Staying with family for the summer and going crazy

[Goingwalnuts]

My DH, my DS and me have been spending the summer holidays at my parents place abroad, where I grew up. We've got plenty of space and are very grateful for the childcare they've been offering (we both worked for a part of the trip), we've also gone away just the three of us for a few days and I'm constantly offering help and cooking etc.
We've predominant been doing this so the grandparents can see a lot of the grandson this summer and whilst I'm very grateful for the setup it's now week 4, I'm getting cabin fever, and I feel like I'm going crazy with further relatives visiting etc. Would it be unreasonable and mean of us to only stay half the holidays next year??

No of course that isn't unreasonable. Four weeks of living with your parents, I think you deserve a medal to be honest!

Thank you so much. I feel bad as my parents are lovely people but I so yearn for my own space/ kitchen/ seeing friends etc. I think 6 weeks were too ambitious!

I love this quote.

"If you think you're enlightened, go spend a week with your family" Ram Dass

Living with family as an adult is HARD! I would never manage four weeks. If you want to spend a longer time with them for the grand children, break it into two segments where you go off and do your own thing and get a break in the middle. It makes a big difference to have some time away.

Love that quote!!
We actually did do that, we went away for a week after 2 weeks, the thing is that we have relatives really wanting to see us, my parents generally being stressy about things, I'm sure I'm also really annoying....I think 6 weeks really were a bit too much, though my son is delightful being here! (I'm too, but it's just all a bit intense)

I would definitely reduce it next year and still have a break in the middle. Should be much easier to manage. It's not just you, some people find it easy to live with family and others don't. I like my peace so for me it's a huge struggle.

@Goingwalnuts Just remember that as much as your parents love you, they will be heaving big sighs of relief when you all leave to go home !
😂😂

Thank you so much for your reply! The weird thing is, everything is annoying me, the neighbours (euch haven't changed in 30 odd years, now it's their kids living there), seeing old boyfriends around ec😭😂😂my DS is 6, I presume soon he'll be wanting to spend more time with friends as well....

Yes, I definitely say YANBU! I simply can’t imagine staying with either my DM or MIL for longer than a few days! We had a week’s holiday in a cottage with my DM a few years ago. We stayed there with her for a week (my DH and I with our 2 DDs, then 10 and 7), whilst my DSis and her family stayed for only half the time. They had the right idea! I was climbing the walls by the end of the week. 🤣

Oh I can imagine! I also feel slightly less bad now hearing that. I think everyone has their own ways of doing stuff and starts annoying each other after a while. Plus being back in my old village is also driving me insane 😂

Where are your DH’s parents? Are you both teachers? I can’t imagine spending 4 days with my mum, let alone 4 weeks. Is this your usual schedule? Does your Dh get a choice? Do you not have a family holiday elsewhere?

My extended family all go together to the same place every summer, it’s not even to their country of origin, I don’t know how they aren’t bored stiff.

Yanbu. I visit my parents and start going stir crazy after a few days, we do a week maximum! 😂 but they do come visit us in the Easter hols.

No money on earth could get me to stay in someone's house for even a couple of nights never mind weeks.

Why do you think it would be mean to get your parents to host your for a slightly shorter amount of time?

Of course my DH gets a choice 😂 he gets on well with my family and we have our own living quarters there (it's just how the house is built)
My husband's family are in the UK and we see them regularly as well. And yes we went on a 10 day trip just the three of us after 2 weeks. It's a good idea to meet up somewhere else as well I'll take that on board!
There's plenty to do here and my old friends are also still around so boredom is not the problem

Mean because I would feel like they don't get to see their grandson enough as we live far away!