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

I know what you mean, OP.

A change is as good as a rest. And a change and a rest is the best.

It sounds lovely, I love AI holidays, though I come back 5 pounds heavier.

Bit smug and blinkered, OP. Not everyone has the lifestyle you do.

I've always said I'd rather do fewer holidays and do the type I like. Lots of people on here and in life advocate a self catering break with a cottage or a static caravan or things like Butlins. No thanks. I can imagine those holidays aren't much respite with very young children, especially in the UK where the weather isn't reliable. Each to their own but I don't see the point of going on a holiday that's clearly going to be loads of work then complaining about it. Pick a holiday that will give you some kind of relaxation and if you can't do that why go?

I am a horse owner too, well actually technically my mare was recently pts and I haven’t replaced yet but I can ride at home 7 days a week if I choose as there’s 4 in the field that I don’t own but have unlimited access to. I’d still rather ride on hol than be in a hotel for a week or two. I’m amazed you have the time though with your working pattern!

Toddler friendly holidays would bore me senseless though I’m afraid. I wait until DD is with her dad and then holiday how I prefer. With DD I like days out so will take 2 weeks off and go out to different places, with the odd overnight hotel stay where logistics require it. But I’d rather do a day at the beach, a day at a castle, or a theme park or zoo etc and sleep in my own bed than 2 weeks in one place on repeat. Centre Parcs weekend is the maximum pool time I can face.

Exactly this. It’s a smug post.

You have an ‘easy’ 18 month old.

Please come back when you have a 2 year old and a 3 year old. And you’re in self catering. And you can’t take your eyes off either one all week. It’s actually easier being at home.

What I will say is I wish I’d appreciated how easy one child was and gone in more holidays. Enjoy it but stop being so smug and annoying.

Going on holiday doesn’t remove the day to day challenges people experience with parenting young kids - eating, sleeping or tantrums. Actually being out of routine, somewhere exciting and away from their surroundings can make all these things more common.

Sometimes when you’ve spent a lot of money on a holiday and your annual leave and the tantrums are worse than at home, the sleep is worse than at home and the child is not eating then people can wonder why they bothered. Yes they might not be cleaning or cooking but the lack of routine is making the day to day bits worse without the comfort of home-things to make it easier or help diffuse the situation.

They obviously do still view going away and having some family time as a net benefit as they will likely book again but it’s also fair that they say, same shit different place.

I'm glad you had a lovely holiday. Hope your toddler enjoyed it.

My children are now teens
I’ve always loved holidays with them as a single mum

what I don’t like is OPs expressing faux ignorance about why other people view holidays - when a holiday can mean very very different things!

with the sole intention of trying to make others who have a difference experiences feel shit

Isn’t today one of your days with your daughter op? And you’re spending it on your mumsnet thread expressing faux ignorance about how other people view holidays (which can be SO different!!)

I'm glad you enjoyed it OP it sounds like you work hard and deserved the break, but your post is smug. You cannot possibly compare your very brief and limited parenting experience with everyone else and then claim you don't understand why others find it difficult. I'm wondering how many times on average per meal did your child get up and run off? How many meals were spent taking turns eating because one of you had to do a pointless walk around with the child. How many nights did you sit alone on that balcony because your Dh was trying to get baby to sleep for 90 mins, or vice versa. Or how many nights you were woken more than 3 times, or how many mornings began before 5am. You still haven't been through the toddler years, most people would find one 18 month old relatively easy, you are not special in that regard.

Exactly!

I've loved holidays with my DC at all ages, preschool being the best age. I'm with you OP, even when I've done self catering there had still been a weight lifted, it's more relaxing than being at home and I can give DC more attention so their behaviour is often better. There will be exceptions to it for DC who struggle with changes, but on the whole I think it's people's expectations that spoil the holiday. You are not going to be led on a sun lounger through the day and then enjoying a peaceful meal with drinks and adult entertainment in the evening. It will be child focused chaos but you can lean into that and have fun.

We're all different
Exactly. So why start a thread saying you "don't understand" people having a different view to yours on this?

I would absolutely love an all inclusive holiday with the kids. But we are too nervous about going:

-23 month old wakes up 10+ times a night.
-23 month old wouldn’t sit still on a plane
-5 year old still not keen on swimming
-We would end up splitting up for the day to deal with a child each, inc when 23 month wants to nap

My point is… if you’re away from your child 6am-7pm 4 days a week, and then on your days with her - ypur husband is at work…. it isn’t any wonder that you are desperate for some proper family down time

I think it’s more often said about self-catering, which is often the only thing affordable.

Also, it often seems to be when one parent is leaving the other to do all the work! Sounds like that’s thankfully not the case for you.

Finally, all children are different! And have their tricky phases at different times. Plus one child is different to several!