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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Things that are supposed to be enjoyable but aren't in reality

427 replies

Tooconfused12 · 19/04/2026 16:29

Here's my list:

Holidays with the family (kids under the age of 6.) Too expensive, the kids are always tired/vomiting/over-stimulated. Travelling is a fucking nightmare. There's at least two arguments with your partner. And you (being the woman) end up doing all the prep for about three weeks beforehand. When you come back it takes at least a week for you to get through all the washing. And you're exhausted.

Being on the beach. It's actually a bit shit all round. Sand everywhere. People get too hot and uncomfortable. Sand in the food. Warm drinks that have been left out in the sun. The kids end up with sand in their eyes and so do you. It's always really windy and the sea is miles out which means you have to walk for ages to get there. Someone gets bitten/cut by a rock/sunburnt/swallows loads of sea water and you give up and leave after about 2 hours of drama.

Eating out. Too expensive, better quality of cooking at home with fresh ingredients.

Paris. Dirty, smelly, you're followed everywhere by sleazy men trying to sell you stuff or pickpocket you. Everyone's really fucking rude as well

Having sex. It's a bit touch and go, most of the time it's slightly boring, the bloke normally orgasms before you and the people you really fancy - when you end up shagging it turns out to be rubbish after all that build up. Or they ooze sex appeal and charisma but they do something to give you the serious ick and your vagina slams shut.

Hen do's - end of.

OP posts:
LittleJustice · Today 14:40

TheatreTraveller · Yesterday 23:32

The only thing I agree with you on is Hen Do's!! Lol.

Everything else is literally top of my list of my favourite things to do. Travelling with our children has been the best experiences of my life (and I had 35yrs of amazing trips prior to them). My youngest is only 5 (oldest is 8) and she's already experienced France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, USA, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, some of these a few times now with another 6 new countries planned in the next year. Nothing I'd rather do :)

Also love Center Parcs, a BBQ, a Spa Day and a bath (just from reading the first page 😀)

Me too ✋️ love beaches, feel so at peace on them, having said that I do like beaches where there aren't very many people. I also love spa days, baths, centerparcs....

Also love picnics and generally eating outdoors.

Things that I hate are hen dos, drag shows and other raucous entertainment like bongo's bingo. And anywhere really with too many people.

Who was it said "Hell is other people"? Sartre?

igelkott2026 · Today 16:36

Mokel · Today 07:30

Especially when they are too young to have their own seat. So have to be belted up on a parent’s lap. Seen this on Ryanair, Jet2 and EasyJet. These airlines are not the best for room and comfort. Imagine having a baby or toddler. There is hardly any room to move around in the plane’s toilets for their normal use. Pull down the baby change table and it’s a different story.

I don’t understand why parents would endure this practice of taking very young children on holiday. It’s hundreds times worse when going on holiday via plane. You can’t enjoy the holiday much.

I was 6.5 years old when I first went on a plane for holiday. Old enough to understand why ears pop and old enough to deal with it. Old enough to have memories of the holiday

I agree, especially long haul - just seems like inviting stress.

It probably depends on the child to some extent but you don't necessarily know that they will be like.

We took ds to Scotland by car when he was 6 months old. He was lovely on that trip - really easy and portable.

We went away in England when he was 10 months old. We all got ill and it was a more trouble than it was worth.

18 months - back to Scotland but more like the 10 month old trip without the sickness. And we were much less lucky with the weather than we had been the year before.

4 years - Croatia - fabulous.

Lessons learned - wait until they are 4 and go somewhere with decent weather.

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