Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Centreparcs with dss - dreading it

265 replies

nelle45 · 25/08/2022 22:41

We are going away to CP for 4 nights, me, dh, dd 10 & dss 14, we were going to go somewhere else but have decided on CP purely as its better for dss due to his age.

He never wants to participate in anything and honestly i am dreading this trip.

We prepped him and said if he feels he won't want to do anything then not to come and ruin it for us, as harsh as it sounds its true. It would be shit for dd and for us as there will be arguments. Plus we could've just gone to the first cheaper option which would've been fine for just us and dd.

He isn't allowed to bring his ps5 as he will be too distracted & stay up all night then not want to do the activities.

Another thing, dd & dss are half siblings snd will be sharing a room, this was the only option left so we figured a few days is ok, but if im honest i dont love the idea.

Is this just going to be a disaster??

OP posts:
Tiani4 · 26/08/2022 07:53

I don't get PPs saying they can't share , they're not strangers, they're half brother and sister

My DS and DD shared bedroom on holidays right up until DS was 17
They each stepped out of the room whilst the other changed and wore at least shorts sets of pjs.

Zero chance I'd take a PS5 with me for my son, he games all the time but no he doesn't on holiday. 1. No point in going on holiday if he's going to game. 2. Nowhere separate in holiday accomodation to game and WiFi certainly won't be good enough at CP to game. 3. They are noisy (shouty) when they game and wake people up late at night. Zero chance any of us want to hear that on holiday

itsgettingweird · 26/08/2022 07:54

cestlavielife · 25/08/2022 22:46

Let him take his ps5 and do his own thing
Why shouldd he participate? Just dont pay fir his sctivities
He is 14 he can stay in the lodge
Do dinbeds together
Entice him to the pool
Dont make dd and dss share
You with dd
Dad with dss

Pretty much sums up my thoughts.

He's 14. If he doesn't want to play tennis or badminton. Doesn't want to go out on a boat etc why would you make him?

You could set up rules around the ps5 to reflect the ones you have at home for him but no reason he couldn't use it for down time.

And I'd be very surprised if a 14yo refused segways or quad biking or something different.

Thinkingblonde · 26/08/2022 07:59

Re: the bunk beds adults can sleep perfectly well in bunk beds. The 14 yr. on top bunk, DH on bottom.
Off shore workers on oil and gas rigs sleep in bunks,
Ferry boats ave bunks, my DH was in the top, I was in the bottom bunk many a time on them.

HouseOfWaffles · 26/08/2022 08:07

The way you wrote about both the child and the holiday makes me feel like it doesn't matter what this boy does or says on this holiday it's going to be the wrong thing.

It's like a set up.

He's going to ruin it.
He shouldn't come if he doesn't want to participate
You only picked it because of him. - which seems weird to me. The activities are quite tame for a teenager
It would have been cheaper if he wasn't coming.

Doubledenimrocks · 26/08/2022 08:10

I'm always surprised at people who seem to think it is normal and acceptable for kids to game all night. It is not a healthy way of being. We all have hobbies but we don't need to spend hours of every single day on them. They are a leisure activity not a priority and they shouldn't impact on our ability to function during the day.

My DC game. I hate it. It removes them from family life. It stops them from doing things which offer face to face interaction. I think it impacts on concentration and offers very limited benefits.

Don't let him take the PS5. Don't worry about them sharing. Try and enjoy your holiday and spending sometime together without a device being the focal point.

livvyJ · 26/08/2022 08:15

I don't understand why your husband or you can't sleep in the bottom bunk?

I imagine it's purely because you don't want to. Which seems extra unfair making the kids do it.

Bananarama21 · 26/08/2022 08:21

Appalling making a 14 year and 10 year share a bedroom its highly inappropriate would you share with your dss? I'm guessing its a no so you shouldn't expect your dd to. Your the adults one of you share with them. Teenagers are arseholes hopefully he will make friends.

BeyondMyWits · 26/08/2022 08:22

Would still like to know which CP has bunk beds?

2DemisSVP · 26/08/2022 08:29

My DS13 and DD11 had to share a room, with en-suite, on hols. DD was fine, but DS has hit self conscious age and insisted they change separately etc. it was doable because of en-suite. He didn’t want to see her change or her to see him. I think asking yours to share - you need to ensure he has privacy and space? Going to be a bit of a mission if all trying to get ready at same time.

Clymene · 26/08/2022 08:33

I don't understand why you have no control over him gaming all night either. He's 14. Make him go to bed.

prampushingdownthehighst · 26/08/2022 08:38

I didn't realise that CP had bunk beds now?
Don't make them share a room

monicagellerbing · 26/08/2022 08:38

OP clearly wants to have sex with DH while away that's why she's putting her needs above the children's. Totally inappropriate OP

blibblibs · 26/08/2022 08:45

We are heading off to a caravan this wknd with DC the same age.
There is no way DS14 is taking his PS4! He does game all night during the holidays and we've spent the last few days getting his sleep pattern back to normal. He knows this is a holiday rule and he's never really expected to take it.
We have paid silly money to get a room for each of them though, sharing would be an absolute nightmare. They need time away from each other and us.
And last time we went away and an extra room wasn't available I slept on the bottom bunk and DS shared with DH with the TV.
I definitely get the no PS but the sharing may make it worse than it needs to be.

dogface44 · 26/08/2022 08:50

Maybe op isn't actually going to CP but somewhere similar and just doesn't want to give details in case she puts herself for all the super sleuths out there stating there are no bunk beds at CP.

I can't believe how many people would be ok with a game console coming on holiday with you. I'd allow phones and iPad at a push for downtime in the evening but a full console?! Fuck that. You're on holiday! If all he wants to do is stay in the room playing Ps then he can stay at home and solve the bedroom issue too.

dogface44 · 26/08/2022 08:51

Outs herself**

Favouritefruits · 26/08/2022 08:59

I know it’s not the point of the thread but Centre Parcs definitely doesn’t have bunk beds, twin rooms yes but no bunk beds. Which Centre Parcs has bunk beds? …… you really should let the kids share at their ages just bunk up with your daughter and let your DH bunk up with his son!

starfishmummy · 26/08/2022 09:06

We prepped him and said if he feels he won't want to do anything then not to come and ruin it for us, as harsh as it sounds its true

So if he was reluctant before he's now going to realise even more that he's not wanted. You really don't like him do you? Just send him and his Dad.

Novum · 26/08/2022 09:10

Why does the fact that it's bunk beds mean that you can't share? Guidelines are that children over 10 should not be sharing bedrooms with a child of the opposite sex.

knittingaddict · 26/08/2022 09:42

We cant share its bunk beds. Again only option available as peak season.

Of course you can.

knittingaddict · 26/08/2022 09:43

Favouritefruits · 26/08/2022 08:59

I know it’s not the point of the thread but Centre Parcs definitely doesn’t have bunk beds, twin rooms yes but no bunk beds. Which Centre Parcs has bunk beds? …… you really should let the kids share at their ages just bunk up with your daughter and let your DH bunk up with his son!

Also this.

I've been to CP multiple times and never seen a bunk bed. They are doubles or single beds.

knittingaddict · 26/08/2022 09:48

dogface44 · 26/08/2022 08:50

Maybe op isn't actually going to CP but somewhere similar and just doesn't want to give details in case she puts herself for all the super sleuths out there stating there are no bunk beds at CP.

I can't believe how many people would be ok with a game console coming on holiday with you. I'd allow phones and iPad at a push for downtime in the evening but a full console?! Fuck that. You're on holiday! If all he wants to do is stay in the room playing Ps then he can stay at home and solve the bedroom issue too.

I can't see the issue with taking a games console.

My grandson loves to play computer games. Surely he can take it with an agreed time limit, rather than a total ban. It would be quite a severe limit of course, unless there is more than one tv. I knit as a hobby and would chose to knit over some other activites. Should my knitting be banned?

Frazzled2207 · 26/08/2022 09:50

Also wondering about the bunk beds at CP…

not ideal but you share with dd and your dh wirh dss. Take the PlayStation. Just do activities with your daughter. Don’t let him spoil it.

aSofaNearYou · 26/08/2022 09:57

God I despair of what people on here will put up with from their teenagers.

I wouldn't take him if he's not going to want to do anything and will moan. I would never have been so ungrateful as a teen and I wouldn't allow it from one I was paying for. Yes, they can skip the odd thing/have a lie in but I would not be taking someone that generally just wanted to stay in their room like at home and did not appreciate the expense being spent on them.

I would expect him to show willing attitude wise. If he hadn't done so on previous holidays I wouldn't be taking him, and if you give him the benefit of the doubt on this trip and that is how he behaves, then I wouldn't take him away with you next time.

Pipsquiggle · 26/08/2022 10:05

Look we don't know the dynamics of your family and how close or not your DD and DSS are. Only you can answer that one.

Personally, I don't know why they have to share; I don't know why you or your DH can't take the bottom bunk.

As many previous posters have said, having a chat about expectations on when to get up, which activities you're doing etc before you go is the best way forward.

AlpacaBag · 26/08/2022 10:19

Why can't you share just because it's bunk beds? Anyone can sleep in a bunk bed? And I think you're being a bit harsh, would you speak about your own DD this way when she is 14? I don't think he'll feel very "wanted" if this is your view on him, I'd make an effort to make him WANT to do things with you x