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?

That's why you bring electronical equipment : dvd player with films/ipad/switch/mobile. She would def not have complained then @Personil .

So funny. We're supposed to be teetotal as soon as we have kids

Two hours would feel like forever at that age. Not surprised she was bored stiff.

Wow, just wow.

This thread is completely bonkers!

So now you have to entertain your children 24/7 in order to love them?

an 11 year old is capable of being awake whilst adults sleep.
probably wasn’t the funnest way for her to spend her holiday but it wasn’t unsafe

OP was in the same unit as her child who is 11 though.

Um how is that similar? In one scenario a couple has a nap while the ELEVEN year old girl is in the same hotel room/apartment (I’ve emphasised her age because she’d likely be doing things like travelling to and from school independently at home). In the other, a couple leave their three year old and one year old twins alone asleep in an unlocked apartment while they go to a restaurant down the road with their mates and only go back to do a cursory check every half hour. It’s not even remotely similar.

I dont really think its a big deal.
Maybe its just not her kind of holiday! If it was really hot and you could only really do stuff in the morning maybe it was the whole thing. My kids 12 and 13 would have struggled with the heat, having to have a sleep mid days just part of being a very hot country. It doesn't sound particularly child focused. Just go somewhere where its not hot next time.

That you need the downtime even if they are going to bed at 9pm (and sleeping until 8) as 11 year olds?

Again you are extrapolating. The OP has said back to the room at nine, not to sleep. I don’t get why everyone is making stuff up on this thread, it’s so weird. Will leave you to it.

Well, yes, that’s what I would have done too. But the OP has specifically said that she didn’t have any devices. So I’m asking specifically about the child in question and what she should have done to entertain herself.

When did I ever say they slept till 8? I didn’t. For goodness sake….

What does down time have to do with sleeping?

It’s just a bit fucking weird, isn’t it? Leave the child alone while you go to bed for two hours. It’s not like you were dozing/chilling on the sofa with her watching a film or something. Plus I really don’t believe that you didn’t have a shag.

I’m talking about the OP’s child! You said your child needs downtime in support of the OP’s position on taking a rest each day (I assume) and I’m saying well would they need it if the itinerary was otherwise as set out by the OP.

Most kids do activities after school. Its important and even more so if you have one child.

You are not unreasonable, most responses here are bonkers even for mumsnet. At that age I was alone after school every day because my parents were at work and I was fine.

This is a good opportunity to teach your daughter not to be spoiled and explain to her she is very lucky to go on holiday

Sounds pretty grim, no wonder she doesn’t want to go. Maybe rethink the location and itinerary to make it more inclusive for the next holiday.

I remain confused about why you are quoting me if your questions are for the OP. Anyway it’s 9pm here and guess what? The kids are in bed waiting for us to go and tuck them in. I’ll leave you lot to it!

This thread is absolutely horrendous.

Whilst I agree that a two hour nap every single day probably was quite boring for the dd. Some of the wild accusations flying around on here are crazy.

People saying op was shagging, comparing her to the McCanns, saying they she doesn’t want to be a parent.

I’m really interested to know what other people’s holidays look like.

Also people making out it’s practically child cruelty to take an 11 year old on holiday with just their parents. What are parents of only children supposed to do?

The thing is, if it was one or two days of your holiday, where you felt a bit off and needed a nap, then it is, of course, fine to expect her to entertain herself while you have a lie down. But having a routine where this happens everyday would be very dull, and IMO that is unfair.

Also, the timing implies that after the nap, maybe you have a shower, get dressed and ready for the evening - so really it's the whole afternoon in the room?

But it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks. Your DD thought it was a rubbish holiday. So either, you do something different next time, or accept that she will hate the holiday/stay at home.

It’s really not. As an Italian it is about 2-3 hours when it is the hottest

This is what I find really odd.

I get turning the TV on and having a snooze on the sofa or taking in turns and having a snooze on the sun lounger but to actually go to bed for 2 hours every day is really odd!

I don’t know any family holidays that involve a set time for going to bed in the middle of the day.

And to follow that same routine every day!

Expectations of home after school and expectations on holiday are surely not the same thing?

Did you help her pack enough books? Puzzles? Knitting? Play board games together? It sounds like breakfast-2pm were the only parts she might like. If she didn’t like evening entertainment and that’s the daily plan it’s pretty shit. And there’s relaxing on the balcony as a separate activity to siesta.