DH wanting to go hiking on family weekend away.

[PooFlower]

We are off to the Lake district for a Fri to Mon weekend away with our two dc.
DH has announced he plans to go for a short hike (2 hours) on the Sat and a long walk (5-6 hours) on the Sunday. He says he will get up at first light and go so he is back in time to do other things.
Am I being unreasonable to ask him not to?
I dont mind him going for a short walk each morning however a long walk will ruin the weekend for me. He will go to bed early the night before, probably wake dd2 up if he gets up early and be shattered and fit for nothing when he gets back.
I feel mean though. He loves hiking but hardly gets to go these days. I wouldn't mind so much if we were away for a week but think it will impact the holiday too much as with it only being a short break.

Depends really. My dh would probably go mountain biking 8am till midday (4hrs) then we’d all have lunch and an afternoon out and I’d run while he does bedtime.
We’re both happy with that and prefer that to all being together 24/7.

What time will you get? Is it equal? And plenty time all together?

why else would you possibly go to the Lake District if not to go hiking in the drizzle?

I think it's fair for him to do one but, given the risk of waking the kids early and leaving you to deal with the aftermath, I don't think walking on two mornings of a 3 night family holiday is fair.

Maybe he could do the long walk alone and you could do a shorter walk as a family?

Why don't you sling the kids in wellies /a back pack and all go?

He should be on holiday with you and doing things with you not going off on his own

Presumably he'll be supportive if you want to mooch around the local town alone for hours on one of the days?

I would assume you all going on the bike together. And tell him great you get kids ready and I will get breakfast . Ask lots of question , get the kids kit ask him to buy walking boot for kids . I would not accept him going alone . If he is going alone there is no way I would go away .

“Ooh that’s a good idea DH! Let’s all go and make a family day of it”.

Sorted.

Pisacake I had plans to go for mini hikes with the dc probably ending up in a cosy pub for lunch and then all snuggle up and watch dvds and drink hot chocolate. We are going inbetween Christmas and New Year so I was also hoping for some snow but drizzle is more likely.

How old are the DC? Can you not all go hiking, at least the smaller walk? I would find it extremely frustrating to be in the Lakes and not get out hiking or biking. Even with tiny dc some hils are do-able - Gummer’s Howe, Cat Bells, Whitbarrow...

What were your plans?

I'd plan Sunday without him. 5-6 hours after first light is back in time for a late lunch, at this time of year.

I think he does one walk and you get equivalent time to go shopping/look at art galleries/read a book or whatever it is you can't usually do because of kids.

The first one maybe. First light is 7:20 or so. A 2 hour walk would have him home by 9:30am and i wouldn't mind that.

The second one maybe not as that involves him being away until midday.

Id ask him to skip the second one and hike as a family somewhere easier.

No he’s being selfish.

Jesus weekends away are putting the kids to bed and enjoying a nice meal and a bottle of wine to relax and reconnect.

He’s treating this like it’s his weeken away and not a family one.

Silly sod needs telling

OK, so between Christmas and new year, there only is about 6 hours of daylight in the Lake District!

Ah if it is Christmas first light is a lot later. Screw that him taking off for hours alone on a Christmss short break.

Shortish walk in the morning before you get up - yes fair enough, shouldn’t impact too much on the family break. Full day hike- not so good.
I’ve been there and got the T-shirt as DH also a keen walker, but to be fair to him , he wouldn’t go on two hikes over a weekend and generally these days he asks rather than telling.

You could tell your DH that as this appears to be a walking trip for his benefit rather than a family weekend, then he can go on his own.

I love how you describe a 5-6hr expedition as a "long walk"
But the Lake District is intended for walking isn't it? And it's only half a day and it is his holiday too. Make it a lazy afternoon & do stuff the other days.

I agree that both mornings isnt really fair. My DH does the getting up at first light and back mid morning thing when we are on holiday and it suits us fine. He doesn't wake anyone though. He is packed and ready at night and just dresses and slips out the door. The shorter walk could be family walk. He could maybe do an evening with the kids and give you some free time too.

How old are your dcs?

Iam not fit enough for a six hour hike up a mountain and dd1 is 13 and would not be up for it. Dd2 is too young. I would go on a shorter hike all together though.
I think the problem is that it would eat into the whole weekend. If we are away for a week he plans a long walk usually on the last day when I'm packing up which works well for us.

YOUR description of the day sounds perfect op.

Why would you go on a family break and spend your time getting away from your family?

Dcs are 13 and 5.

Thank you Teresamayscough. I think he is just getting carried away with being in the Lakes and all the great walks available.
To be fair he would take the kids if they would go with him. They wont though.