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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should kids go on holiday abroad every year?

207 replies

TillyTooms · 27/04/2024 19:21

To grow up well rounded or is it just a nice luxury to have?

Before having kids I imagined we'd be jetting off every year like I did pre kids however having a neurodivergent child has meant I'm not able to work as much as I could previously and our income has seen a reduction.

We have a comfortable income and can do days out and pay for my daughter's hobbies but not enough to jet away every year.

I know this sounds like a stupid question but I just feel like I've let them down somehow.

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 28/04/2024 21:12

Neurodiversitydoctor · 28/04/2024 20:48

Not so, the children of wealthy bankers or pilots for example could easily fly 5 or 6 times a year. A family we know well for example did: holiday home in Mallorca may half term and again in July, the states to visit friends in August, Carribean in January, Italy for Feb half term and Australia at Easter. Of those only the Australian trip was considered a " big holiday" or remarkable in any way.

Show quote history

They don't care at all about the planet then?

Neurodiversitydoctor · 28/04/2024 21:14

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/04/2024 21:12

They don't care at all about the planet then?

Edited
Show quote history

No they don't seem to. The father has also made several transatlantic trips without the family in the last year.

fungipie · 28/04/2024 21:23

VulvaArmy · 28/04/2024 21:05

Nope. Children who have been taught to be well behaved (and don’t have any other issues going on with them) are generally well behaved, and those who haven’t, aren’t.

Show quote history

We flew to LA and the child, about 11, behind me, constantly kicked the back of my seat. I tried to stay calm but eventually quietly and politely asked the father to tell him it was very rude and unpleasant. I had to ask again several times, and mother said 'oh he always does this on each flight we take'.

I eventually asked the air stewart to have a word and a warning. It was a VERY long flight, and this child made it really unpleasant. A very frequent flyer as his mother said.

VulvaArmy · 28/04/2024 21:28

cadburyegg · 28/04/2024 21:09

You seem to be missing the point that children who are on airplanes more often will behave better on airplanes. At no point did I say that they can’t learn to behave anywhere else, it was in response to someone saying they are waiting to fly when their kids are ‘less feral’. My 5 year old has never been badly behaved on a plane, because she is very comfortable with the environment. HTH

Lol. My 9 and 6 year olds have never been on a plane but I have no doubt they would behave themselves. Partly because they are old enough to sit still and understand that they need to, but also because I have put a lot of work into managing their behaviour so they know how to behave in public. We hardly ever go to the cinema, but when we do go they behave nicely.

Quite.

We didn’t take ds abroad until he was 8 because he and I are disabled so it’s a ballache, but when we did - on the plane he sat in his seat, looked out of the window, watched some tv and chatted quietly to us.

He absolutely behaved appropriately, because he knows how to behave in ‘sit quietly and don’t disturb others’ type situations.

ManyATrueWord · 28/04/2024 22:10

I won't take mine yet. I remember going abroad at 8,.9 and 10 and being bored as heck.

yellowlupins · 29/04/2024 08:10

I don't know how old your child is, but seeing as they are ND don't forget that it's fine to not be "well rounded" too.
You can't artificially create a "well rounded" child, out of a child who doesn't have that predisposition, and striving to do so can often lead to unhappiness.

Thefirstdelicious · 16/09/2025 12:18

WatermelonWaveclub · 27/04/2024 19:30

I have taken my DC abroad but not every year. They can have as good a time in this country. I dislike the attitude on MN that it isn't a holiday unless you go abroad for at least a week. I think that is nonsense.

I've not got much money for a holiday this year so we are going to a caravan for the May Bank Holiday weekend. My DC are really looking forward to it.

Examples of our holidays:
Egypt for a week
Butlins for a weekend
Liverpool for 4 days
Spain for 2 weeks
Holland for 5 days
Bournemouth for a week
Disneyland for 5 days and then into Paris for the weekend
Eastbourne for 4 days

I actually remember one year I took them to stay overnight in a Travel Lodge in Great Yarmouth and we went to Bewilderwood. My DS who was about 8 at the time said that was the best holiday ever!

Edited

Exactly!! @WatermelonWaveclub

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