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?

In Greece last year we had a few days where we didn't go to the pool at all and basically slept all day. DD2 was 4yo and struggling with the heat so we followed her lead. She was sick a few times with heat.

However DD1 was 8 and was never out of the pool all day but she was with my parents. I'd just tell them we aren't coming to pool that day.

However the 8yo would usually crash about 6pm before dinner for an hour.

People are being a bit odd in their replies. I am Greek and spent every hour,day in Greece with relatives when a child. Perfectly normal for adults to have a siesta. I used to read my book.

Sounds awful for a child, couldn’t you spend time by the pool instead if it was very hot?

The child didn't complain ffs! She accepted the situation. She simply didn't enjoy it. And she only expressed that when asked directly after the holiday.

Jesus.

I was an only child and my parents used to do things like this. They would both regularly disappear for hours at a time, both at home at weekends and on holiday. I hated it and found it lonely and depressing and would never do anything like that with my own children. When I was 16 they started letting me bring a friend away and it made all the difference but after 18 we never went away together again. It does depend on what else is going on - I was never the centre at all of any holiday we went on and my needs and preferences weren't really catered for at all. It may be different if a child is prioritised for most of the day and then expected to amuse themselves for a couple of hours. You can stay out of the midday heat without making yourself unavailable to your solitary child for 2 hours - were you available to her?

I'm not surprised she didn't like it. Maybe bring a friend for her next time! I couldn't bear being on holiday with someone who went for a 2 hour nap every day. Especially being stuck in a living room.
At least she's honest.

Yes they did and yes I was sometimes bored (other than the time I discovered Gillly Cooper's oeuvre on the bookcase - v eye opening at 12). But I survived and as the rest of the day was very child/activity focused it all balanced out.

That’s just weird. I mean your naps, not the 11 year old feeling weird about your naps, that’s just normal. Were you hungover everyday?

Exactly.

It’s ok for kids to be bored but equally it’s ok for adults to be told something is boring when asked, they should be mature enough to accept someone else’s opinion.

Well indeed. I am often astounded on here about how parents should end up as some sort of entertaining red coats for kids who should be capable of entertaining themselves for an hour or so

Oh and I read so much as a child (still do) and was so good at 'entertaining' myself (still am). It doesn't stop it feeling lonely though. There's allowing children to feel bored sometimes and there's being emotionally distant and neglectful. We shouldn't conflate the two.

YANBU OP

I think it's quite normal to do this in hot countries. We often have a couple of chill hours after lunch or in the afternoon when it's really hot. DC tend to have screen time and I go and read in bed and often drift off. They look forward to it as are quite busy most of the rest of the day either in pool/sea or sightseeing depending on the holiday.

I am an only child and remember my parents going to sleep on holiday and I was bored. This was before mobiles etc. So id read and re read the crap magazines while wanting them to hurry up.

Like I mentioned earlier about my 4yo, she said she was sleepy after breakfast so I told her to lie down and she went to sleep, this time I had access to everything on my phone so left her to it. Next day she'd be up and raring to go.

Why. She is not a baby. 2 hours of a day to entertain herself. Wow hardship!! On holiday with her parents abroad - dreadful life

I'm not surprised she was bored, she's not part of the siesta culture where everyone has a siesta after lunch.

Find a different type of holiday for next year, something that really caters for children of her age.

What do you mean “it doesn’t stop it feeling lonely”? losing myself for hours in books on holiday was an absolute joy! And having a siesta was just part of embracing the culture - when the sun was at its hottest we’d retreat to our nice cool bedrooms for a bit of rest, ready for the evening.

I get the impression the op's partner isn't the dad.

What every day on holiday ?

yes at home maybe

Sorry OP, if I went on holiday with two other people and they buggered off for two hours every day leaving me alone I’d be mightily pissed off.

and if I was a child on a family holiday the even more so.

She did! If she didn’t her parent wouldn’t be finding out only after the fact and when asked that she didn’t enjoy it.

God I would have been glad to get rid of my parents for two hours at that age.

Poor kid, no wonder she was bored.Could you take a friend for her next time?

Why? Are you incapable of entertaining yourself?

Is DH DD dad?