we spent a week this summer on holiday with friends - we both have children. we stayed on a campsite in the uk. we went together last year and had a good time, we have 6 dc altogether, the 3 youngest were babies then but this year are toddlers and i think that changed the dynamics hugely.
we knew there would be differences as we parent differently, and have different morals/values. we rub up alongside each other ok normally - and tolerate each others differences, and have never fallen out about anything.
we give our children boundaries eg - you can go and play but stay in sight at all times. they just allow theirs to wander free - and were brought back several times by strangers. (they have 2 toddlers)
we ask ours to stay seated for meals until everyone is finished - theirs get up and wander about with food in their hands.
we do not allow ours to graze on snacks or waste food - theirs constantly open a snack, take one bite and discard it - several times throwing the item on the floor. half hour later taking another item of food.
their kids were also fairly unkind to ours - saying things like no you cant play with me, i'll play if i can choose the game etc... and when the older one did play he stropped off at the slightest thing - eg if my ds rode his bike faster then their ds, he cried and ran to the tent and refused to play. cue my ds saying come and play i'll let you ride faster than me.
they did nothing to encourage their dc to be kind to my children and i ended up taking my dc on day trips as i felt very fraught with it all.
we are booked to go away again and i am not looking forward to it at all - i think we should sit down together as a 4some without the kids and talk about the difficulties, and listen to what their irritations were - but my dh is not keen to do so.....just wants to get on with it.
AIBU to insist we either sit down and discuss things, or cancel the trip? i just don't know what to do......