To want to throw myself off our hotel balcony?

[Cisforcat]

We are on holiday with our normally reasonably behaved 3 yr old and 4 yr old and in our second week.

First week one set of grandparents were here and there were a few tantrums but nothing too major which we put down to tiredness from heat and being active all day.

They normally sleep 7-7 so as they are going to bed at around 9.30 ish we have enforced a 2 hr afternoon nap so getting reasonable amounts of sleep as they aren't waking until around 8-8.30 am.

The last few days we have had tantrums galore. Defiance at EVERYTHING , back chatting and general feral behaviour. It was my birthday one day and I didn't get any dinner as had to remove one feral animal from the dining area for absolutely unacceptable behaviour and a full on tantrum on the floor where literally everyone was watching. Queue me ending my birthday in tears and at my wits end. That's not to mention the toilet accidents they have seemed to have everyday. No idea where that has come from!

AIBU to feel like my children are the only ones to behave so unusually badly and never want to go on holiday again?
I'm embarrassed but most importantly so disappointed that they are ruining the one event I look forward to every year where I don't have to wash/cook/ clean and work on top of spending quality time with my family.

I was to cowardly to change their routine when mine were little.
We literally just sat playing cards on the balcony with a bottle of wine, watching everyone else going out enjoying themselves

Sounds pretty relentless. Especially on your birthday!

But, YABU for using 'queue' when you meant 'cue'.

Mycatsplotsdeath, haha, us too

Kids in bed at 7, us sitting in the bathroom with a beer

What shite holidays I have had with small kids

Took mine away (only a UK holiday but still expensive enough) recently. 3 and very nearly 5. The oldest was HORRIFIC! We rebook every year on our return as we get a discount, but I didn’t after our last experience! I’ve decided not to bother for a few years and just stick to fun days out or maybe the odd weekend away at a theme park. I think it’s just too much for them to be out of routine for so long at a young age. Some kids cope with it better than others (my youngest loved it which is a shame!) 💐

Oh Cisforcat I feel your pain. I am currently camping with DH and 2 yo, who has been the devil incarnate since we got here.

Screaming shit fits hourly, everything from holding hands to cross the road to putting on a nappy is a battle met with NONONO! Hitting me in the face, chucking food in restaurants, running away, you name it...can't walk two steps without whining to be carried which I don't want to do because I'm fairly heftily pregnant. Which possibly contributed to me bawling twice today alone. and no gin dammit!

She is now in bed claiming to have "bit finger" while DH watches the match and I mainline half melted chocolate...fun times...

I’ve never done more than 1 week away with the kids.. they need their home comforts and routines after that..

Kids clubs. Kids clubs. Kids clubs. The only thing I insist on when going abroad.

I think this is why holiday caravans are so popular with parents of small children- including us! We’ve taken DS away every year and (bar a few moments) it’s been ok. We saved hotels until he was about 9 or only for short breaks.

We still have our own rooms, can still have a living room and our own space. I’d rather sit out drinking a bottle of wine on a caravan veranda that sit in the dark of a hotel room waiting for him to fall asleep!

I remember a few nightmare days on holiday with my 4 year old. He's sitting next to me now a delightful grown man, it was never quite so bad again.......except there was that one time when he was 11.......

Don't throw yourself over the balcony. But do have a large tea / wine / bottle of gin.

Thanks for reminding me not to bother with forrin olidays for a few years. I'd been feeling guilty.

Same here. Ds was a total nightmare on holiday. He's 20 months and we've been away twice (first time was our honeymoon). And he completely ruined both trips. Screaming, throwing food, refusing to sleep, tantrum after tantrum all day every day. I was in tears daily and even DH said on our honeymoon that we should just pack up early and go home.
Only consolation was all inclusive bar!
We were also adamant that we wouldn't let him out our sight or put him in the creche. However on holiday 2 by day 2 we signed him up for a block of 3 sessions and we hid in the spa.
I hope it gets easier because I can't do it again next year.
Oh and he screamed non stop and pood all over me on the plane and I had no way to change!

We went out for dinner last night and that was bad enough. Only 45 mins and we're not even on vay-kay.

4 year old and an 18 month old.

I’d rather sit out drinking a bottle of wine on a caravan veranda that sit in the dark of a hotel room waiting for him to fall asleep!

^^ Yup. On the money.

After two horrendous attempts at abroad holidays with young DC we stuck to cottages or camping in the UK until the youngest was over 8!

We managed Disney/Orlando but had a memorable meal at Red Lobster where my normally well behaved DS was atrocious! I’ve never seen anything like it. Think it’s the strangeness and excitement.

We have had a couple of very successful UK city flat holidays with our two. Lots to do out in the day, takeaway and a film for us in the evening. More like normal life.
We're doing a city flat in France this summer, there will be swimming/beach but probably big lunch out and pasta in the flat in the evening with a film for us.

Sounds like a holiday adults think is nice but children might be less enamoured. Round the pool all day sounds dull as dishwater for a 3 and 4 year old unless adults are in with them playing games, teaching swimming and doing things in non pool time.
Three and four year olds are unsurprisingly reluctant to go with strangers to a kids club.
Children might have preferred a cottage in Devon, with crabbing, a trip to local wildlife park, sandcastle building and scavenger hunts.

We always got a babysitter when our children were that age and had a lovely relaxed adult meal without them.

Its really only been in the last year when our youngest was 6 that we actually enjoy eating out with them.

I'd forgo the afternoon nap and juts pay for the sitter.

After some ghastly holidays abroad, we went to Centerparcs and had some lovely holidays there.

My brother, who is an experienced father of 4 now grown up says that children generally hate holidays. Even if they are behaving well, they would still much rather be at home, and the ones who behave badly are just expressing what they really feel. I think he might have a point!

That’s why I only did Eurocamp style holidays on sites with restaurants and takeaways. Kids in bed, DH and I on the decking sharing a bottle of wine listening to music. I couldn’t share a hotel room with them.

Ive just phone my daughter about our nightmare holiday and we've had a really good laugh. But its amazing how much we'd each forgotten that the other hadn't.

Apparently it was worse than I remembered.

Ahh, you have my sympathies.

From what you've said though, is it too much sleep? Their nighttime amounts sound only an hour less than home, yet you're doing the 2 hour nap? Mine always sleep less on holiday, it's just an accepted part of it and doesn't seem to cause a problem.

Same shit, different pot, innit

Totally understand what you are going through !! We’ve just got back from holiday with 2 year old and 4 year old. Our day travelling back was so grim, full of fighting and tantrums as they are overtired. We go away quite a lot, 3/4 abroad holidays a year including long haul and over our time have learnt the following. iPads at meal times are a bloody godsend (ignore any looks from those oh so perfect parents who have kids who never tantrum) it means me and DH can talk and eat and have glass of wine! Make sure resort has kids club even if you stay with them - mine like the Nursery atmosphere and it’s easier for them to make friends. Ditto a playground. There’s only so much pool fun that can be had. Take it in turn to have the kids! We made sure we each got 2 hours off each day to go to Gym, have swim in sea, read a book, sunbathe. You don’t both have to suffer together! Don’t feel bad about just chilling in room / apartment whilst they cool down in air-con and watch tv / play / colour in for a bit.
Holidays are pretty full on, they need to chill as well. Oh and I’ve found splitting up kids works as well, I think they just do each other’s heads in after so much time together. They seem much better behaved when apart!