... to ask what age you went on holiday without DC

32 replies

LolaIsHome · 04/08/2022 09:57

Our DD has always come on holidays with us in the past. Now our DD does not want to come along (she is 15), she wants to either stay at home, or stay with a friend for the two weeks.

Any thoughts on this?

I guess it will feel a bit strange to travel with just DH too. Not done that for a long long time!

OP posts:

AlwaysLatte · 04/08/2022 11:30

Our teen tried to stay home this year but we said no way, and he had a great time after all. From now on though we'll be making sure the holidays are ones they've chosen or agree with, and to invite their friends as well. Stepsons came with us well into their late 20s with their girlfriends.

JustLyra · 04/08/2022 11:32

LolaIsHome · 04/08/2022 11:08

Our DD has generally been a good travel companion in the past. This past year has seen her change a lot, she wants to be with friends for her 16th birthday (not holiday with us!), she has a BF for the past few months (which has also caused some problems!! I could start a different thread on that!!).

The idea of bringing a friend is a good one, and something that could work OK, i.e., we'd be able to do our activities alone if they did not want to participate.

Thanks for the input. It's super helpful, and gives me some things to think about in the next week as we figure out what to do.

Leaving her on her birthday really isn’t on imo. You’ll have plenty of years of holidays without her when she’s an adult.

xmaspost · 04/08/2022 11:33

I have similar issues with kids at that age, but it was easier in that they had grandparents very close by. At 15/16 there is a lot of social pressure too from friends, and I'm not sure how well they can cope with that very well (drink, drugs, and much more). Worst case it could become a "party house" when you are away.

We insisted on the kids travelling, but lots of complaints, spending all time in room on devices and so on.

I will say it's great to be able to travel again as a couple (of course kids can come along, and sometimes too). It's easier to plan things, go for longer walks than they'd like, do ad-hoc things of interest without consultations, have an extra drink or two if you want, cancel/change activities dynamically, and sex whenever you want. It's great!

Hope you sort something out!

TokyoTen · 04/08/2022 11:33

Our DS are 20 yo, they still come on holiday with us (they've also been away by themselves/with friends). Our first holiday without them is later this year. We try and do things so that everyone gets something they like, plus if they want to go off and do something for the day that's fine too (but I don't think they ever have!).

Theonlyones · 04/08/2022 11:51

I would have loved to be able to stay alone for 2 weeks at 15 years old. It would be the best holiday ever. Thinking back, I would have smoked a few cigarettes, I'd have friends around all the time, we'd certainly have arranged to get alcohol and get drunk, if I had a boyfriend at that age (I didn't) then wow that would have been amazing too.

Looking back for me, no way I'd leave my 15/16 year old self alone for 2 weeks. Love the idea of bringing a friend of your DD if possible.

Bagpuss2022 · 04/08/2022 12:06

Haven’t left ours yet the eldest are 21 and 18 we are actually leaving them overnight at home for the first time this weekend They have been on lads holidays without us though! It’s just they have always wanted to come with us for family holidays

no way would I leave a 15 year old home alone for a weekend let alone 2 weeks that’s crazy to me ..

Fairyliz · 04/08/2022 12:13

Blimey mine are still desperate to come with us and are a bit miffed when we don’t invite them and they are late 20’s.
Think it’s because we generally go abroad and pay for them when we take them.

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