Who are these people that go away for the summer, like the whole summer

[GingerPussInBoots]

You know the ones that will be like yes I’m spending in the summer in France, Italy or Spain or whatever

@HappySheldon Can you go for longer to Australia, if it is because of his hobby just fly back much later and he can go ahead. Plus if he will never do the big trip across Europe with the family how do you feel about that?

We never go to Australia for longer than about 2 weeks so pretty normal. And timed to get back for the Dcs to get over jetlag before going back to school!

I don't mind about DH not coming. He's always been a bit of a home bod tbh. And I am the traveller! (lived in 7 countries before meeting DH and settling in the UK). The first few years DS1 (now 15) and DS 2 (13) were born he never wanted a family holiday at all and I resented that enormously. Then I decided I would just take the boys away by myself. I took DS1 to Oz at 3 months, 10 months and 3 years (DS2 was 1 then and came also obviously!) by myself to see family which were more obligations really. Then when they were about 4 and 2 I decided that they and we were not going to miss out because DH wanted to stay at home so we did Centerparcs and Butlins and a cruise and 3 trips to the Channel Islands before DH realised he was missing out! Since then we do a trip abroad all of us and I take the Dcs on my own (Berlin and Paris last year). DH potters about and does DIY stuff (last year we came back to find he had repainted the entire house). So it works for us really. No resentment, we all get to do what we like doing and I am not left festering at home and fuming! DS1 has learning difficulties and autism and at first it was obviously hard for him also to be out of his comfort zone but he has become a real little traveller and loves it. I go at his pace (out in the morning, chilling in the afternoons, out for dinner) and DS2 is a really relaxed little guy and is happy to do whatever is going. It's been great really. But yes I think an extended European road trip would be great- bit of a bucket list!

I know a few school mums who have holiday homes/ family homes abroad and they go for the school holidays, they’re SAHM’s and the dads join in for a few weeks.
We go for maybe 4-5 weeks in the summer to our cottage in my home country, as we both work we use leave and parental leave. When the kids are older I think they’ll be happy to stay there with GP while we travel back to work for a few weeks!

Many of my friends have second homes abroad, children grown up and come to visit with grandchildren in holidays.

Going away multiple times a year sounds amazing. Do you go solo?
May I ask how/where you find a place to stay?

For the last few years I have used a combo of annual leave, flexi excess and a week of unpaid leave to take mid July - mid September off work. I love it - kids around most of the time though I do send them to holiday camp for a day here and there. We go away for a week in U.K. and 2 weeks abroad normally. DH normally off for 4 or 5 weeks too.

I did as a child. For as young as I can remember Mum, (teacher), DB and I would spend 6 weeks in the summer in West France. My French grandparents and family had a couple of static vans near the beach so our summers were spent either at the beach or cycling around the town.Dad would join us for his 2 weeks leave in the middle.

Aww this has been a lovely thread to read at bedtime
being an academic sounds fab !

yea this wasn’t aimed at just parents
all welcome solos, dog parents, couples friends
just like hearing about all this kinda stuff
esp before sleep
hopefully I can have a nice dream tonight