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AIBU?

To be pleased that I no longer have to 'do the seaside thing' now that the dcs are teens?

41 replies

Cherryberries · 08/06/2013 12:11

Am I really alone in feeling pleased that in this hot and sunny weather I no longer feel compelled to pack up the dcs and the car and bundle everyone off to the seaside for day of fun and frollics in the sand?
It was such a faff and I always felt an enforced feeling of jollity.
God,the sand in the food,the car, the shoes,the hair,the house for weeks after etc.Then the endless hours of suncreaming-before the dcs go in the water,then again when they come back out,then again half hour later and on and on.
Mine are 16 and 13 now and it is a scorching hot day here and I am so looking forward to lolling about at home and not feeling obliged to go and 'do' stuff anymore.I am probably in the minority here but today it feels like utter bliss and I will smugly watch the news tonight when they show little clips of all the packed beaches full of suncreamed toddlers and harrassed parents.AIBU? .

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1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 08/06/2013 12:16

Yanbu because each to their own, I love the seaside especially with my DC's but I'm sure there are many other things that people enjoy with theirs that I can't stand eg Crafts!

Myliferocks · 08/06/2013 12:26

YADNBU.

We live a 10 minute walk from the beach and my DC are old enough to take themselves these days.
It is bliss!

lollilou · 08/06/2013 12:41

YANBU. You know the other thing I love is going to a pub in the summer and not having to help them on the play equipment, bliss to be able to sit and have a conversation over a drink.

KitCat26 · 08/06/2013 12:43

YANBU. I'm a misery too .

DH loves the seaside for days out for the DDs (2 and 3) so we do it often-ish. It is always a double nap day though so neither child is in bed before 10pm.

The last coastal trip we went on we left a sunny 20 degrees and went to Southwold where there was a sea fog and it was below 10 degrees!

Startail · 08/06/2013 12:58

YANBU
The beach is for Mallorca only.

The sea must be warm enough to swim in for a prolonged period and it must be calm enough to put up a brolly and have proper shade.

The beach must be near enough to walk to. No cars and traffic jams must be involved.

Preferable DC should be old enough not to need close supervision, so I can swim out to the marker buoys and back if they decide to stay on the beach, in the shallows.
Ie about 5 or 6 (but I do have fish and a DH who does do playing on the sand with children).

Crappy cold, unsafe steep beach, with big waves or very shallow slope so your never out your depth, is no fun. Ie the British sea side sucks

FreudiansSlipper · 08/06/2013 12:59

I love going to the beach

I can't wait until ds no long wants to go to the park but now it's warmer we join some friends share a bottle of wine it's enjoyable

Cherryberries · 08/06/2013 13:29

Oh yes lolli to the play equipment also.I feel soo pleased going past playgrounds now packed full of kids on swings,climbing frames etc knowing my days of hanging out in such places are over.

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Trills · 08/06/2013 13:31

You know you didn't actually have to do it when they were smaller either... there's no rule that you must do certain activities with your children if you hate it.

Scipio · 08/06/2013 13:35

YANBU.

I hate sand. I'm so glad we are past the stage of beach day trips & holidays.

DollyClothespeg · 08/06/2013 13:36

YABU. I love the beach! As long as it doesn't include sitting sweating in traffic jams on the way on the blasted A64. Argh, hate that road with a vengeance!

insancerre · 08/06/2013 13:37

YABU
I love the beach and live walking distance.
The trick is to go when nobody else is there or find a quiter beach.

Flyonthewindscreen · 08/06/2013 13:42

YABU, my DC are 9 and 11 and already not excited or bothered about a trip to the seaside unless friends are going too. I feel quite sad about it. Don't miss hanging out at soft play places tho'!

Sparklingbrook · 08/06/2013 13:51

YANBU. Sand is vile and ruins the beach experience totally. Along with other people being in the beach with their mini cities of tent/windbreaks/barbecues/mahoosive cool bags with the whole of Tescos in.

V overrated IMO.

noblegiraffe · 08/06/2013 14:03

Hmm, I have small kids and not only am I not at the beach, but feel no compulsion to be at the beach.

Paddling pool in the backyard, I'm sat on a deck chair with an icecream in the shade. Perfect.

Kat101 · 08/06/2013 14:05

We live at the furthest point in any direction from a beach in the uk. We don't go. No big deal. I would actually prefer taking them to a pebble beach out of season, standing huddled up with a hot choc watching would be far preferable to hot sand.

Sparklingbrook · 08/06/2013 14:05

Our nearest is Weston Super Mud. No ta.

nkf · 08/06/2013 14:10

I love the beach and will go even when the children leave home. Nothing unreasonable about hating it.

Sparklingbrook · 08/06/2013 14:14

I like a nice cliff walk and to look at the sea though.

glastocat · 08/06/2013 14:16

Yabu. The beach is fab, especially here in Oz with all the beautiful empty beaches,gorgeous weather, fit surfer dudes and free bbqs. Now if you were talking about Brighton or the like yanbu, no sand (pebbly beaches are shit) and when the sun comes out the entire population causes a huge traffic jam, just to sit cheek my jowl with every other bugger in southern England, well, it's rubbish. And beaches in Ireland which are glorious, but it pisses down all the bloody time.

BastardDog · 08/06/2013 14:20

I took my 13 yo ds to the beach last week. The sea water made his skin itch, the sand hurt his feet,the sun gave him a headache and he hurt his ear yawning. I kid you not.

Sparklingbrook · 08/06/2013 14:26

Sounds about right BastardDog.

I won't go in the sea unless you can see through it to the bottom.

heronsfly · 08/06/2013 14:30

YANBU, I'm another one that only lives a few mins from the beach. and i used to hate it, worrying that they would drown/get lost/throw stones at someone etc, funnily enough none of them are very keen on the beach even now.

GobblersKnob · 08/06/2013 14:32

I hate the beach in the summer, I can't bear sand touching my skin and I hate going in the sea, I also hate being in the sun.

I love long dog walks on the beach in autumn and winter, in walking boots, jeans and a big coat, fully protected from all beachyness.

Ashoething · 08/06/2013 14:36

YANBU-I hate the beach. We go on a british seaside holiday every year as that what our budgets allows but I sit on the sea wall or steps and let kids paddles to their hearts content. Dh joins in with the cricket/football. I cannot abide sand everywhere

Cherryberries · 08/06/2013 14:36

But Trills thats just it -I always felt I 'had ' to go as otherwise my dcs would be deprived of such a rich experience .

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