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?

this is why Spanish and Greek kids are up so late. It isn’t losing 2 hours of the holiday, it’s moving 2 hours of family around so that you make the most of the weather

but OP had dinner at 5 and back to the room for 9pm… which is a normal 11yo bedtime so no staying up late to make up for the siesta

Why have kids at all if that is their attitude though?

@Roads

i dunno… you hear of parents of 25 year olds on here who still want to holiday with their parents

Snap. They sound like my parents, only redeeming feature I suppose is they didn’t leave her in the room at the night whilst they went to the bar.

Because presumably children are for more than a week a year?

I’m so confused as to why you needed a 2 hour siesta if you’re back in your room by 9pm. Have you been on a family holiday before? Why couldn’t you just relax by the pool so she can play or maybe take it in turns to have a nap? My husband always has a little nap by the pool whilst I watch / play with kids and then I’ll go somewhere quiet and read whilst he does. Rigidly going for a 2 hour sleep every day on holiday is so weird!! Siesta is for when you are working and need a break from the heat. You are literally on holiday to have fun / relax and then just go to sleep at 9pm when back at your room if you’re tired. We spend barely any time in rooms on holiday and go away a few times a year. No wonder she was bored. Sounds awful

She only had 2 books and nothing else. I love reading, but even I would hate to do enforced reading for two hours every afternoon when I would rather be doing something else.

Exactly it made me cringe 😂😂 they had an afternoon nap each day… there we go , corrected 😅

It hot where I am in England today- I shall not being having a siesta but a nap right now !

No but I’m an adult.

Well then she could have used her imagination to find a game to play or whatever.

I think your dd is being a bit precious. My dd at that age would’ve been more than happy and capable to chill for 2 hours in the same apartment as her parents. I’m not a napper but my Dh would have a siesta on holiday. She’s prob getting to that age where she’s hard to occupy and they have a preference for friends (parents are boring!). I’ve one teen dd and we usually try and go on holiday with other families or the past two years we’ve taken a friend.

Exactly. A person not a pet. So include them when making plans just as you’d include a friend when making plans. Adults don’t go on hols with friends and bugger off to bed for a couple of hours every day, followed by early nights every night.
Unless they are elderly.

This kid might have enjoyed it too but she didn't get the chance of 2 hours phone scrolling (or Netflix, as someone else said), the OP said there were no screens. She had TV in another language or a very limited selection of books. Most kids/teenage books can be finished in a couple of hours, so what was she supposed to do on days 2, 3, 4... Of course an 11 year old can occupy themselves for 2 hours a day, but I think most people would be bored for 2 hours every day when all friends, internet, TV, phone and ability to leave the flat isn't available.

As another poster said, why did both parents have to sleep at the same time and did they really both need 2 hours of solid sleep? Was some of that 2 hours actually scrolling on their phone or chatting, in which case, couldn't their daughter have done that too? There are more options than being in the blazing sun or being asleep for 2 hours. Could one of slept and the other have taken the girl to the pool or even sat indoors and spent time with her?

And it makes a huge difference if only one adult is the parent and the other a partner, then she would not only feel bored but also pushed out.

So children aren’t allowed an opinion? It’s ok for you not to enjoy something because you’re an adult, but a child doesn’t have the same right? I can’t agree with that. Children who aren’t allowed a voice aren’t happier or more robust because of it.

You really don't know what the difference is??? Grandma is spending quality time with your DD, that's the difference.

That's why I enjoyed berry picking, baking, long walks with my grandparents because we were spending time together.

Your DD isn't born in the wrong century, she's a normal child looking for connection.

Course they can have an opinion but they don’t get to dictate things.

Because in English the word is nap. I wouldn’t come back from Spain and say “Everyday I ate el desayuno,” I’d say “Everyday I ate breakfast.”

She didn’t dictate a thing.

That’s kind of the point - she makes them up using her imagination.

She's not dictated anything though? She's given her opinion and been called all sorts by the posters on here who think a child shouldn't be allowed to express an opinion.

OP do you and DH have medical conditions? You sound particularly low on energy.
I think you prioritise yourselves over your daughter. Choosing to sleep for 2 hours in the middle of the day after a relaxing morning while leaving my child on their own, every day of a holiday, is bizarre.

I don’t think she is dictating. She doesn’t want to spend another holiday having to wait for sleepy parents and would rather go berry picking and baking with granny if she has the choice. Not sure why you are so harsh on this 11 year old girl who seems to have very wholesome interests.

I think in fairness they are not entirely synonymous.

A siesta implies it is taken in the hottest part of the day and that avoiding the heat is a key driver.

A nap is whenever, because you are tired.

Actually a lot of one child families don’t revolve around their child because a lot of only children are incredibly independent and don’t need entertaining

Agree