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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be panicking about holiday alone with DD

94 replies

Anonynony · 17/05/2014 07:39

This seemed like such a good idea at the time.
DD is almost 3 and we generally have an absolute ball together. Money has been really tight lately but a while ago I booked a cheap little holiday to Majorca for us, it was an excellent deal and had visions of us playing by the pool, strolling in the sun, eating out etc but everyone has put a huge dampner on it for me telling me I'm nuts and I'll be bored still stuck in in the evenings when she's in bed.

My plan was for both of us to have a sleep in the day so she can have a slightly later bed time and that I could read, relax or maybe even have one glass of wine on the balcony)
As money is tight I was going to do a shop in the local supermarket and buy breakfast and lunch stuff so that we'll "only" need to eat out once a day. I haven't really had the funds to buy "holiday" clothes but have plenty of dresses I'd wear here with tights that I can just wear without them and so does she (she has piles actually)

I'm just really starting to stress out that it's going to be a horrible experience as everyone thinks I'm absolutely nuts. Please put my mind at ease or am I really crazy?

OP posts:

IkeaFurnitureAssemblyChampions · 17/05/2014 07:43

Sounds like fun! Yes holidaying with a toddler is not the same as holidaying with an adult, but I'd rather be 'stuck' on my apartment balcony with a glass of wine and a book than stuck at home in front of the telly! I'm sure it will have some tantrums ups and downs but a bit of warm weather, a holiday feel and no other commitments will do you a world of good. Would love the chance to get a bit bored!

pinkdelight · 17/05/2014 07:44

She has piles of clothes or actual piles??? Sorry, got totally distracted wondering if toddlers get piles.

But don't worry, you sound like a great mum and if you two normally have a ball together I'm sure you will have an even better time on holiday. Ignore the misery-spreaders and make some wonderful memories.

sleepingdragon · 17/05/2014 07:46

I think it sounds like you will have a lovely time. maybe see if you can pick up a plastic wine glass at a poundshop and remember the bottle opener to save having to buy them out there (unless yr room comes with a self catering kitchenette thing? sitting on the balcony in the evening with a good book sounds like my idea of heaven.

Charley50 · 17/05/2014 07:48

It will be lovely. I did it alone with my DS when he was 3. We made a couple of friends which did make it a bit more fun for us both but it was lovely anyway and lots of good memories.

Queenofthehill · 17/05/2014 07:48

When are you going?! I'm holidaying alone with 3yo DS at the end of August in Palma de Mallorca. Am looking forward to the change of scene...

corlan · 17/05/2014 07:49

You will have a great time!

Your plan sounds good. Yes, you will be stuck inside in the evenings - that's the joy of being a single parent! I say good on you for having the courage to do this - a lot of people don't and it sounds like they're the kind of people that are trying to put a dampener on it for you.

Hassled · 17/05/2014 07:51

It'll be great and there will be other holidayers there - you might both make new friends.

Original poster

Anonynony · 17/05/2014 07:52

Oh thank you all, I'm feeling much better about it now. I've just been getting so many looks off people I've been getting really embarrassed! Everyone saying "have you not got a friend you could go with?"

There's evening entertainment/kiddy discos so she will LOVE bopping around to that! There are adventurey Parks for days out and boat trips etc that I think we could really enjoy and generally arsing about building sand castles, splashing about etc. Trying to convince myself here

OP posts:

BravePotato · 17/05/2014 07:52

It will be fun

I have never bought "holiday clothes" in my life, judt summer clothes are fine, surely?

Enjoy it!

SavoyCabbage · 17/05/2014 07:53

Sounds like you have a plan that is going to work well to me. Especially if she goes in the water in the morning, she will be ready for a rest in the afternoon. You will have a great time.

Original poster

Anonynony · 17/05/2014 07:54

queen that'd have been funny! We're going in just over a week, eek.

Feeling loads better now, thanks all!

Sure I'm stuck in every evening at home anyway and usually just end up in front of the telly or tidying up so it can't really be worse than that.

OP posts:

crashbangboom · 17/05/2014 07:55

I think your friends are jealous! Have a fab time!

SteadyEddie · 17/05/2014 07:56

Take a few good books for the evenings and you will both have a ball.

VivaLeBeaver · 17/05/2014 07:57

Me and dd have always holidayed alone and always had a great time.

ToddlersRFab · 17/05/2014 07:58

I went to Menorca last year on my own with my 5 year. I was a little worried like you. It was AMAZING.

We did exactly what we wanted when we wwanted during the day. We went back to the room about 8pm. I read until I was ready to sleep. I had one glass of wine too.

Ds made friends every day and you get to chat with the parents.

One of my best holidays ever. I am going to Majorca next week and I was going again on my own but a friend is coming too ..... think she was amazed at how nice a time we had.

I came home relaxed and we spent great quality fun time together.

Don't worry you will have a great time.

LadyintheRadiator · 17/05/2014 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoffinMum · 17/05/2014 07:59

I used to do things like this and I actually didn't mind the evenings. I used to take paperbacks (easier now with Kindles, I imagine) and just chill out. Sometimes we would meet new people and the kid would all play together while the parents socialised. It was actually quite good fun. Kids tend to go to bed later in the Med as it's more normal for families to have dinner together in the evening so your kipping after lunch idea might be a good plan. The clothes thing doesn't matter at all, by the way.

Moleyjay · 17/05/2014 08:00

Think it sounds a great plan. Don't let others put a dampner on it. Have a great time!

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 17/05/2014 08:03

It's a fab idea. I was going to take DS on holiday alone last year at 4.5 until a friend offered to come. He stayed up late every night and slept in til around 10 every morning. We had a lovely time on the beach and the pool every day. Does the hotel have wifi? That was my bottom line!

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 17/05/2014 08:05

I've done it loads of times, it's lovely- miles more relaxing than having to accomodate other people.

Nap during the day is definitely a good idea, and take a kindle with you for the evenings. Try and pack into one suitcase as more than that is a ballache to carry. Set DD up with a backpack of stuff for the plane, for her to carry, but also hide some stuff in your suitcase- sometimes it drives you mad to literally be in the pool all day, so you want something you can do wih her at the side too. Invest in your armbands, etc now too, and pop them in the suitcase- a lot cheaper than abroad, you can get them from poundshop.

I took a tablet/netbook on a couple of the holidays, loaded it with a few films for DD and TV shows for me, that was handy for in an evening or if DD has a 'crabby' day, where she doesn't want to be outside all the time. This generally happens on at least one day of the holidays. DD was mainly out of a buggy by then, but we took one on holiday for a couple of years later- for a few nights of the holiday she would be so interested in the night time activities, she would rather fall asleep out and about than go back to the room. Fleece blanket comes in handy for this, and for the plane too.

rainbowfeet · 17/05/2014 08:10

I did it with dd when she was 8 also to Majorca. It was a lovely week.

She was obviously a little older & made friends with lots of children so she played a lot & I did get to rest a bit. You won't have that luxury but sitting on the edge of a pool in the sun while dd splashes around sure beats a rainy day watching cbeebies at home!

She may well be happy to go to kids club too which will give you time to relax during that time.

I'm sure you will be so glad you did it, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

CaptWingoBings · 17/05/2014 08:10

Sounds to me like you will have a lovely time! Other people are just being moaners.

MoreBoober · 17/05/2014 08:11

Panic not you will have a great time. Try to have a nap in the afternoon to extend your evenings a bit. Stock up with snacks and books for your balcony in the evening. When you arrive at your accommodation try to get a poolside view or view where you can do some people watching. Mallorca is great for little supermarkets so will be able to do self catering no problem.
Have a fab time

CaptWingoBings · 17/05/2014 08:12

YY to sense of accomplishment - I'm not a lone parent but my partner works long unsocial hours & I do notice that I am willing/able to things with my kids on my own that my friends won't. Gives me a great feeling of strength & independence.

Finola1step · 17/05/2014 08:12

Sounds lovely. Ds and I had a break away together this time last year. Was lovely. No rushing around from A to B. a few tantrums along the way but nothing major.

Ignore people who are trying to put a dampener on your holiday. Makes me wonder if some people actually want to spend time with their children.

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