Why don't people take their kids on holiday?

[Micnerhss]

Just to be clear, I don’t mean people who genuinely can’t afford holidays... I’m talking about people who can but still don’t.

In my close friendship group, I’m literally the only one who takes my kids away. We love seeing the world, exploring new places, different cultures, and just getting out of the UK for a bit. I honestly think holidays are so important, its proper family time away from the constant busyness of life.

But none of my really close friends ever take their kids away, not even for a little UK break, and I just can’t get my head around it.

The excuses are things like “I don’t know how airports work” or “I wouldn’t know where to go”… but there’s a whole world out there!

If you can afford it, why wouldn’t you treat your kids to a holiday?! They are missing out on so much by never leaving the UK!

You're right. No child NEEDS to go abroad. My dds are very well travelled but most if our holidays are all inclusive and we stay mainly at the hotel. We've done a couple of city breaks abroad but also some in the UK and they've learned about the history of the place. I didn't go abroad till I was 21. I didn't feel I missed out as I had a happy, loving childhood. My dds would love more long haul destinations but I don't like long flights so I've said once they're adults & are earning their own money they can go where they like!

My SIL has taken her (now adult) children on holiday twice in their lifetimes, once in the UK and once overseas. Both times her parents went with them.

She has no interest in travel, no hobbies, no friends. All she does is sit on her sofa and watch telly. Takes the dog for a walk on the same route every day. No curiosity about the world, even her local world. She lives within 15 minutes of some of the best museums in the UK and has never been and has never taken her kids. She lives in the street next to the street where she grew up. Her two kids are now exactly the same. One does go on holidays overseas but it's a fly an flop experience because she has zero interest in the world.

So glad her brother (my DH) is completely different. We live in a different city from family, travel widely, have taken the kids all over the UK and overseas and exposed them to so many opportunities.

Wow. I've really heard it all now. 🙄

The children I feel sorry for are the ones with obnoxious parents, who have no kindness or tact in them. They also think love equals holidays. Selfish parents.

do you not see LOADS of families on your holidays Op?

do you not see the many many many mumsnet threads asking for holiday suggestions?

do you not see all the marketing and newspaper articles about family holidays?

are you not aware of the enormous increase in holiday prices during school holidays?

it would appear not, on the basis that a couple of your mates haven’t taken their kids abroad - you have extrapolated rather a lot 🤭

In my close friendship group

I am calling BS on you having any friendship group OP, let alone a close one!

I started to type a response to that but I don't want to get suspended from Mumsnet (like I did the last time I said a certain phrase that rhymes with duck off)

🦆

It's not that I haven't 'bothered" to take her abroad.
I DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE IT DOESN'T INTEREST ME.
🦆

@Micnerhss by the way I'm not "upset" by my parenting 😂😂
Such a weird thing to say.

This thread is so weird. I do take my kids abroad (very regularly as we have family who live all over the world), but I don’t think that makes me a better parent than someone who doesn’t.
For all we know you could be a shit parent in lots of other ways OP.

Its the same thing, you cant be bothered to put your kids first and give them the experience because it doesn't interest you and you are more kind of me me me parent and at least you own it.
I asked for reasons and you gave yours.

One kid.
Not "kids".
I put her first every single day of my life and I don't always want to do the things that she wants to do but I do them anyway (like spending almost £400 on Comic con 😂)
It's just the abroad thing you seem to be obsessed about. Who bloody cares. Plenty for us to visit and do in the UK.
I'll stay here and enjoy the UK and all it has to offer thanks.
Oh and I'd love to be able to be "me me me" but that never happens 😂
I can't even buy a new pillow without her pinching it off me.
My entire life pretty much evolves around her (and I love that actually).

Good job you only had the one then if you dont want to put them first!

Read my edit....
also
🦆

No, write it properly the first time.

Sorry.
I was too busy being selfish and only caring about myself 😂😂😂😂😂

at least you admit it.

We cant really afford it... but to give a bit of insight, I hate hoing away! Love day trips, and will stay over night to explore a bit further afield occasionally.

But, I love my home, I love my own bed. We are always so busy that a week off to me is being at home, with restful days out, and nowhere to be. Family time.

Im not good at slumming it either. If we had more money and could stay somewhere decent, then we probably would explore further afield. Going to explore different cultures from a nice hotel holds more appeal than a caravan week in the British weather.

Yeah.
I am so selfish.
I am currently on a train coming home from taking her to school (30/40 minute Uber journey to her SEN school that took several years to get a place in).
I am dashing home because I have a food delivery coming (food that she....you know....eats).
Then I will have to rush back for pick up time.
Then rush home because we have to go to an event (for her) in the evening.
We will get home about 7.30.
Then it will be a few hours of "mumumumumumumum" and eventually about 10 or 11 I might get to sit down.
Busy busy busy.
That's me.
But not for me.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Wow this thread turned toxic real quick. I've deliberately not been on mumsnet for a while, prefer the kindness of the folk over on Reddit. It seems this thread was started to... what... Lord it over people who don't go abroad on holiday? Ok. In answer to OP's question, when we were in the rat race of London, we lived for holidays. The affluent town we were in literally emptied every school holiday. Now we are living in one of the most beautiful, unspoilt bits of countryside in the world, IMO. My children are out after school most days hiking, climbing trees, horse riding, fishing, or just exploring the acres of countryside around us. We leave to spend quality time with family and friends, but otherwise we have a truly satisfied life where we are. Also, to the lady who takes her daughter to Comicon, that sounds like such an awesome thing to do!

You lost me here. Yes, that will be it, op, you’re just better than the rest of us.

Not all autistic dc are the same. One of mine just wouldn’t enjoy it. They don’t even like leaving the house very much. I can guarantee the rest of us wouldn’t enjoy it either as a result. But maybe I just don’t plan well for them 🙄

@Bolonese it's only the fact I am bored on a train that I am engaging with this strange person 😂
(Comic Con is ace. Expensive. Exhausting. But a lot of fun.)

It's very strange to never go on holiday.