Let’s do family holidays while we still can?

[Letlooseonthedanse]

DP isn’t keen for family holidays this year. Travels for work. Wants to spend money on more house stuff, DIY etc

I’m FT work WFH and when the kids are off the burden of looking after or organising them falls to me. It’s can get very samey. They’re better when we’re away. Anyone there’s a lot of banging around getting in my way! They’re too old for most holiday camps.

Kids are 15 and 13 and I just think we realistically only have a few years left of them wanting to go away just the 4 of us. I’m not talking about extravagant spends - we’d be happy with a week in a Eurocamp. We just always have a lovely time away together.

Nothing in the house ‘needs’ fixing/doing. We have a large income so £ not an issue.

YANBU - you’re right, when the eldest is 17/18 they’ll be off doing their own thing.

YABU - Time to get that new washer and curtains instead.!

Go on holiday. I guarantee your kids could not care less about the curtains!

OMG, even I don’t care about curtains!!! Or ‘upgrading’ any white goods… everything works just fine.

Yanbu. His stance is selfish. He already gets to travel. You and the kids don't.

DP has always been a bit of a home bird anyway. Travel makes it worse .

I have so much apprehension around the fact my eldest is 14, there are so many places I want to take him and I can't believe how few summers we technically, potentially, have of him at home! I'm definitely team holiday.

Go on holiday, leave him behind! Dts are 15 and we are doing a big holiday this year. Think it will be the last one until they come out the other side. Watched so many grumpy teenagers last year and I'm not prepared to pay £££££ for that!

Holidays at this age are so important. My parents are dead now, and I fondly remember hols in my teens (and being embarrassed about them and grumpy/ hormonal and feeling guilty about that).

It sets the scene for trips together once they are adults . Don’t give up the hols!

Just had this conversation with my DH today.

Definitely holidays for us too. My son is still talking about His happy memories from our holiday in August.

We will look back upon the fond memories we made as a family, not that new kitchen we fitted instead.

Realistically, how many years do we get to enjoy these precious family moments?

Tell him he doesn't need to come.
I get wanting to spend time at home when he has been working away, but you and the DCs haven't been.
Your DCs are at an age where they can safely swim and wander round without adult input, so just tell him you will go without him if he doesn't fancy it.

Could you go just you and the dc?

A summer holiday is non-negotiable for me. I laid the law down on that decades ago as I clocked that PIL usually didn’t take DH and BIL away but DB and I always had a holiday - usually in the UK. Holidays come before new sofas etc in my book. No kid remembers the sofas years later and no one’s horizon is broadened by new furniture.

We've just booked a 5 night stay via TUI in Marrakesh with our dc's who are similar ages. It was really good value and I'm thinking it will be a different kind of holiday now they're older, and having a couple of slightly shorter cheaper holidays will be more interesting for them. They're really excited! Maybe look at something like that instead of holiday camps etc. Copenhagen is great for teens too and very trendy.

He’s, but I reckon DP will crack. I’m the lower earner so money might get a mention but if we can afford £10k on house guff we can afford a 5th of that on a couple of weeks away.

It’s their age that’s making me twitchy, I just know that it won’t be the same in 3/4 years time!!

Mr grumpy can save money by staying home, but you definitely shouldn’t!

I’m having a similar battle! DH doesn’t want to go on holiday as he doesn’t want to leave the dog (if we go abroad) and would rather stay at home and do DIY. Son (14) is also not keen to go but DD (12) says it will be boring without him.

I would say if you can afford it go for the holidays, as you potentially only have a few more years of them left.

Go on holiday he can come or not. You don't need his permission tell him you booking xx and does xx date suit? And if he perefers to stay home it is ok
There are lots of PGL type teen camps they can go alone or with you if they things like kayaking in France etc or to push them out of comfort zone

Go! Leave husband behind. I do - different circumstances but we have a great time - and husband will say wish I had come.

I’d just book I wouldn’t be waiting on my partner to decide my holidays.

It's family money op as you have kids together. If there's £10k in the pot for whatever and nothing needs doing then that's £5k each of decisions.

Their ages aside, I cannot imagine not having a summer holiday break to look forward to. I love the change of pace and new scenery, the warmth in a hot place, the different food. Your partner is being a humbug. I say book it anyway.

We still go on family holidays with our kids and grandchildren!

Good god go without him. Or if you think he’ll cave, tell him you’re going, make it sound awesome, and wait…

Get away

Holiday definitely.

Who cares about the curtains?