Abroad with only child and feel like I'm not entertaining enough??

[Pondering455]

Me and my husband are blessed with a wonderful son. I always wanted more children but secondary infertility put a stop to this. But of course we are immensely happy with the one we have!

I'm currently abroad visiting my family and we've been to the swimming baths today. Everywhere I look it seems there are siblings and I constantly feel that me and husband aren't enough entertainment for my son, though he seems happy enough with us.... I kind of wonder if anyone is looking at me and thinking he should have a sibling to play with- is this just me projecting?? When we are at home in England were often out with friends children so it doesn't really feel that way.....

I wouldn't worry too much. Your child is on holiday - thats a lot more than most will be getting this summer!

I have an only child and what I tend to do before any holiday, is research the area and plan out the week. First couple of days are usually lazy days by the pool, or a trip to the beach. We get plenty of inflatables and beach toys etc once we arrive.

Then we usually plan out a couple of visits ahead of getting there. We book tickets for the any zoos, water parks etc and we let DS know in advance the plan for the week ahead.

We always have a great time away and much easier planning and booking in advance so you have an idea on what you are doing each day.

I even do this now on non child holidays!

I'm sure your son is having a lovely holiday and enjoying quality time and lots of attention from both parents! We have 4 and though they adore each other and have fun together, it also means that they sometimes have to go to an activity that might not be their first choice because it's more their siblings interest, or leave early because the toddler is fed up of playing at the beach etc. On our last holiday, my son made friends with a boy the same age who was an only child and he did look forward to meeting my son at the pool in the afternoon to have a friend to play with, but he also looked very relaxed and happy with his parents and I'm sure he had lots of choice and fun on his holiday. There is benefits and disadvantages to both, but we can't change it so just make the most of what you have, I'm sure he is a happy and well loved little boy.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I should add, we're in my home country and staying with his grandparents (large enough house so everyone has their space!), so there's probably a bit of a hyper focus on him as the only golden grandchild! It's probably me projecting and I've had so much great advice on how to approach our days out - thank you all for taking the time to respond to me 🩷I hope you all have a lovely summer

Congratulations on your family and I'm sorry you've been struggling, and having some physical issues due to pregnancy! I can emphasize about you wishing to be able to do more things like running etc - I'm sure your kids are so lucky to have you and love you exactly as you are and wouldn't change a thing!

I am an only and have an only. I can remember making holiday friends at resorts as a child. My daughter doesn’t seem to, but we usually offer her a couple of sessions of kids clubs so she can hang out with people her own age, although she is growing out of that now. Last summer we went away for a few days with another family who have an only and that worked really well. It was a lot less work for the adults than other holidays as she had ready made entertainment.

TBH we’ve got more than one and all they do is annoy each other
right now. Literally like having a bunch of gacked up Muppets in the back of the car. They got on better when they were young but as adolescents they are hard work collectively. It’s been Bickerfest 2025 this summer.

IME it’s easier to entertain one than two and I reckon this idea that siblings are automatically bestie playmates is just that - a nice idea. Sometimes they are best mates (like twice a year lol) but in other cases they just annoy the shit out of one another! We find when one of ours isn’t about for whatever reason things are a lot more mellow and content. I have mates who have only one son and they take him all over the world and he’s a chill fella with lots of friends at home who seems to love being with his mum and dad. They do centre him a lot but tbh so do we and you can bet your arse whatever activity one kid desperately wants to do, another will bitterly hate 😂

I am glad to have the kids I do but I think the whole ‘only child is a lonely child’ myth came from a time when kids were left to their own entertainment by adults a lot more. Most parents (us included) that I know nowadays spend a lot more time with their kids than my parents ever did with me and my siblings, and holidays are more child centric too.

Thank you so much for such a balanced message! I'm sure going forward, when they are older, they'll be really happy to have each other...yes my idea of families with multiple children is very much that they're all playing peacefully and get on 99% of the time but I've probably got rose-tinted glasses on there. I do hope that they'll stop bickering soon and that you'll have a lovely holiday!

Please don't take this sort of nonsense to heart.

I'm an only child. We never went on holiday with other families with kids, we always went just me, my Mum and my Dad and I loved it. We were a really tight unit and really enjoyed each other's company. We're still very close now. I have no memory of being bored as a child, especially not on holiday! I certainly didn't long for a sibling, it just wasn't something I ever thought about.

You sound like a lovely Mum and I would put money on your DS being a really happy kid.