Going on holiday with young(ish) children

[redskyatnight]

Was making small talk with an acquaintance earlier. She has 2 DC aged 5 and 3. I asked if they were going away this year and she said they had a couple of short breaks planned as "they found going away for more than a couple of nights was too much work".

I said that we normally find that it gets easier after the first couple of days as I think it takes that long to get sorted out and into a routine. She looked frankly disbelieving.

The places she was going to are 2 and 2.5 hours drive away. Am I alone in my opinion that if you're going that far you want to be staying for more than a couple of nights (obviously money allowing - not a problem in this case)?

up to her surely? i don't think 2 hours is that bad. and if they prefer short breaks then that's up to them really

i don't see the issue tbh

Are you just looking for something to be judgy about? I fairly regularly make my DCs do 2 hours of driving or more in a day so it wouldn't occur to me that would be a reason to stay overnight let alone stay for a week.

I don't make my DCs drive, obviously. They have to sit in their carseats and chat away.

FWIW I agree with you that it gets easier after a few days, however, driving 2 - 2 1/5 hours isn't that far and we do that for a weekend away.

I really don't see what you wanted to achieve by posting this?

it doesn't sound that far to me either, not really sure why your bothered by this?

IME even a weeks holiday with small children is hard going. And I am a routine queen.

I think you are worrying about nothing. Not your holiday = not your problem.

going on holiday is easy. well just as easy as staying at home. my kids drive me mad as much/as little at home as they do on holiday. zero difference.

sorry, i am confused. what is Op saying ?

YABU

Why should somebody else take their kids on holiday because when you do it you find 'it gets easier after two days'.

I won't be taking my pfb on holiday at all until s/he is school age or as near as. I coudn't care less how easy you find it - I know I won't!

At 5 and 3 mine took no time to settle in - that's never been an issue. Life with 2 small children is hard, but holidays are easier!

On the other hand we would happily do 2 hours for a long weekend. So not sure what your point is....

I prefer short breaks to a 2 week holiday as we don't have to worry about the cats, and can turn work phones off for a few days, but would be v hard for longer periods.

But it's up to them - and a 2 hour car journey is nothing. We certainly go to my parents and back in a day and thats 1.5 hours each way

2-2.5 hrs is a day trip to us, but then we go everywhere by PT, so...

I agree that holidaying is easier if you do it over time, for MY DS. he NEEDS routine, and while he can be prepared for a holiday, he will get more fun out of it if it is over a week or even a fortnight, as he can get his confidence up and settle in to somewhere new, and get familiar with it.

That said, we have also successfully managed long weekend breaks which have worked.

Don't think it matters. Everyone is different, and if that's what they prefer, good for them.