to not want to take my children on holiday again?

[Iggleonk]

We have just had a bloody awful weekend in Whitstable. Whitstable was lovely, children awful!

DD1 is 2 & a half - spent whole time moaning and whining. Wouldn't go near the sea as scared of the waves. Fell out of bed twice last night so was awake most of the night and is super grumpy today.

DD2 is only 3 months old and to be fair was pretty well behaved.

How do other people make going on holiday with children look so effortless? We never want to go away with ours again or at least not until they are much older!

Undercovermutha- roffle... I think you have my children there ... but its okay- you can keep them

We take DD (3)camping every year.We make her help out,and we stick to routines from home.So far so good.I like to plan,obsessively plan ,everything! Wet days,dry days ,filling in things,She even thinks putting in tent pegs is exciting!We could sleep for a week when we get home!Next yr cornwall for 2 weeks-ask me then if family holidays are a good idea!Would like to point out no smugness involved as she is a little sod for me at home!

I love going on holiday with my children. Have done since they were babies. We have had a family holiday abroad at least every second year and, while there were occasional flare ups we generally had fun. We even managed a family holiday in the States/Canada this year, staying in friends' apartments and student halls of residence not only to save money but also to vary the experiences. Children are now 23/20/20/18 and they do also holiday with their friends and my wife and I also holiday by ourselves and alone.

The main thing is to find a sensible balance between doing stuff and just chilling out.

For a number of years before their teen years went to the same gite in Normandy, so they got used to the house, the area and facilities on offer and we did more or less the same things every year and ate in the same restaurants usually at their insistence, so they could build up good memories and, to some extent, feel there was a routine to the holiday. Even now, despite the fact that we haven't been for over ten years, they still fondly remember the yellow bread, the moules frites, the horseriding and just playing and reading in the garden.

We just did Butlins for first family holiday- nearest was 6 hour journey away. Was great - not the journey there and back but ideal for our three, between five and one and half.

Youngest two didn't like the sea -wouldn't go near - so managed only a couple of hours each day there - but tons of stuff they loved - rides, shows ect.

Didn't expect it to be restful - and obviously had few tantrums - us and kids - but worth it to see there faces light up at different experiences.

Maybe Whitstable is a location for when they are older and love the beach - 5 years +.

Have done short weekend breaks prior to last trip but to city locations with friends and child friendly places to go.

Maybe you just need to re-think locations you go with very young children and to expect some moments of less then perfect behavoir due to tiredness and loss of routine and edit thoses moments out of the memories.

Holidays often lots of hard work, but will get better, don't give up yet!

1. Research stuff to do before.
2. Get them (well not the 3 month old yet) to pack a small bag of their own toys
3. Pack a small bag of stuff you think they'll want but might not have thought of (colouring pens for rainy days etc.)
4. Go on short holidays, so they always are left wanting more.

I have opposite problem; DD obsessed with going on holiday! Naturally we cannot accommodate nor afford her wishes!

TheBeast - I have rumbled you. The fact that your DCs have fond memories of moules frites means that you were in fact visiting France from another planet. Mere earthling children are unable to attain such levels of culinary appreciation.

Off to forcefeed persuade the DCs that vegetable soup is an acceptable dinner and not pigswill.

EndangeredSpecies - To be fair, some of them started with the frites but were fascinated by the way you could eat the mussels with another mussel shell, so they tried that and found they liked the taste. And, really, who could not like that creamy sauce?

We did have a bland food phase but I can't recall that this affected their appreciation of moules frites when we were in France. I suspect that in the UK and in the presence of their friends things might not have been the same.

And, yes, when I first came to the UK, I did have to carry an Alien's Registration Certificate everwhere I went. My children were quite impressed by that when they found it amongst some old papers.