To never get family holidays ‘right’

[cavycavy]

Am I the only one?

Our DC is 4 so family holidays (with us making the decisions or so to speak) is a relatively new thing for us and I’m not sure we’ve found the perfect formula as yet. The focus of this one is to keep our DC happy and occupied, because if she is happy, we are all happy. And so we have gone to a caravan site with loads of activities laid on for her age group, 2 swimming pools and nightly discos. She thinks it is WONDERFUL.

The problem is, I’m exhausted. I’m always utterly exhausted and strung out on every holiday we go on. The beds are always awful, our DC gets up even more insanely early than usual. I never really eat properly on holiday (not sure why?!!) And after 4 nights of barely any sleep I actually feel like I could cry!!! So I’m grumpy and short tempered and not the fun mum I should be. DH is doing more than 50% of the playing and entertaining of DC because he can see I’m struggling to hold my shit together. I have absolutely nothing to complain about but here I am.... moaning.

As a result I’ve decided to get an extra early night tonight (DC has just fallen asleep). We’re here until Friday.... can I turn it around tomorrow and make this a good holiday to remember?

Someone slap some sense into me!

Am currently on holiday with DC’s age 4 & 2. In lovely countryside, wishing I could just be happy and enjoy the setting, but DH & I have both been grumpy and tense and cross with each other because it just is hard (and we always take it out on each other, and give all to the kids). Am seriously considering not going away again until they’re a few years older, unless extended family are present, or we go with friends with kids. So you’re not alone in finding it hard. Yesterday, I was so exhausted I could cry. I get the not eating properly thing, too, and have had to make an effort to reverse that. Re. location it’s a tough choice, isn’t it, between somewhere that will entertain DCs, but which you may not like, or somewhere better for your spirit until DCs really start acting up not having enough to do (especially when it comes to the really long mornings with early starts). Hope you get a bit of enjoyment in there somewhere. I’m going for the occasional run to recoup some brief sanity x

Holidays with under 5s are not fun, they are hard work

However I always take a few days to settle into a holiday and DS always slept badly and woke really early for the first 4-5 days of any holiday when small. This made week long holiday hardly worth the effort.. I found we either went for a long weekend where we came home before we got too exhausted or we went for 10+ days so that we rode out the initial transition and then sort of relaxed into the holiday and had a few nice days before having to pack to come home.

Thank you for all the replies. Advice taken on board for the next holiday.

I don’t really drink alcohol very often as I’m a huge lightweight, but tonight had half a bottle of wine!!! Struggling to keep both eyes open at the same time.

Haven isn’t what I thought it would be, but I have been in a better mood all day (even DC and DH haven’t!!). ... one more sleep then we can go HOME!!!!!!!

Update: by this afternoon we were all exhausted. DC over stimulated by all the noise and activities. DH frankly just sick of the 24/7 happy clappy kids birthday party atmosphere, and me.... well unchanged.

So we have come home a day early! HURRAH!!

I’m already in bed!!

My lovely lovely lovely bed

Well done op!

Feeling slightly unhinged but so relieved to be home!!!!

@EssentialHummus thank you!! I love our house soooooo much. Counting the blessings of my everyday life right now!!

Oh god caravan park holidays are hell!

Our best holiday was a villa in lanzarote. Ds slept in the afternoons as it was so warm. We had our own pool with toys, went out for dinner every night

We also kept him up later than normal and so he slept longer in the mornings.

Was such a relaxing holiday.

Went to France this time and had a farmhouse with a pool, again very relaxing as big comfy beds etc

Ditch the caravan and the crappy haven style stuff and I am sure you will relax more

I think you're expecting holidays to be restful. They just aren't with kids.

Think about what causes tiredness...
Childcare: Can you afford a kids club?
Food: Get takeaways, ready meals, eat out, eat picnics outside so no mess.
Sticking to schedule: just don't bother!

As a child we never went on a self-catering holiday. Only half board and I can see why now I have my own DCs.
We have self-catered on hols w DCs as when they were younger it was easier than finding suitable food but now they’re teens they are less fussy/have differing palates so easy to order off a menu.
Did a caravan once - never again. Was like an oven!! Good holiday w friends but not something I’d repeat.
This year we’re going to a hotel. Haven’t for a long time - but it’s only a week and I am so sick of being the chief cook and bottle washer that I need the break from the kitchen. I hope DCs enjoy - they’ll have the pool/beach and various devices I suppose!!

I felt like this about holidays until my youngest was about 6. They really didn't feel worth the hassle! Same shit without all the comforts of home. Like so many things, it gets better as they get older.

Cavycavy if you have the budget look at TUI family life holidays. We went on our first with a 4 year old this year and it really worked for us.

Multiple pools with a variety of things going on (from quiet, to family atmosphere, more adult and lots of slides). Variety of kids things during the day and evening they could opt in to, meant we got time off whilst 4 year old was at kids club and a couple of evening meals to ourselves.

Excellent evening entertainment with something for everyone.