To hate it when DD makes friends on holiday?

[Darklis]

OK, I'm prepared for most people to say that IABU, but..

I end up minding strange children while their parents happily drink wine on their decking.

I want family time and outings, but once she makes friends she whinges whenever we want to leave the site where her brand new friends are playing out.

I am brought into awkward contact with strange children's parents, and I am a natural curmudgeon.

She invariably meets her soulmate on their, or our, last day.

I have a week of listening to "I miss Maaaaiiiisiiie..." after we get back.

She has loads of proper friends at home, But I can't be arsed with holiday friendships that are more faff than they are worth. Rant over.

It's part of childhood isn't it?

Strange thing to get so annoyed about, it's her life not yours!

I know what you mean, YANBU!

Ah, but it affects my life, and my plans, she's only 7. I'd prefer to just get on with our holiday, but Other Peoples Children just seem to complicate things. Not a big deal, but a pain.

Ah, thanks Santana, I am not alone :)

Dd1 is the same when we go away, she's now 10 so I just let her get on with it but refuse to look after other people's children and I try not to socialise with the parents. This year we were at a small sight and the play area was right next to us so dd1 was allowed to meet her new friend in the early evening each night after having dinner. Luckily she soon forgets her new friends when we leave. Dd1 talks to anyone so we find she makes friends where ever we go ( friends of all ages ).

Glad my mum never felt like that!!

My closest friend is someone we met whilst camping, when we were both 8. It was the 70's, so keeping in touch required an effort on both our parts. We re both the wrong side of 45 now, and are still in touch regularly.

Is dd an only child? Does she crave company her own age? How old is she?

My dd is renowned for going somewhere (playground / beach / park) and always acquiring at least one new friend!! (We joke that she can give us their whole life story & family details after half an hour in their company!!)

I am a complete hermit given half the chance, but I will make an effort to make idle chat with another parent, if our offspring are having fun.

I agree with HeySoulSister. Although I would put my foot down about the outings and insist that she still comes with you on family outings.

When you are at the site though it would be rather boring for her to see other children playing and not being able to join in, so in that respect YABU.

I know what you mean. Ds always makes a friend, the worst part is when I end up having to speak to their parents.

I can see how it could be annoying. but in general id be happy seeing my daughter making friends easily.
holidays are for everyone. your daughter included.
what would be the alternative

If you don't like other people why do you choose the type of holiday where you are bound to come into contact with them?

We usually self cater in the UK, but book a cottage, not a caravan or chalet in a holiday park.

Why be a annoyed with the other parents, it's your dd who is creating the situation. Weird thing to get annoyed about. It's lovely that she's friendly and making friends on her own.

See I always feel guilty when the other kids mum or dad start playing football or pushing them on the big swing while I end up sitting there looking like the lazy cow that I am.

Deep down though I'm glad that ds is a social butterfly and not like me.

Aw, I used to love when my DCs did this, they made some lovely friendships this way. They're too old for it now (13 and 17) and have to be poked with a stick to move out of their comfort zone!

Yabu ds and dd both have asd and other disabilities and cannot make friends, this means dp and I spend all our time on holiday supervising them 24 7. I would absolutely love to see them making friends and enjoying themselves.

Part the pleasure in going to Spanish campsites when the DC were younger was the fact that they could bugger off with 'new' mates and leave me alone to sunbathe/drink wine

I love it when dd meets friends, it really makes her holiday and now she's 12 she can keep in touch via social media.
She's miserable if she doesn't meet friends.

I would just be pleased she is sociable and makes friends easily.

Why don't you just go somewhere different that's likely to be child free? Don't book shared areas etc

Can't say ours really ever even see other children let alone play with them. It's a week or two they will survive

I can see your point. Nice for her to make friends, but if it is impinging on your holiday, I can see it is tedious. You certainly shouldn't have to mind other people's children whilst on holiday!

I agree op

My dds were like this and we basically smiled and waved.

One holiday they made friends with a really spoilt German child who ran rings around her daft parents. They kept trying to sit with us in the evening and the really dreadful thing was they were tea total!

This was an all inclusive holiday too.

They only drank tea the whole holiday?

Bun freaking soft juices and coffee. I ask you!