Are my kids just harder than other peoples or AIBU and it’s just bad parenting on my part?!

[Hightideattheseaside]

On holiday in European country. It’s a one off long trip for most of the summer to mark an occasion. Meant to be a great epic adventure the kids would remember (and I’m sure they will). But it was also meant to be fun for us. However my kids (6 and 8) are just at each others throats all the time and when they are not fighting they are whinging and moaning. Even when they are playing nicely they are so loud and boisterous so it ends in tears anyway! Everyone else’s kids seems to be serene in comparison in the peaceful shady campsites. I feel like the awful brits that turn up and ruin everything. I constantly have to referee or listen to them moaning that they don’t want to go to the beach or kayaking (which they love by the way once we are there), or deal with the constant back chat from
the 8 year old. They can’t do anything I ask without complaint or me asking a million times/ losing my temper. I’m exhausted and ready to book a flight home.

Are some kids harder work than others? Or am I doing parenting wrong? We never give in to whinging. They can’t watch iPads when driving if they are rude or fighting, the littlest is now even losing a euro from his holiday money every time he called his sister dumb or stupid. But nothing helps!

I think kids can often let us down with their behaviour but it can be a multitude of things, overtired, too much time on iPads etc and so do think we compare with others a bit too much.

It also depends on the situation, what’s going on and who else is around etc.

Mine certainly pick up if I’m stressed or upset and it impacts their behaviour too.

Im sure we’ve all had times where we think oh god I’m an awful parent etc etc or my kids are the Tasmanian Devil … but I think it’s just par for the course.

I'm away with my kids and hubby for 3 weeks. It's hot, every day and there's none of their usual activities. Today my kids have spent about 6 hours on devices and there's no way that would be allowed at home but we are away. Holidays are great, but everyone gets on each other's nerves at some point. People (small and big) get annoyed and need time out. I could think of nothing worse than spending weeks on end in a van with my family. Expectations are too high now. Enjoy what you can and just go with the flow the other times.

How do you react? Bickering with each other is always for parental attention and I don't adjudicate or take sides in their arguments just firmly tell them not to use those words or speak to each other like that then separate immediately or enforce silence if ina car . Honestly once they see there is no point and they don't get rewarded with attention they will stop