. Because we camped often so we had our very familiar space in interesting places. Revisited campsites often for more familiarity. Routines established. I need that, as does my daughter. Now they are grown up, DH and I have a campervan for the same vibes. My space on wheels.

This thread reminds me of the people who post ‘I can’t believe that parents moan about the summer holidays when I, a stay at home parent, loves every last moment’ and can’t understand why working parents who don’t have free childcare might find it stressful.

Of course they know but do really enjoy making others feel bad.

Sometimes it really is though! My eldest in particular (10) struggles with holidays so he gets even more dramatic than usual and it's hard to deal with.

Last year we went on our first all inclusive overseas and it was a rocky first day but to be fair the rest of the week was really good. They loved being in the pool and the unlimited drinks and the lunch even if dinner was a bit hit and miss. They were a dream on the plane and in the airport, absolutely no trouble at all.

This year we did Butlins which was worse! They were both grumpy, didn't want to do anything and it lasted the whole week. They did nothing but complain the whole way there and back too, made worse because they were both in the back. On the plane they were separated to prevent arguments and silliness. Food was an issue with the youngest because it wasn't "the same" but he did better with the food abroad.

Yes there is no cooking/washing but there is also more supervision because you are in a strange place. Travel can be long and tiring so kids play up, food is different and ultimately if the kids are in a foul mood you aren't having a good time either.

No. You just need to have two young children that’s all. But if you want to hear that holidays with one child are great. Yes they are. The are immeasurably easier…Unfortunately I had two very close together.

This is how your choosing to spend one of your precious days off with your daughter Op?

Bit smug, OP….! I had a kamikaze ball of energy who climbed everything in sight and was up at 4.30am daily. Holidays weren’t worth the hassle for at least 6 years!

I always enjoyed holidays but we do self catering in the UK so it's not luxurious and still cooking, planning meals etc apart from 1-2 meals out a week. It's still a break in my eyes as there's no work or life admin and loads of time with the kids, just very simple life!

DDs are 11 and 13 now but when they were younger it was tiring - DD1 has ASD and struggled in new places and needed a lot of stimulation and supervision, so not easy, but definitely worth doing and just a different kind of holiday.

I wish we could afford all inclusive or similar!

Our much-loved and much-wanted firstborn son, unbeknown to us, had ADHD and autism.

He found changes to routine difficult and his behaviour was incredibly difficult for us at times.

He also had a number of allergic/ atopic conditions.

We did go away on holiday sometimes, but we also live in a lovely area with a lot going on for small children. In many ways, it was easier to stay at home and do day trips. Home had all the toys, all the games, friends nearby, a well equipped kitchen/ washing machine etc, and no hassle in booking a holiday, no hazards of a long journey, medical experts close by etc etc

So I can kind of see the positives in both embarking on a holiday - new expereinces and a lot of potential fun - and also the benefits of choosing sometimes to stay put and just enjoy what you already have,

I've always loved our holidays but we have an easy child who can go to bed late and wake up late, no early rising. We've been to all sorts, UK based, self catering, all inclusive. Can't say any haven't been enjoyable. I like sun and beach though

I posted something similar a few months ago and people were so mean to be the thread got deleted in the end 😂 I absolutely 100% agree!!! Really do wonder about these people that resent having their children present on holiday. Take no notice OP, enjoy your holiday x

Just come back from a week in Turkey with a 3 year old and 6 month old. Feel exactly the same as you OP. We loved it and yes it was a lot of the same just in a different place (Brest feeding, up a lot in the night, nappies) but so many fun memories and time spent as a family beach, pool, water parks etc, didn’t want to come home!

We did a couple holidays when DC1 was under 2. Was fine, no issues besides melt downs. Generally people are helpful when they see you with a baby.

We just did a recent all inclusive holiday with a 3.5 and 1 year. It was nice, but I don't think I'd do it again.

Camping would be my idea of hell - as would sking. Never liked pool hoildays much either. If we'd picked those style we'd have all been miserable.

My MIL had a bad self catering holiday in UK where she claimes it rain solid for two whole weeks - put her foot down and rest of DH childhood was hotels abroad.

There an element of finding and affording a holiday that suits everyone on it.

We could do UK self catering as DH and I both pitch in with cooking/cleaning up and make it as easy as possible on ourselfs so there is some take out and easy meals and weather been mostly okay.

Unlike my parents we've paid more for accomodation so odd day in with poor UK weather been nice itself and afternoons in after morning at beach been easy as nearby - that was less an option for my parents who often had to go as cheap as possible accomodation wise so long walk back and not great place to hang out.

Most of the post I've seen complain have kids who can't cope with changes - or are going now through a bad phase - or wider family or money is an additional stress or something else hasn't gone as planned and there huge guilt about the "wasted" money and so much additional pressure to enjoy the hoilday.

Our last holiday with our two (5 and 2) was so hideous due to their behaviour (mainly the 5 year old, then 4) that we were seriously debating coming home early and at the moment do not want to book another one. It was seriously the holiday from hell because of how they acted. 18 months is an easy age, come back when you've had 10 years of it.

We have to predominantly self cater due to my autistic child's issues and my partners intolerances / allergies. I make "ready meals" and freeze them for a few weeks beforehand if we are holidaying in the UK. That makes for a really peaceful break for me. We do then eat the odd fish and chip supper or cake / icecream out. Abroad can be really tough, particularly with the kid. Meatballs and spaghetti is fine but it must the RIGHT meatballs, bolognese is great as long at is the one I make, pizza is fine as long as it specifcally looks and tastes like the one she likes... etc... She nearly starved to death in Italy and we thought that would be easy as pasta and pizza are her most tolerated foods!

It doesn’t actually
I’m a single parent and had wonderful holidays with my two when young

I’ve done 9 holidays with my 3 year old. Some were great, some were so shit that I was close to booking early flights how.
You’ve had one holiday with an 18 month old (who probably still naps) and I’m glad it went well, but please save the smug, condescending posts. It doesn’t actually achieve anything and you may be eating your words in 12 months time.

The thing is you're paying big bucks for a slightly better time (if you're lucky). Taking a week off and being at home would be easier as you have all your toys, child proofing etc and you could still go out for lunch, dinner, day trips etc. I didn't go abroad until my first was 3, then after my second child, I waited until he was 3 (& my eldest was 7). For me and probably most people, it is a waste of much needed money to go away and still struggle with tantrums, lack of sleep etc especially when the child won't remember it.

You have 1 "barely toddler". Try with two (or more) very active pre-schoolers, and come back to me.

Yep agree. I did it once - we had a family wedding abroad so had to. Then I refused to go on holiday abroad again until they were older. It was that horrific.

It's almost like we're all individuals with different experiences 😂 holiday with my 18 month old when she was an only... bliss.

Holiday with my 3.5 and 1.5 year old. Not so much holiday camp, more like bootcamp with my 3.5 year old as sergeant major 😂

Enjoy the smugness while it lasts. I've been sorely humbled!

We had wonderful holidays with young children. It requires both parents to be involved, and if just lounging by a pool and drinking are your thing, then it's probably going to be a disappointment.

I had a couple of holidays with ds1 when I was a single parent, and took my mother along too, that were very hard work indeed. One was camping and I gave up after 3 nights because he wouldn't sleep until gone 11pm and would wake at 5 am. The other holiday was self-catering in Tenerife and he did the same there, plus he wouldn't eat most of the food available.

So I didn't go away for a few years. The next time I went was with XH2, ds1 and ds2 and it was a totally different experience and has remained so. Having a 'hands on' husband when ds2 was little made a huge difference, as did having ds1 as an older 'big brother'. There was more money available, so eating out was the norm and eating in was fun.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to an enjoyable holiday with children and sometimes you only need one factor to go wrong and your holiday feels like hard work instead of a relaxing break. It's really not hard to imagine that other people's experiences might differ from one's own.