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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:
CottonSock · 31/08/2018 09:43

And my youngest can't/ won't go in the water either. I hope this improves for future years

bambootwentytwo · 31/08/2018 09:50

It doesn’t sound like a shit holiday at all. All the things you’ve done sound fun.
We are lucky enough to live close to excellent walking areas so mine do this regularly but at the moment it wouldn’t work to do them on holiday for some reason!

juneau · 31/08/2018 11:58

I agree it doesn't sound like a shit holiday at all and that's a horrible and rude thing to say. Not everyone's idea of heaven is a resort with a kids club and a fucking disco. Personally, that is my idea of hell and my DC would be horrified if I even suggested it. They'd much rather mess around in a stream, building a dam or jumping around on rocks in the Lakes.

Turquoisesea · 31/08/2018 12:13

This thread is making me feel better as I’m not the only one who generally has miserable holidays with the DCs. This year we went to Italy and my 13 year old DS is on full on teenager mode so everything is ‘boring’ and he doesn’t like being away from home as has ASD so he just counts down every day till we go home which puts a bit of a downer on everything from the start. Plus glued to his phone constantly. My DD (10) loves holidays but my 2 argue like cat & dog so she is generally happy once she finds a friend. It’s just a juggling act of keeping them apart and also they like doing totally different things. Never feels like we’ve had an actual holiday as they can’t stand each other. By the way anywhere with a kids club would be my DCs and my idea of hell too!

Stupomax · 31/08/2018 12:35

I don't know what we'd do if I had a child who couldn't go in water. Our summer holiday plans are almost entirely water based every year whether we're at home or away.

Sending sympathies OP, that does sound tough.

WhatAmISupposedToBeDoing · 31/08/2018 13:12

I think it sounds like a nice holiday. Are you suffering from a touch of whatever the opposite of rose tinted glasses are? If they enjoyed the walks, and the tree top thing, and the other activities? A tired 4yo will whinge anywhere. Our last holiday I kept my 4yo in the house for one of the days because she was overtired and getting stroppy. Two days ago, while visiting friends and family in Ireland, she whinged for an hour in the car about not wanting to see a friend as she wanted to play with her cousins, then complained the whole way back that she didn't like her cousins and wanted to stay with the friend. I turned the car radio up and ignored her, it was generally a successful day.

Rebecca36 · 31/08/2018 13:23

Sorry for you. You're not alone! Many say the same year after year.
Not sure Lakes are the best places to holiday with kids, they need some entertainment and activities other than beautiful views and walks.

MozzchopsThirty · 31/08/2018 13:42

I feel your pain OP and have a similar thread running

I've left mine again and come to the bar again, they were fighting by the pool, everyone was looking, then ds2 started threatening to stab ds1 with a skewer
Dd(22) finds this hilarious

I do not

This is what she drew on my back with sun cream in front of her brothers. I have literally failed as a parent

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/08/2018 14:04

Grinmozzchops

Turquoisesea · 31/08/2018 14:05

Mozzchops that has properly made me laugh!

Misty9 · 31/08/2018 14:56

Grin mozzchops- did you notice before the critical point though?!

It can be different at different stages I think. We had a great run of fantastic city breaks - but now, they're at the wrong stage and just whine and bicker. Ds hates water so that has made doing the traditional bucket and spade holiday a bit difficult. He's a bit difficult on any holiday but one base is definitely better than 4 we have learnt... Blush

You live and learn. And you will remember the good bits in a few months Smile - and book another holiday! I love travelling but even I am wary of considering another break just yet... give me until January when it's cold and dark Grin

Immigrantsong · 31/08/2018 14:58

Holidays with kids is shit. YANBU

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/08/2018 15:04

Holidaying with others with similarly aged teens usually suits us. Not this time though .... currently away for weekend and the other mums are making me feel like a lazy bitch.

I got everything out for lunch, table was groaning with rolls/fillings/salad/crisps etc. Said to teens help yourselves, all aged 14-17 able bodied. The three other mums jumped up and started asking for specific orders from said teens and making up sandwiches/rolls.

Earlier the teens went surfing, had wet suits on ..... mine and a couple of others forgot towels .... we are a stones throw from the beach. Other mums ran out with towels.

FFS they're not 3. It's making me feel lacking and uncaring though Hmm

tomhazard · 31/08/2018 17:06

I know lots of people recommend Eurocamp but the kids clubs/ noise : busyness isn't for everyone. We don't enjoy it. Our kids would but holidays are for the whole family so we find a balance.
This year for example we got a self catering apartment in a small complex with a large (but not full of slides! ) pool. We were 5 mins walk from a beautiful, shallow beach with clear waters and golden sand. The children adored it and it was low key and quiet (They're 3 and 5 btw). To satisfy our own holiday spirit we hired a car for two out of the 8 days and visited a local site of natural beauty and the nearby old town. as it was only a couple of days they played along and didn't moan , we bribed them with ice cream, and we had a good time. They were back in the pool before they knew it!
We also spent one afternoon each on a snorkelling boat tour while the other played with the dc. We all came back happy- they had pool, beach and ice cream, we saw a few things we wanted to see.

There is a balance between hiking in the lakes and Eurocamp.

Fisharesexy · 31/08/2018 17:08

No. They just evolve to moaning about being away from their XBOX and friends.

WipsGlitter · 31/08/2018 17:23

@tomhazard do you mind sharing where that was? Sounds perfect!

tomhazard · 31/08/2018 17:32

Western Crete Wipsglitter it was exceptionally lovely and pretty cheap for a week overseas! I can pm you the apartment we stayed in if you like

CottonSock · 31/08/2018 17:50

Tom - did you go to Greece in summer? I worry too hot. My kids same age.

WipsGlitter · 31/08/2018 18:25

That would be great tom. Thanks!

tomhazard · 31/08/2018 18:31

Early July CottonSock. It was hot but tbh we don't really notice as there's a lovely sea breeze and they're in the pool most of the time. Obviously take care with suncream etc but they didn't complain about the heat once. Just another excuse for ice cream as far as they were concerned.
I would really recommend the area for anyone with Young DC - the sea is shallow for ages and ages, clear, warm and non-tidal so it's just like a salty bath! And the resorts are not too built up - there are no massive hotels just small ones and a few apartments.

Kemer2018 · 31/08/2018 18:44

It will get better. Although my dd 11 whined that she was bored in turkey Ai for 2 weeks.
Cba on slides, refused kids club 🙄when i suggested a week in a static in rainy uk with her mate she was ecstatic.
Trouble is, that woild be a shite holiday for me 🙄
Ideally i would leave her with gp for 2 weeks while we do adult only ai.....then take her and mate for week in uk...

pastaandpestoagain · 31/08/2018 18:48

When our DC were younger they really enjoyed eurocamp holidays, despite me not being keen at 8 Disney was a total success for them, at 10 they loved the slightly more action adventure holiday in Costa Rica. We have introduced the idea at around 8 that everyone gets to pick something they want to do on the holiday, so we all get a say. I take very different holidays to ones I did pre DC but they are still good. They aren't perfect though I am still taking my DC with me, they will get tired, grumpy, sick and fight sometimes but they do this at home as well.

Roomba · 31/08/2018 18:56

I don't find holidays with my children much of a 'holiday' either. Because there's a 6.5 year age gap between them, nothing ever suits everyone so someone is always grumbling! DS2 would be happy to just play on the beach all day long. DS1 wants a cultural city break. I've reached the stage I don't care where I am as long as I can read my book for longer than 20 seconds without someone demanding food or complaining they are bored!

Glittertwins · 31/08/2018 19:04

Our 10yr twins were such a nightmare at the start of our holiday we told them we were never taking them away again if they didn't sort themselves out. Day 4 onwards was fine and behaviour improved infinitely. They've never been like that before either - overexcited we understand but this was awful

DrWhy · 31/08/2018 20:33

tonhazard any chance you could PM me the apartment too?! It sounds ideal for us. This year we have a 2 year old and a bump who so far is loving the hotel pool and we are going to brave the beach later in the week. A gentle sandy slope sounds ideal and its surprisingly hard to find nice apartments with a kid friendly pool that are not also part of a massive complex in a major resort.
This year has been lovely so far (2 days in) but next year (and every following year!) with two is going to be a whole different ball game!