Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To never take my children on holiday again.

175 replies

MyBrexitUnicornDied · 30/08/2018 21:11

Argh. So pissed off. Kids are 7 and 4, have taken them to the Lakes for a supposedly fun week.

The 7 year has done nothing but whine, the four year old keeps dissolving into temper tantrums. They aren’t sleeping well at night but are still up early in the morning.

I’ve had enough, I normally take loads of pictures on holiday but there’s hardly any on my phone as there aren’t any I really want to remember.

I’m seriously considering no holidays for the next two years at least.

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 30/08/2018 22:20

What did you do in the Lakes? I don't think that there are many small kids who enjoy holidays other than the running in and.out of the sea/jumping in and out of the pool kind. Going for Walks and Sightseeing just isn't fun until you're in your 30s at that age.

Our two (4 and 5) really love walks, sightseeing etc. They’re looking forward to climbing mountains next summer! There’s a bit of small child whinging, but in the main we have a great time. Not all children are the same.

Desmondo2016 · 30/08/2018 22:20

All of you who think holidays with kids suck, youre booking the wrong holidays! We have a blast every time!

fattyboomboomboom · 30/08/2018 22:27

We found bucket and spade holidays in UK were great up until 3/4 then nothing till 7/8 (too whiny) then abroad for hotel/pool holidays. 13 - 17 too whiny again - after that they are just grateful for a free holiday!

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 30/08/2018 22:30

All of you who think holidays with kids suck, youre booking the wrong holidays! We have a blast every time

Well bragging about it isn’t helping anyone. Would you mind sharing your fabulous holiday ideas with the rest of us?

OP posts:
5foot5 · 30/08/2018 22:31

I threatened them with the pencil museum in Keswick but they said they wanted to go - weirdos

GrinGrin That was a family joke with us, misbehave and we will take you to the pencil museum.

We had a fortnight in the lakes when DD was 7 and I think it was fine. As I remember we had great weather so had some nice lazy lakeside days with DD playing in the water. And of course lots of walks.

TBH I am going to go against the grain here and say holidays were great, even at a very young age. But, and this might be a controversial view, I think it is just easier when they are an only child. No competing for your attention, no winding each other up and falling out. You just all enjoy each others company.

Sorry that doesn't help probably but I am sure it will get easier

wineusuallyhelps · 30/08/2018 22:33

I find slightly older is worse. Between 9-12. So selfish and whingy and argumentative with their siblings! We've had miserable times the last couple of years, but this summer was perfect (eldest about to go into year 9, seems to have a bit of conscience now!).

We always cater to them, too, so it's not as if we're being adult-oriented!

I just don't know what the answer is. If I knew, I imagine I'd be rich from selling the secret Grin

han01uk · 30/08/2018 22:38

We are just back from a week in the lakes,with a 6 and 9 year old.

I have to say they did embrace the nature aspect more than I anticipated,but by day 3 it's back to arguing,whinging,fighting and general shit. I feel your pain.

Even getting home and unloading and washing is a bloody mission. Holidays should be called something else when you have kids!!

nuttyknitter · 30/08/2018 22:38

I think you really have to choose holidays to suit the children while they're young. Walking, sightseeing etc is rarely going to cut it. We spent many happy holidays in sea side holiday parks when our DC were little - they loved the beach, the playgrounds, the swimming pools and the entertainment. It's not something we'd choose to do now, but seeing them have so much fun was it's own reward.

tolerable · 30/08/2018 22:40

wine. and chocolate..

chocolateworshipper · 30/08/2018 22:45

Wait until they're teenagers - they spend the whole time glued to their phones (what the hell is the point of being away from home) and crying that they miss their boyfriend Angry

greathat · 30/08/2018 22:45

Find a soft play send them in, sit down in peace with a nice cuppa

FarrahMoan · 30/08/2018 22:46

We're away atm. Paid £85 to get into Longleat Safari Park today and between them my 11yo and 6yo DS's made me wonder why we bothered. Both DH and I said today we're looking forward to going home. But tragic really when this is our only holiday of the year and will probably end up costing £2.5k Shock

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 30/08/2018 22:48

Were going away on Monday with a 8 and a 5 year old, this thread has made me nervous now!

We usually go to stay in a holiday home in North Yorkshire and have a blast do a mixture of days out, walking and lots of cooking/food.

mumtomaxwell · 30/08/2018 22:48

We’ve just done a week in the Lakes with our 3 (twins 10, youngest is 5).

We stayed in Windermere just in case they hated walking - DH and I did walking holidays all the time pre-DCs the glory days

The big 2 loved it although we had to separate them after a couple of nights to get them to settle to sleep. The 5 yr old wasn’t so keen. So to answer your question - it would appear that it does get easier when they’re older!

We actually did go to the pencil museum - it was really good!!!

Stripyhoglets1 · 30/08/2018 22:53

We started to go with friends with kids, which helped, and to centreparcs which was the best as they loved it. Holidays with other people still work the best even now. But we had some truly shocking holidays until we discovered the magic of going away with other people.

Newspeak · 30/08/2018 22:54

Bloody hell I'm taking my terrors on holiday tomorrow although we are going to a cheesy beach holiday park. Sounds like Dante's outer circle of hell to me but hopefully they can be entertained for five minutes. What's gets me is they will be having fun all day and when it's time for ten minutes to chill out I get "I'm so bored" Hmm

FrangipaniBlue · 30/08/2018 22:56

Not sure how long you have left OP but here's some suggestions for you that might help:

The puzzling place
www.puzzlingplace.mobi/

Whinlatter Highway Rat Trail
www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-9hxj8e

There's also lots to do at Brockhole if you haven't already been
www.brockhole.co.uk/

Also some fun mining/caving tours
honister.com/

ohreallyohreallyoh · 30/08/2018 22:58

What’s wrong with the pencil museum?

Honister is bloody brilliant. My kids talk about the mine trip all the time.

guest2013 · 30/08/2018 22:58

We always have fab holidays. We've got 3 ranging from 2yr to 13yr. I think people put too much pressure on themselves to make it all about the kids. You wouldn't catch me in a Peter rabbit play on my hard earned holiday!
My advice would be to book a villa, somewhere hot with a pool. Let them do what they want, football, pool, reading, a walk to the beach, even stay inside on tablets. The baby is bit harder granted but still very relaxing compared to work/school/nursery.

Headfullofdreams · 30/08/2018 22:59

Duinrell in Holland is a great option with kids as are centerparcs in Europe (cheaper than UK).
We also did Lake Garda for a week then a week in the Austrian Alps when ours were that age. Was brilliant, there are so many child friendly things to do up the mountains and in the towns. Great pools with slides, lots of parks. We all loved it.
I agree about the pencil museum, it sounds like the type of museum you set up in your bedroom as a child! Grin
I need to google it now to be proved wrong.

tostartpressanykey · 30/08/2018 23:01

For the last five years we've gone to the same kid friendly resort every year in the sun. Ds spends all day swimming and playing with kids. There's lots of kid friendly things to do within the resort and a restaurant if we're lazy and a bar. It's child holiday bliss.
We did an overseas trip last year (ds age 9) and we thought he'd love it. It's a new bloody country, with loads to see and he had spending money. He whined the entire time. It cost us a fortune, it made me rethink any overseas trips for sure.

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 30/08/2018 23:04

Pools and pools with slides seem very popular.

I would love to do this but it’s just not an option. Due to problems with his ears the youngest can’t go in water. If that wasn’t the case we would have booked a very different holiday.

OP posts:
Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 30/08/2018 23:08

Ooh honister looks good. Thanks for the recommendation

OP posts:
hestia2018 · 30/08/2018 23:14

I find it helps going on holidays where there are other children around, so they can make friends. If it’s just us they get bored and squabble! It does get easier as they get older. Ours are 6 to 12 and we had a good holiday and I actually relaxed and read a few books this year, so yes I think it does get easier as they get older.

Amanduh · 30/08/2018 23:19

I hate it when everyone says ‘holidays with kids are shit/chaos/cant be fun’ etc etc what rubbish. Just because yours weren’t. I’ve had the best holidays with my DC! Can’t wait for next summer! I do feel sory for your specific experience though OP, sounds rubbish!