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?

Lived in Spain, and believe me, I had to have that siesta!

Do you leave her alone daily at home whilst you take a 2 hour nap?!

A short break for a rest is ok, but two hours can seem like an awfully long time when you’re 11!

Are parents allowed to sleep at night, or is that wasting their kids’ holiday too? Are they also assumed to be shagging then?

I agree with children amusing themselves for a while and using their imagination, but what was there for her to play with? Perhaps the parents could have taken it in turns to have a nap, while the other played a board game or whatever.

She didn’t have any screens though so couldn’t scroll on a phone or play games.

I think it's been established that they are in a Spanish speaking country, not necessarily Spain. So unless we know the exact location we don't know how hot it is. Having been on holiday to Greece when it's been over 35c at midday, I can say a siesta is often a good idea. But we would then go to bed much later at night.

As a parent of 2 boys I think it’s shit and boring too!

Erm… using her imagination.

My grandchildren were very imaginative but I never left them for 2 hours with nothing to do. It was very hot and they couldn’t go in the pool at that time, so we played uno, scrabble etc indoors for a while.

I'm and only child & I recall being forced to have a 2 hour siesta everyday whenever I was on holiday with my parents, because they wanted a siesta. This was the routine every holiday from the age of about 5 to 16. I absolutely hated it. If I didn't sleep I was expected to read (no TV in the room etc) and as much as I loved reading, I just wanted to be out in the sun, at the pool or beach etc enjoying the brief period of time we had away from home.

Kids are allowed to be bored but why are you leaving an 11 year old alone for 2 hours? Thats the insecurity she didnt like.

Mumsnet glitch

Put your phone down then for 2 hours a day, get 2 books in an apartment somewhere else and use your imagination to entertain yourself.

I think the point here is if the child had something to do for two hours then she would have been ok. The point is the OP left the child for two hours with a non-English TV and two books in a holiday room/apartment, my 11 year old could entertain herself but she’d need:

toys
paper and pens
ipad
perhaps some games!

so yeah 2 hours is a bloody long time with two books and nothing else.

I was talking about me. I am not a child. But I am able to empathise with one, and though I like my own company, on holiday I would not be expecting to spend at least two hours of the day sitting alone, without the things I have at home, unable to go out by myself, and twiddling my thumbs every day of the holiday.

You are entitled to your opinion of course.

I go several hours daily without my phone, and I read 1-2 books a week, what’s your point? Please don’t presume I have never been in the position of the DD.

I prefer a kindle but only because of the amount of books you can get on it. But I would be quite happy with two physical books somewhere.

I managed 5 years of secondary school locked in the toilets with a book every lunchtime for an hour at a time, I would have happily stayed there longer. And there weren’t mobile phones then.

It wasn’t really just 2 hours either. The afternoons and evenings consisted of a siesta, dinner and some evening entertainment. So not much of a holiday!

You cannot think that your choice to sit in the toilets is the same as an 11 year old sitting by herself for hours in a different country.

Maybe she’s not an introvert, maybe she doesn’t like reading enough to do it for 2hrs a day on holiday, maybe she’s more easier bored than you.

IMO the only reason anyone needs a 2hr nap every day is if they’re an infant, elderly, or unwell. There are other (more interesting) ways to avoid the heat. Ones that also bear your children in mind.

Absolutely, me too. (Although I’d have preferred to read my book outside.) She sounds lacking in internal self resources - as do most of the commenters.

Do you see the clear difference? That you choose isolation and this child doesn't?

So you’re not going to disagree you don’t empathise with children? You are resolutely on the side of the parents without even a nod to an 11 yr old justifiably being bored in this situation.

I’m so glad I’m not this weird.

Two hours a day… plus the time OP said the parents watched her from the balcony as she played alone in the pool by herself….