To be hating my family holiday

[Wineplz90]

Currently away on holiday with DC 7 and Partner.
Absolutely sick and can't wait to return in three days time.
Hotel with slide and pool etc, been on trips and generally tried to do stuff they will enjoy.
All we've had is moaning and not an ounce of peace even for 5 minutes.
Won't even sleep in their own bed which is literally in touching distance from ours.
Partner has been great and we've tried to take turns doing stuff but it's still been really really hard work.
Is this very ones experience 🙄🙄🙄 I'm just disappointed I guess

Another thread with posters spouting nonsense about only children. Yawn 🥱. I was only blessed with one, our holidays centre around things he likes ie. Fairgrounds/ theme parks/ beaches/ general play parks, kids activities which is our choice. Never been to Disney, can't afford it tbh. He doesn't like swimming either 🤣. I guess play with him more or see if parks etc around where he can meet a d play with other kids. I feel you though.

What are they moaning about?

This is not my experience. My 2 love a Beach or pool holiday. They also happily potter round on a city break.
there’s often a bit of moaning and bickering But nothing that would make me say I hate the holidays. Obviously when they’re littler they need attention especially around water but that’s just life with young kids.
Having 2 does mean they will entertain each other more as they get older. Having 1 does have plenty of advantages but this probably isn’t one of them.

Haven't found this, my just turned 8yr absolutely loves her beach/pool holidays and our long road trips with plenty of hiking, last year we did 3 weeks across California and she had an amazing time.
She loved Mexico seeing the Cenote's and Chichen Itza and Tulum.
Maybe we got lucky but she just loves all holidays.
Sorry your having a poor time OP, hope it picks up so you enjoy the last few days. Would they go to kids club for some activities and a break?

I think that says an awful lot more about the parents than the children.

Never seen so many unhappy kids as I seen at Disney! Too hot, too tired, interminable queueing - I think the parents enjoy it more than children do.

My DCs had great holidays (yes including Disney!). Hotels, caravans, self catering here and abroad. Ask them what their favourite holiday ever was and they'd tell you it was camping in the Scottish highlands with their GPs.

I think the big issue now is tech and tablets. Many kids would rather be on their own with their phones than make friends with other children or skim stones on a loch with their family.

What is he moaning about? Surely he can't be moaning all the time?

It's nice if an only child can make friends with other children at the hotel, but not all children do this. Or if they do, they only see them for a fraction of the time. But I'm not sure you can really expect a child to have fun hanging out alone - I was always in the pool with mine, or in the sea, playing games etc - never read a book unless it was on the balcony in the evening. Never sat at the side of the pool or on a sunbed. I don't mind that though because I don't like sitting about.

I think it depends on a lot of factors - the temperature, the time difference, how out of routine they are, if they uncomfortable for other reasons (is the bed uncomfortable, do they feel safe in the holiday accommodation, are they being eaten alive by mosquitoes), how different the food is and whether they like it, what they've been doing the week before the holiday (are they exhausted or missing the social interaction after a summer camp?), the personality of the child, how much what they are being expected to do on holiday is a departure from the expectations of them at home - for example, do you go places and do stuff regularly at weekends or does DC hang out at home on screens? If the latter, it's quite a departure to suddenly expect them to do want to do lots of things and be active. Our DNw7 is difficult to get out of the house even at home. Just wants to sit at home on screen. On holiday with him and his parents there were days where we simply gave up trying to do things with him/them as the battle was too great. Once you get him out of the house he generally enjoys it but my god the moaning grates on me. I think it's actually anxiety/low confidence about doing new things, so would rather not go out and do anything at all.

I hear you @Gettingbysomehow and @VanillaImpulse
Sadly this is my experience of family holidays too. Lots of pps hammering on how great their kids are at the beach and that it's all the parents' doing on what they like or moan about but.. I know what mine does, he just wants to go home! 😂 And we don't spoil him nor encourage this attitude, but it is how he feels.
And no, I don't think it's fair to compare a child trying to play on their own vs a child with siblings or friends around.

We are away camping in France for 10 days (Me, DH and 2 kids 8 and 6) I kept expectations low because we haven't ever done camping with them before but it's been a hit. Interestingly last year we stayed on a site but in a static caravan and there were a lot more meltdowns... it was also hotter though so that could have been why! We have told kids they have to go into kids club some of the time (we don't generally get help with childcare at home and never get away without them... plus camping means all going to bed at once so long days!) and that has meant a bit of downtime. We have also befriended some other people with kids about the same age and they are enjoying the relative freedom of the camp.

Can you pin point what the issues are - ie high expectations/cost creating pressure or child struggling with change? Would you consider a different type of holiday insteaf? Ie. Our eldest who normally struggles with change has found camping easier because all of our gear is relatively familiar...

As I said we are having a great time but we had a full day of rain, a tent that leaked and I have a heavy head cold that came on last night... so I do think expectations and reframing play a part - there isn't really any such thing as time off with kids!

The problem is kids like to play so when they don't have siblings or friends to play with, you become their playmate which leaves very little time for the adults. Although I would be a bit stricter in the evening he would be going to bed so you and your partner can have a few drinks and peace and quiet on the balcony

Because my 92 year old parents also got it left and we all did to look after them?

Can you take turns leaving one parent with your child whilst the other goes off and does something they enjoy? At least that way you will get some fun out of your holiday.

Where are you? Is it very hot? Could that be bothering him?

My DS wrote his freaking college essay all about a holiday back to our birth country in his early teens. Predictably he was a pain in the arse approx 80% of the time, but according to him, it'd actually this wonderful, transformative experience, where he learned so much about his roots and gained a new respect for family connections and traditions. News to me, boyo 🤣

Also this, my kids are close in age and it was always a godsend on holidays because they would be highly motivated to play and hang out together which takes the pressure off a bit.

I forgot to add, the point of my last post is to say I'm sure he's having a better time that you think! They can just get narky on holidays at that age for some reason. Hang in there

I've never found this at all! Never been to Disney Land and have no desire to. My kids have always loved holidays - beach, city, camping, whatever. They still do at 16 and at in fact.

I think it’s hard for a 7yo without siblings to find entertainment on a beach holiday. My dc love beach and pool holidays but they play together.

Just had a very exhausting holiday away with DC on my own. Bits were lovely but so much moaning and whinging about doing anything at all and at one point said they'd rather be home.... wish my bank balance had known that in advance. I think it will be one for posterity as we had lots of adventures but jeez it was so tiring.

My youngest DS just was really really difficult for the whole of last year - he turned 7 in March. We had a great holiday in the Feb but in the summer he was just so moany, whingey, vile basically for an entire year almost. Our holiday last year was the pits.
He turned a corner in about November last year. He is always going to need a lot of parenting but he’s just been so much nicer.
I think they just sometimes have a bad patch. Ours coincided with poor sleeping, he was probably knackered tbh and so were we.
We have just got back from a wonderful villa holiday. Realised that having own space to chill and get snacks when you want etc is perfect for us, and you can run about and make noise without bothering anyone, access to some screens for a bit of inside time, walking out and choosing restaurants at night, works for us. Hotels were no good.

I used to love UK beach holidays as a kid.

A lot of the day spent digging in the sand & making sand castles.

Walking along the beach for shells.

Looking in rock pools.

Meeting other kids to play with.

Endless fun.

I guess I was easily pleased!

What's he moaning about? I have 2 DC, one is 7 also, we have also done disney twice and go abroad every year. We make sure we choose a hotel that has a waterpark, kids club, activities and a swim up room or private pool. My 2 love a holiday as do we.
No way is my 7 year old sleeping in my bed, that's abit silly.

Totally disagree, mine have always loved city breaks and hated Disney

He needs a friend or decent kids club - otherwise you should be prepared to need to entertain and engage with him the whole time.

Mine love a beach/pool holiday and will entertain themselves for hours and even the full day, but they have each other and make friends, if not or I had only one of them is would be very different.