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!

Im surrounded by farms..... theres a thing called farm hands that come in to allow breaks for farmers and their families yknow.

And regardless its a generational farm..... so theres always folk on hand, but the current generation are always away on mini breaks.

Because not everyone does the same thing and not everyone likes holidays even children it cant be that hard to work out that people have their own reasons that no else has to understand

Yes we holiday but I dont wonder why people dont do the same as us

The 11-15 age group travel prices/cards is confusing and baffling for actual born and bred Londoners 😂

I don’t know anyone that’s not been abroad.

Time and time again it surprises me on MN, why people advertise how insular the circle of people they ever meet or talk to, is.

This is so true. I grew up in a very rural area and found it suffocating couldn’t wait to leave. After living all over the world I have returned home due to a set of circumstances. I can’t believe my arrogance now. Some of the people here who have gone precisely nowhere are some of the wisest and most content people I have ever known.

"Maybe we just have different tolerant levels for stress or maybe I just plan better for my ASD Child.."

Come back and tell us what an expert you are when your child is an adult.

We could travel abroad now because mine is now in supported living but I just not interested. I did some travelling in my 20s but it doesn't have the appeal now.

Not friends but I have a few work colleagues who are like this and were amazed we took our children away as babies.

I think from speaking to them they have a concept of what a holiday should be and the logistics plus taking kids away is very different and they don't see it as a holiday so don't do it.

Holiday with children is very different but is still fun! Mine absolutely love camping and always ask when we are going next. We tend to do 4 day trips as found that's the optimum.

You could do both.

That’s not particularly insular though. Most people have been abroad. I’m not sure I know anyone who hasn’t been abroad. I’m aware that some people haven’t, but it doesn’t make me insular just because I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.

Come back and tell us what an expert you are when your child is an adult.

why? what exactly has that got to do with anything? I plan to actually take him on my holidays when he's an adult too.

But you can do both? I take my kids to museums and castles in the UK. This isn't a either/or situation.

Ah, but are you DIM?!

there are a multitude of experiences in this world. Some people value particular ones over others.

im not going to list the experiences my child has had without going abroad frequently because they absolutely would be outing, but I can pretty much guarantee they aren’t things you are bothering to do with your child. Mine adores the incredibly enriching things I have arranged. Perhaps it is your children who are missing out.

Well we will never know as you cant disclose these secret incredibly enriching things...

Maybe you don’t realise just how few people can afford it? Or they could technically afford it but need to spend that money on a new boiler or a car etc.

You sound like someone I know who has spent 20k on holidays this year alone to “make memories” with the kids. She cannot spend any time at all at home with them, every holiday is filled with exciting days out and trips away. As a result she thinks every other child is culturally deprived. But that lifestyle just isn’t reality. The kids need more time at home.

Why it is insular to not know anyone who hasn't been abroad? It seems quite a strange thing to flex about.

I know very few people who haven't, they all have different reasons and they all love a UK holiday. But I don't think I know anyone who never takes a holiday (finances permitting).

The first line in my OP literally says - 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.

"why? what exactly has that got to do with anything? I plan to actually take him on my holidays when he's an adult too."

You come across as smug.
I hope when he is an adult, he will get a say in what he wants to do.

Smug because I plan on taking my disabled child abroad with me when he's an adult??? Not sure what's smug about that.

Considering he's severely autistic and non verbal, like I already mentioned... That isn't going to happen.

He wont be 'saying' anything.

It might not stop anyone travelling but it does mean different families make different decisions and prioritise different things. In fact that's the case whether autism is involved or not.

Some people just aren't bothered about it travel. There's nothing inherently wrong with that.

I have a severely autistic non verbal son and he can certainly make his feelings known. If he didn’t want to go on holiday I wouldn’t take him on holiday.

"He wont be 'saying' anything."

My son is also severely autistic and non verbal but he says plenty.

I used to go out with a guy years ago who never left the UK. He had a pretty full life tbh and was always in different parts of the UK but he never really bothered about going abroad. He's in his 50s now, recently got married and she's managed to get him out of his comfort zone - he's been to places I haven't been now. I didn't think there was anything wrong with him not travelling outside the UK, there would never be any point in him doing it just for the sake of it. Just a thoroughly decent guy with a busy life.

He doesn't 'say' anything if he's non verbal.

He can make his feelings known in other ways but he isn't saying anything verbally if he's non verbal.

I'm clearly talking about verbal communication here.

Good for you...