Kids fighting, 40 degrees - come home early?

[TheCandidOtter]

TLDR: Kids won’t stop fighting and it’s 40 degrees in a huge heatwave. AIBU to change our flights and come home early?

Long version:
We’re just finishing day 3 of our 8 day holiday - me, DH, DD4 and DS2. Beautiful location, pools, plenty to go out and explore outside, fab local food and neither kid is fussy (usually). Should be lovely, but honestly DH and I wish we hadn’t wasted the money.

We’re in the massive European heatwave, so it’s 37 degrees today, and meant to be 40 tomorrow and similar for the rest of the time. It’s too hot to do anything outside except be in the pool from about 9:30am, and we have zero inside space as we’re in a tiny mobile home on a campsite.

The kids will not stop fighting and misbehaving, distractions aren’t working and consequences are having zero effect. Even if we split them up, there are problems, especially as they are waking at 5am, and nothing opens until 8:30. The eldest won’t have a siesta in the day (we have tried!) but is clearly tired, as her behaviour is truly vile. Youngest can’t cope with the heat, isn’t really eating as a consequence, and doesn’t really like the pools for long as he gets too cold.

We have no car, and travel to places we had planned to go is an hour to 90mins, which we are basically ruling out, because they won’t tolerate sitting on a bus for that long as it’s too hot, and then when we get there it’s too hot anyway as everything is outside.

We were really looking forward to this holiday, but DH and I would rather be at work at this point as the behaviour is so awful.

AIBU to change our flights and come home early? At least then they can run around in the garden without overheating and we might actually get some enjoyment out of the holiday days! DS would be pleased to be home, although doesn’t really understand, but DD would be extremely cross and sad.

This or a cheap pop up tent if you can’t get a tarp. Some sieves and pots to move water around. Strict rota with DH to make sure they stay put. Good luck. Less is more at that age. Lots of juice and water so they don’t dehydrate. Had a horror show with DC getting the start of heatstroke at a pool of all places.

I might give it another day - using the ideas of paddling pools etc (although you could do that at home ... ) and see how it goes but then if I could afford the 200 I would go home.

There is an HUGE difference between 28 degrees and 40. Where I live our summers are usually around 28 but we get regular heat waves where it goes up to 40. We are having one from now until Tuesday evening (Tuesday will be horrendous). There is a heat emergency in effect, cooling centres are open, and people are generally staying indoors in the heat of the day.

It’s sounds normal on holidays with young children. You will have the back broken of the week tomorrow. You haven’t even had a doctor visit yet, this is nothing. Don’t give up!!

Stick it out, you are gaining valuable information for your next holiday, I promise.

Hell would freeze over before I ended a holiday early.
In fact it's only on here that I've heard of anyone doing this
They are 2 & 4 so yes it's shit at this age but far easier than trying to please older kids.

I'd go home.

I didn't go abroad with my kids until the youngest was four and I don't even remember much about that holiday but it wasn't too awful.

Honestly I would go home and don't listen to people who will tell you about the lovely memories they have about summer holidays with their very young children. Unless you have paid help, its going to be the same slog as home but without the creature comforts.

It’s interesting how we’re split into two camps - those of us who prefer holidays abroad with young children and those who don’t!

When ours were under 8 we went for UK holidays with parks onsite or nearby, filled up freezer with ice creams, had takeaways, took their favourite toys. It wasn’t a luxury, relaxing holiday but it worked well and they enjoyed it.

There is no camp that prefers holidays abroad with young children?

They are like a week of punishment that you just survive and then somehow forget the following year.

Surely there's indoor shopping centres and cinemas etc, all will have Aircon etc.

Hire a car if you need to.

Well. Surely there's only two camps...?

I absolutely couldn't do 40 degrees heat let alone in a mobile home. I found Croatia too hot last summer at about 33 degrees. I only managed as there was an indoor pool and the hotel had air con. We would go out first thing and then spend most of the day in the indoor pool and the lobby bar with our books etc. Then back out in the evening. Even in that situation I would have struggled with a child under 6 probably. Some people just aren't cut out for heat. I would head home if I were you.

Ice lollies by the bucket load, have you got a freezer section OP.in fridge?

(Buy at supermarket and feed them to them throughout day).

Fruits..oranges, strawberries, apples cut up.

Lower your expectations from a holiday for us to a change of scene with our family (this helped me).

Do what he kids enjoy, long sleeve T-shirt and pj trousers if necessary on daughter to swim .

Screen time for the kids so you can have some down time. You need some chill time too.

Do whatever it takes to ensure you survive and kids are happier xx

I would come home, enjoy your days off. Accept the financial loss and you'll be glad you didn't stick it out just to end up miserable.

Sort out a hire car and go sightseeing. Air con in the car and brief visits, get back in and go somewhere else. Make up games of things to spot out the window.
Get the kids in the kids’ club at the hotel. They often have games and tournaments which pass the time.
Take a boat trip if possible.
Don’t go home

My kids would have hated that type of holiday. Just a swimming pool for entertainment! I think when they are that age you need to make sure their is lots around for them to enjoy, even if it's not your cup of tea. Plenty of time for that when they are a bit older.
Cut your losses and go home, it will be much more relaxing.

Sounds like a nightmare, a tiny mobile home with 2 toddlers in that heat. I would not be coping either.

Our kids are older but we always rent and Airbnb with air conditioning as we like the space a getting off everyone face from time to time. We also rent a car as this gives us independence.

Do you have fans? And as someone suggested small paddling pool, rent car for a few days, they will probably sleep/nap while you are driving.

I would try to stick it out but pkan better next time.

Can you hire a car? They might nap and catch up on sleep. And you’ll have AC!!

Assuming you don’t drive (hence no hire car) could you book one night in a hotel with air conditioning to give everyone a break from the heat and a decent sleep? Early check in/late check out might get you approx 24hours, and possibly for less than the cost of changing flights depending where you are?

Hire a car, look online for attractions and museums which will have air con. I wouldn't come home just because it's hot, but get out of the sun during the day and swim early morning and evening when it's cooler.

I always did! Lots of interesting things to do and lovely reliable weather, plus locals who like kids. Holidays in the UK are usually a bit crap.

A sheet or duvet cover could used as a tarp you don't need it to be waterproof.
Even an old curtain from the charity shop

I can’t believe how many people are telling you to give up and go home on day 3. Baffled! You’ve been given loads of ideas, I’m sure you can keep them occupied even if it means you take a kid each for a couple of hours at a time.

Divide and conquer!!

I don't think you're unreasonable to cut your holiday short, but having read this comment I was reminded that this is true of my kids as well - you may find they really get into the swing of things over the next day or so, once they've settled into their new surroundings. I hope it improves for you x

I’d suggest hiking in a nearby forest if there’s any around. It’s cooler, you can take the stroller and kids can get some sleep in them. If you want to cool down, wet your clothes in that heat, make a bbq, play hide &seek. Children need occupation to stop fighting. Sometime warm milk and a lullaby puts children to sleep. If the heat is the sole problem, wet clothes

Why do people insist on taking toddlers on hot holidays abroad?! Such a waste of money when young children inevitably can't cope.