Why don't people take their kids on holiday?

This thread is so weird. I do take my kids abroad (very regularly as we have family who live all over the world), but I don’t think that makes me a better parent than someone who doesn’t.
For all we know you could be a shit parent in lots of other ways OP.

@Micnerhss by the way I'm not "upset" by my parenting 😂😂
Such a weird thing to say.

It's not that I haven't 'bothered" to take her abroad.
I DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE IT DOESN'T INTEREST ME.
🦆

I started to type a response to that but I don't want to get suspended from Mumsnet (like I did the last time I said a certain phrase that rhymes with duck off)

🦆

In my close friendship group

I am calling BS on you having any friendship group OP, let alone a close one!

do you not see LOADS of families on your holidays Op?

do you not see the many many many mumsnet threads asking for holiday suggestions?

do you not see all the marketing and newspaper articles about family holidays?

are you not aware of the enormous increase in holiday prices during school holidays?

it would appear not, on the basis that a couple of your mates haven’t taken their kids abroad - you have extrapolated rather a lot 🤭

The children I feel sorry for are the ones with obnoxious parents, who have no kindness or tact in them. They also think love equals holidays. Selfish parents.

Wow. I've really heard it all now. 🙄

My SIL has taken her (now adult) children on holiday twice in their lifetimes, once in the UK and once overseas. Both times her parents went with them.

She has no interest in travel, no hobbies, no friends. All she does is sit on her sofa and watch telly. Takes the dog for a walk on the same route every day. No curiosity about the world, even her local world. She lives within 15 minutes of some of the best museums in the UK and has never been and has never taken her kids. She lives in the street next to the street where she grew up. Her two kids are now exactly the same. One does go on holidays overseas but it's a fly an flop experience because she has zero interest in the world.

So glad her brother (my DH) is completely different. We live in a different city from family, travel widely, have taken the kids all over the UK and overseas and exposed them to so many opportunities.

You're right. No child NEEDS to go abroad. My dds are very well travelled but most if our holidays are all inclusive and we stay mainly at the hotel. We've done a couple of city breaks abroad but also some in the UK and they've learned about the history of the place. I didn't go abroad till I was 21. I didn't feel I missed out as I had a happy, loving childhood. My dds would love more long haul destinations but I don't like long flights so I've said once they're adults & are earning their own money they can go where they like!

Erm.... excuse me.
How day you say that.
You know nothing of my life.
My daughter has a very fulfilled life with lots of experiences.
This year alone I have taken her to a West End theatre show (we went to about 4 last year).
One of the Comic Cons.
Various collector fairs.
Numerous trips to the cinema (to see all sorts of obscure films plus special event showings).
She was offered the chance to see a big league football match (but didn't want to go).
We travel regularly to see family and this includes attending festivals.
We travel to different town/cities just because we fancy doing it.
No seaside days out this year - no particular reason - but we've done several in the past.
But I haven't taken her abroad.
Oh boo hoo.
Best I get her to call Childline.

Once you have children, you just don't replicate your adult holiday, it doesn't work.

Teens have opinion, you just do something you know they'll like. They're just as enthusiastic as anyone else. I've seen people complaining about their teens being on their phone when all the family was doing was lying down in front of a pool 😂Can't blame the kids.
And the mother who was complaining was on her phone herself complaining on MN 😂, You cannot make that stuff up.

From what I’ve read on here teens are often not easy on holiday. They moan about everything when they can be prised away from their phones!

"Not all non verbal ASD is the same. Just because your son can manage, or you can, doesn't mean someone else's child can, or the parent can face the prospect."

Yes they vary massively with their level of need. Just as some can manage with support in a class of 30 in mainstream others need to be in tiny classes in specialist with 1: 1 or even 2:1 support.

Babies are portable, it's the best time to do anything you want.
Toddlers are entertained by anything but boredom, it's an amazing time to go travelling - they get enthusiastic about anything and YOU don't get bored. Highly recommend it.
Primary school age: they're easy, as long as you stick with kids-friendly holidays, but totally worth it. Love a holiday with kids.
Teenagers: I don't know any who doesn't love travelling? They just have ideas on opinion on what they are doing, it's starting to get more interesting as you go into more adult territory

Holidays and travelling are the best time with your children, I feel sorry for those who miss out. Yes, there are things to do in the UK, but a bit of variety doesn't hurt, there's 52 weekends in a year and 6 school holidays! If you can't do a bit of everything in that time, I don't know what you are doing with your time.

I love holidays. We’ve had 5 this year, 3 abroad and 2 UK, and have booked a cottage break for New Year in the UK. We have no children. Our carbon footprint will never be as big as it would be if we had.

Sorry but I think travelling abroad isn't something I should "suck up" and get on with actually.
I simply don't want to do it. So I am not going to.

YABVU. I had 3 under 4 and no support or family nearby. My parents took them a week a year so we could have a break. As soon as they became slightly civilised humans around age 10 we took them. In the meantime I had a lot of sneery comments from people like you surrounded by on tap help.

Babies/toddlers - too stressful and not worth it.
Teenagers - not worth it either because they don't want it.
The most optimal ages are between 5 and 12, when they are actually interested and excited.

Well, I don’t think it matters whether they don’t want to do it. I think that assuming you have the money and time, and there are no extenuating circumstances, you should suck it up occasionally, the way you suck up the Science Museum if it’s not your thing, standing on the sidelines of a football match in the sleet, or sitting through Sonic the Hedgehog when your child and their friends are too young to go the cinema unescorted.

Or they simply just don't want to do it (and make up those "excuses").
No child is deprived because they haven't had a weekend break in a European city or whatever 🙄.
People enjoy different things and would prefer to spend their time doing those things and sharing that experience with their children.