Daughter didn’t enjoy holiday

[Personil]

DH and I went on holiday with my DD (11). When asked if she enjoyed the holiday she says it was ok but was ruined by being left on her own for 2 hours every day. What she’s referring to is when we went for a siesta. Months later she’s saying she wouldn’t want to go again. WWBU?

Surely some days adults would forego a nap and go and sit in an air conditioned area instead especially if taking an only child. The occasional nap yes but every single day of a holiday? I have never done this and I love naps.

Maybe next time, if there is one, start the day a bit later. Up for breakfast at 8 sounds quite rigid and not much better than a work or school day routine. Better to let the day unfold later so you miss the afternnon slump.

We usually come back for a few hours over lunch on holiday- so we are out of the sun at the hottest part of the day. One or both of us might have a little nap but we have three children so they will play card games, with or without us, paint, read, etc.
Our days on hot holidays tend to follow this pattern.
Up for breakfast
10-12 water activities
12- 3 back to accommodation for lunch and rest/play
3-6 water activities
6 dinner

I think for your daughter it probably was really boring as she was on her own. Next time maybe take it in turns to nap for an hour each and then one if you can be with her.

Wow I don't think we've ever had dinner at 5pm on holiday. Even at 4 DD was up late in to the evening and having a lie in each morning. Why go back to the room at 9? I'll admit this doesn't sound all that fun to me either

I was a reader too mainly because there was nothing else to do! I didn’t go on foreign holidays so wouldn’t have known what I was missing out either.

It’s different times and different circumstances.

The child essentially waited for her parents to get out of bed. It would be the same if they didn’t get out of bed in the morning until 11am. It isn’t fair to expect others to wait around for you.

Christ I’m a clapped out 50 something and I don’t need a 2 hour sleep every afternoon on holiday unless I’ve hit the sangria particularly hard at lunch time.

Great Parenting and also great marriage builder. Also napping in heat of day is fine. She sounds like an ungrateful child and needs a reality check

What strikes me is that if an adult expressed their opinion of not enjoying something it would simply be accepted. We don’t lecture people for not enjoying camping holidays, tennis lessons or rock climbing. We accept that people are different. If someone tells you they hate camping you don’t tell a grown woman- you’re being ridiculous you should be perfectly able to entertain yourself , endure the rain , sleep on the floor and not complain about it.
we simply accept it and don’t force someone to say they love things.

yet a child expressed their opinion ( in what sounds like a perfectly polite way, no tantrums etc) and it’s as if she’s done something wrong.

so many people use the argument „11 year old should be perfectly able to entertain herself and cope” . She did , she just didn’t enjoy it!

I know it's crazy to be going to bed for 2 hrs, just have a quick 20min snooze or similar on settee yes but this dedicated going to bed for 2hrs during the day whilst a bored 11yr old sits waiting with only books to read is a bit self absorbed and shit.

She’s 11, why on earth didn’t you let her have a tablet with downloaded TV and movies, and internet?

Napping for 2 hours with your husband for one week a year is a great marriage builder?

That’s not what a siesta is

Op didn't say she ate breakfast at 8. If breakfast is included on holiday you do need to get up around 8ish to get to breakfast before it ends

I think that’s an unkind thing to do - could you not have taken it in turns to have a nap while the other enjoyed some one on one time with your child?

Nonsense. Most big hotels serve till 9:30 or even 10.

No wonder she was bored. This is a girl who likes being engaged and doing things with someone. She sounds a lovely, if maybe misunderstood, girl. Baking, walking, berry picking or sitting in a room alone for a couple of hours every day while the adults are snoring in another room. No wonder granny won the vote. I’d rather go to granny’s too!

Spanish hotels don't serve dinner at 5 and evening entertainment is just starting around 9.

Exactly!

If she had other things to do, then of course she can entertain herself for a couple of hours.

But there was nothing else for her to do apart read books.

These were also her only entertainment during mornings, evenings and anytime they were back in the room, so it’s highly likely she read them all over the first couple of days.

I love reading and sleeping but even I’d be bored with it if it was my only source of entertainment at home.

My 9 year old GC loves doing that stuff with me although we do crochet instead of knitting. Her older cousins loved it at the same age. I loved it with my gran as well. Maybe lots of kids do enjoy it

Even though it’s Mumsnet a lot of people on here don’t actually like children, even their own.

Frankly OP you sound like you have a lovely, good child.

I have 5 teenagers and to be fair if I told any of my daughters when they were 11 to go to bed at 9 with no mobile phones or other devices they would probably pack their suitcase and walk to the airport themselves :D

your child is not spoilt nor ungrateful.

OP also said her daughter chooses to read when she comes in from school so I dont think it's absolutely wild that the OP would think reading for a mere couple of hours would be that horrific for her. Especially considering she chooses to do it herself daily

Grateful for what?

no, it was you who said you were left alone all day

What strikes me is that if an adult expressed their opinion of not enjoying something it would simply be accepted.

If someone came on here and said their holiday was ruined because their friend had a nap they'd be torn to absolute shreds so no, I disagree