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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this the norm with adult children on holiday?

61 replies

Siciliansream · 09/08/2026 11:07

My 22 yr old daughter said she would like to accompany my two other children both with mild
sn, on holidays. Im a single and solo parent. She suggested her bf comes along so I happily agreed .
she is 22 as is he, She is also in college and only has a small part time job as there is very little available.
So we are here and they’ve hardly spent any time with us bar the odd dinner and lunch. She is moody and difficult and defensive and I'm pretty sure her bf sees a very different side to her this holiday. He is a gentleman and lovely to my other kids. She is not. I paid for her entire trip and the majority of his.
To me, this was meant to be a family holiday with her bf coming along but in reality I feel like we’re on two separate holidays and I feel used frankly.
Of course, they would be having their couple time and date nights etc but we genuinely see them for an hour per day and at that she seems resentful.

AIBU to be disappointed and hurt ?

OP posts:
AutisticMumOf2 · 09/08/2026 11:20

I would ask if she's okay if she's not behaving her normal self and remind her she offered to help. Sounds like she lied about helping to get a free holiday.

champagnetrial · 09/08/2026 11:19

My 21 year old DD bought a new boyfriend back home over the uni holidays. He was charming, lovely to everyone (younger kids etc). She was grumpy petulant and frankly a brat. Turns out he was abusive and cheating. Thank the lord they split up.

Not saying that is what is going on here, but - I would ask her if everything is OK because she is not acting like it is.

Divebar2021 · 09/08/2026 11:18

Lomonald · 09/08/2026 11:15

She wanted a free holiday and is now is annoyed at you and her siblings for being on her free holiday, . Let her do what she wants i probably would ignore her and deal with her when you get home. I would be hurt too.

Agreed. You’re an inconvenience. My sister was like this at one stage and I felt bad because I dropped out of a holiday and her boyfriend went instead and they were both a nightmare. It’s not the boyfriends fault but him being there has turned her from “ family “ mode into something else which is incompatible.

Siciliansream · 09/08/2026 11:18

They don’t need full
support but they would t go off on their own . She seems
resemtful that we’re here !!!

OP posts:
Lomonald · 09/08/2026 11:15

She wanted a free holiday and is now is annoyed at you and her siblings for being on her free holiday, . Let her do what she wants i probably would ignore her and deal with her when you get home. I would be hurt too.

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/08/2026 11:13

Siciliansream · 09/08/2026 11:09

16 and 18. They’re with me constantly .

Is that because they need your full support? Have they all grown up together so it’s not unusual for her, or has she thought you’d have some time with just her on the hols and it’s not possible?

NorthSouthEast · 09/08/2026 11:12

I would expect an adult DC plus bf/gf to be around for most evening meals, planned excursions if they wanted to come and maybe the odd lazy afternoon or morning. I’d imagine they might stay out later and get up
later than me or younger sibs so not be around much in the mornings unless a day trip was planned.

But if she said she wanted to come to be with you and her siblings and even went as far as to say she would help out with them then I’d expect her to come on most planned excursions and be around more generally, and perhaps less so in the evenings.

Either way there’s no need for anyone on holiday to be moody, defensive or rude to the people they are with.

Drivingmissrangey · 09/08/2026 11:11

Does she usually live with you? I think sometimes adult children regress back to teenage behaviour when with their parents (I know I can become unnecessarily moody with my Mum sometimes 😂)

Bristolandlazy · 09/08/2026 11:10

I would be hurt by that too, not only her attitude also that she's not hanging out with you all. What does she think you're getting out of this deal? She's massively unreasonable. I would try and talk to her, although I can see why you wouldn't.

Sorry to read she's not joining in on family time, doesn't sound like she's adding much at all to the holiday.

Siciliansream · 09/08/2026 11:09

16 and 18. They’re with me constantly .

OP posts:
ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 09/08/2026 11:08

How old are the other dc?

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