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Original poster

Apparently my children have never had a proper holiday

219 replies

thimblgattle167 · 06/06/2023 12:48

According to my SIL anyway
Every year we take them to eurocamp (or similar) We take the eurotunnel and have traveled all over France, Italy Netherlands Germany. We stay in a chalet and have wonderful holidays, swimming biking exploring and much more. Our kids are great in the car so it's all no bother and we have a great time.

But no apparently it's only a holiday if you get on plane and stay in a hotel. I'm utterly baffled.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 06/06/2023 13:17

PuttingDownRoots · 06/06/2023 12:52

Thats worse than people claiming its only a "staycation" if its within the UK.

A holiday is going away somewhere for the purpose of relaxation.

That's bonkers too.

To me a Staycation is when you book week or fortnight off work and stay at home doing local things or going on day trips!

SunnySaturdayMorning · 06/06/2023 13:19

What is Eurocamp like?

70sTomboy · 06/06/2023 13:19

Comefromaway · 06/06/2023 13:17

That's bonkers too.

To me a Staycation is when you book week or fortnight off work and stay at home doing local things or going on day trips!

Show quote history

That's my thoughts too. When did staycation end up meaning holidays in UK and not staying at home.

Original poster
thimblgattle167 · 06/06/2023 13:20

YukoandHiro · 06/06/2023 13:16

Hope you managed to get in a little dig saying "oh god my kids are active people, they'd be absolutely bored out of their minds sitting on a beach for a week"

Might have lol

OP posts:
minipie · 06/06/2023 13:20

Idrankyourbananamilk · 06/06/2023 12:51

First comment nailed it to be fair.

Show quote history

😂

pontipinemum · 06/06/2023 13:21

Your holidays sound great! I'm jealous, I'm in Ireland I'd love to drive over to the continent for holidays but it takes nearly a full day to sail.

bussteward · 06/06/2023 13:21

I don’t think I stayed in a hotel til I was in my 20s, didn’t fly til I was 19, but had plenty of holidays. Send her a postcard next time you’re away that just says “LOL”

BitOutOfPractice · 06/06/2023 13:22

My DP’s ex wife told me that we were “cruel” because we only took their kids away for a week to Spain, not two. My eyes nearly rolled out of my head.

Gabbies · 06/06/2023 13:24

Are you going to tell Centre parcs or should SIL? They need to stop advertising holidays.

Original poster
thimblgattle167 · 06/06/2023 13:24

SunnySaturdayMorning · 06/06/2023 13:19

What is Eurocamp like?

Oh its brilliant. Loads of choice of accommodation, and park sizes. Prices vary a lot. But generally lovely and clean, well placed to visit local attractions. Will say though in my experience it's normally better to have a car with you.

Normally great swimming pool and restaurants. My kids always make loads of holiday friends.

OP posts:
WhineWhineWhineWINE · 06/06/2023 13:25

thimblgattle167 · 06/06/2023 12:52

I actually laughed at her. I thought she was joking. But no she feels sorry for my kids

It think a good hearty laugh at her was exactly the correct response 👍

TomatoSandwiches · 06/06/2023 13:25

I'd take that as her volunteering to take yours away for a week or so on her dime no less, let her know what weeks suit you best.

DanceMumTaxi · 06/06/2023 13:26

Your poor children. What a terrible mother you are, giving your children these lovely experiences 🙄 Sil is barking.

gogohmm · 06/06/2023 13:28

My kids haven't been on a "proper" holiday then. We took them away most summers for 2-3 weeks driving around Europe, but we always drove (fares plus hire car is £££ in school holidays plus we saw more interesting places)

Queenfreak · 06/06/2023 13:32

Oh blimey. My poor poor 6 year old doesn't even have a passport!
In fact her holiday this year is staying at grandparents house while they are away.
I'll make sure to reprimand myself the entire time.

gogohmm · 06/06/2023 13:32

I went to my first ai hotel in 2021, due to covid uncertainties it was just simpler to do a package and have food included. I m wondering if dp knows just how "deprived" I am for "only" going to a 5* spa hotel this summerGrin

kitsuneghost · 06/06/2023 13:34

Sounds way better for kids than stuck in a city in a stuffy hotel.
I feel sorry for her kids

Kiwano · 06/06/2023 13:34

Tell her how sorry you are for children who only ever get holidays where they are stuck in hotel rooms and spend their days limited to the pool or the beach.

vitahelp · 06/06/2023 13:36

She sounds stupid and narrow-minded, I wouldn't pay any attention.

MerryHen · 06/06/2023 13:38

Oh dear. My pre school aged DC have been to Butlins, stayed with dear grandparents by the sea down south during the summer and had various long weekends camping or in holiday cottages, mostly around Yorkshire within a couple of hours drive of home. I didn't realise we weren't holidaying properly 😬

WheresSpring · 06/06/2023 13:39

Your SIL is batshit.
But, just to slightly derail…. A staycation (which I’ve seen mentioned up thread) is where you stay at home(!) but treat it as holiday time. A holiday in the uk is just that -a holiday in the uk!!

Fizbosshoes · 06/06/2023 13:41

Ellicent · 06/06/2023 13:13

What an idiot - you have holidays! Plenty of people don't even manage that. It sounds like you know just what your family needs to have a great time away.

I would say - and it shouldn't be the case - but there is a point where kids become aware that they haven't ever been on a plane and their peers have and it can become something they can be picked on for ... 'X hasn't even ever been on a plane!' - they can feel like they're missing out. At some point, almost just to tick the box and also show them planes are interesting for 10 minutes and boring for 5 hours - I'd suck it up and go on a plane journey. They can be extremely cheap if you use a little bit of nous - especially given what we're all paying for petrol!! - so no need to break the bank at all. Just maybe something to have in the back of your mind on the growing up tick box list.

On the flip side, if you do encounter any snobbery about not going on planes, you can definitely play the environment card and attribute some of the decision to that! I truly think in a decade or so we'll all have to radically assess our use of planes and take alternative means which are slower and become part of the holiday.

In summary: you do go on proper holidays already!!

We went on a plane for a family holiday for the first time for over 10 years this year. Essentially it was like DS (13) first time on a plane (it was his 3rd time but he couldn't remember the first 2 times as a baby/toddler) and he was quite excited about it.
We live in a fairly mc area where its not unusual for DC peers to go away every half term and school holidays. AFAIK neither of them have ever had any comments that they don't do that. They occassionally grumble when we're at home and all their friends seem to be away somewhere fancy (We mainly holiday in UK or go to a campsite or caravan in France)

DreamingofGinoclock · 06/06/2023 13:42

thimblgattle167 · 06/06/2023 13:05

She kept saying. Of course it's a holiday it's just not a "proper holiday" (finger quotation marks)

Correct her..tell her it's just not "her idea of a holiday" ... holiday means something different to everyone...her "idea of a holiday" may be jumping on a plane and sitting by a pool / on a beach ...others idea of a holiday may be camping...others city break ...or for some people all of those things ... basically anything away from home for a night or more that those going see as fun/ relaxing/ look forward to is a Holiday!

Heckythump1 · 06/06/2023 13:42

PuttingDownRoots · 06/06/2023 12:52

Thats worse than people claiming its only a "staycation" if its within the UK.

A holiday is going away somewhere for the purpose of relaxation.

I've never been on holiday since having my children then.... ain't nothing relaxing about holidays with small children! 😛

eggandonion · 06/06/2023 13:44

My kids in their twenties complain about not going to stay in a French campsite with a roof box for us to fill with wine and never going to Eurodisney.
They were in Greece Turkey Tunisia Italy Portugal... all over the Uk and Ireland...