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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To cancel holiday during heatwave?

144 replies

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 14/08/2026 00:05

Lone parent of 4 and 6 year old boys. Planning to stay in a eurocamp on the south of France.

I’m totally knocked out by the heat today and I’ve only had one of them most of the day. Can’t sleep…

Due to leave Saturday. Forecast is between 31-34. Just don’t think I can do it. Flying and not planning to rent car.

OP posts:
minipie · 14/08/2026 14:41

Iamnotalemming · 14/08/2026 13:21

As you've got air con, you'll be grand. Maybe do afternoon siestas (quiet time in the cool even if noone sleeps). Bon voyage!

Absolutely this

They’ll probably stay up a bit later than usual to have dinner

Have a little nap or quiet time (tv) in the air con after lunch when it’s hottest

Pool rest of the time. They will love it, much better than hot weather here with no pool and no aircon.

Do you have UV tops and hats for them?

Leopardprintbikini · 14/08/2026 14:43

Oh my god the drama of it all.

Just stay at home in a dark room. I'm sure your husband and children will have a nicer time without you.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 14/08/2026 14:49

Leopardprintbikini · 14/08/2026 14:43

Oh my god the drama of it all.

Just stay at home in a dark room. I'm sure your husband and children will have a nicer time without you.

What a shit comment. Haven’t read the first 2 words of the OP to see she doesn’t have a husband, haven’t bothered reading the update, and just shit to a struggling stranger for no reason. Well done you

minipie · 14/08/2026 14:49

Leopardprintbikini · 14/08/2026 14:43

Oh my god the drama of it all.

Just stay at home in a dark room. I'm sure your husband and children will have a nicer time without you.

Helpful.

Also she’s a) a lone parent, and b) has now got herself together and is going. If you’re going to be snippy at least read the OP’s posts properly first.

Starrylawn · 14/08/2026 14:52

You’ll be fine. I recently went away (also lone parent) and it was hot like that. It’s different when you’re not rushing about. Also, you’ll have air con so we always made sure we went home for a good few hours in the PM to nap and rest and cool down. Have fun!

Starrylawn · 14/08/2026 14:53

Leopardprintbikini · 14/08/2026 14:43

Oh my god the drama of it all.

Just stay at home in a dark room. I'm sure your husband and children will have a nicer time without you.

Are you the kind of person who feels better when they’re anonymously mean to others? How odd.

saraclara · 14/08/2026 14:54

Barleystrawandchaff213 · 14/08/2026 10:59

I hope op feels strong enough to go, and that she and her boys have a good time, but if they don’t, I doubt the dc will be scarred for life, especially aged six and four, when you are hardly conscious of what you are looking forward to, never mind missing it!

And fhs, why feel so extremely guilty cancelling a holiday when you were ill? It wasn’t intentional and couldn’t be helped, it’s very disappointing, but just one of those things. Ime, young dc follow your lead in how they react to things. And if you don’t make a big deal of it, they won’t either.

Plus I think it’s worth bearing in mind overall that if a holiday in France really is too much for Op atm, then as a single parent, there is no one to support her and buoy her up at the other end wheb she gets back home. Everything carries on as relentlessly as it did before. And what her boys will benefit from most of all is a calm, happy mum.

I didn't say that I felt guilty. You made that up. And I was too busy being ill to "make a big deal" of the cancellation.

But I found it upsetting, especially when I saw them unpacking the suitcases they'd packed with such excitement. I had great sympathy for my kids who I knew were gutted (and worried about me) but were putting such a brave face on it.

So yes, I'm very glad that OP and her kids are going.

ETA that my DGCs are 6 and 3, and have been wildly excited about, and preparing for their holiday for weeks. No way would it have been a nothing to them if it had been cancelled.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 14/08/2026 14:56

saraclara · 14/08/2026 14:54

I didn't say that I felt guilty. You made that up. And I was too busy being ill to "make a big deal" of the cancellation.

But I found it upsetting, especially when I saw them unpacking the suitcases they'd packed with such excitement. I had great sympathy for my kids who I knew were gutted (and worried about me) but were putting such a brave face on it.

So yes, I'm very glad that OP and her kids are going.

ETA that my DGCs are 6 and 3, and have been wildly excited about, and preparing for their holiday for weeks. No way would it have been a nothing to them if it had been cancelled.

Edited

You said it was one of the worse days of your life and very much made it sound like you felt guilty, that poster didn’t make anything up, even if that’s not what you meant.

aphroditeflighty · 14/08/2026 15:15

Summer is known for being hot in August, especially in the south of France. After today, it's cooling considerably. I'm a bit further north, but still in the southern part, and it's 39C today (and was 39C yesterday), which is even hotter than the most southerly parts. A storm should help clear things up this weekend, and then we're back to regular August weather.

Theolittle · 14/08/2026 16:17

Have a brilliant time OP💐

Cant believe some of the complete lack of empathy in many of the responses! Mumsnet is a very weird place sometimes

gerbo · 15/08/2026 11:20

I'm so pleased you're going for it and wish you a lovely holiday. Lots of siestas and resting, low expectations in terms of 'having to' do anything, no rushing anywhere. We took plasticine/Lego etc when our were little which they enjoyed in the few hours we rested in the middle of the day.

Best of luck, you can do this.

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 15/08/2026 21:44

Flight was delayed but boys were great even though all their iPad streaming apps had somehow logged out so they couldn’t watch downloads on the plane.

Got in an uber to the address printed on eurocamp leaflet. Was not the place. Had to book and wait for another uber.

Got here and chalet is in good location in terms of quietness but it was a trek with luggage in mid afternoon heat. To find our bedding and towels weren’t here. Spent over an hour on the phone to uk to speak to someone as auto set to voicemail at local camp.

Finally got bedding and towels and headed to the pool. Which was closed for the day. 🤪

Boys refused a margarita pizza at onsite cafe as it tasted weird so they ate sugary cereal for dinner.

But they are so happy and excited and the first day is always a write off (my friend said who I messaged).

Looking forward to to the rest of the week.

Intestesting some people assume I’m a total melt without a backbone. I’m a very capable single parent and have been long haul on my own before without feeling like this. It’s just bloody hard to function in the UK heatwave but it is easier here with the aircon and the breeze. My home in the UK is a total hotbox.

And yes thanks to those who get it that it’s hard when there isn’t someone else to carry the bags, carry a child, amuse children while checking in, ordering the uber or whatever. When you have this type of fog from the heat and they’re stressed and needy it’s very stressful. But definately worth it!

Thank you for being supportive x

OP posts:
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 15/08/2026 23:29

Just saw your update. Your friend is right, the first day is always the hardest. You've overcome all these hurdles, they'll sleep well and hopefully you will get a chance to relax and chill a bit tomorrow. It's so nice to hear that the DC were happy and excited, despite the hurdles and that the chalet has good aircon and is in a nice location.
Wishing you a great holiday x

Starrylawn · 15/08/2026 23:58

Thanks for the update. It’s always hard when you’re the only responsible adult - but you’ve done the hardest part now. Hope you have a brilliant holiday with your boys!

ABoldStatement · 16/08/2026 00:39

Oh what a first day!

Glad you’re cooler though and the boys are excited. Hope you make the pool tomorrow.

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 16/08/2026 00:51

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 15/08/2026 21:44

Flight was delayed but boys were great even though all their iPad streaming apps had somehow logged out so they couldn’t watch downloads on the plane.

Got in an uber to the address printed on eurocamp leaflet. Was not the place. Had to book and wait for another uber.

Got here and chalet is in good location in terms of quietness but it was a trek with luggage in mid afternoon heat. To find our bedding and towels weren’t here. Spent over an hour on the phone to uk to speak to someone as auto set to voicemail at local camp.

Finally got bedding and towels and headed to the pool. Which was closed for the day. 🤪

Boys refused a margarita pizza at onsite cafe as it tasted weird so they ate sugary cereal for dinner.

But they are so happy and excited and the first day is always a write off (my friend said who I messaged).

Looking forward to to the rest of the week.

Intestesting some people assume I’m a total melt without a backbone. I’m a very capable single parent and have been long haul on my own before without feeling like this. It’s just bloody hard to function in the UK heatwave but it is easier here with the aircon and the breeze. My home in the UK is a total hotbox.

And yes thanks to those who get it that it’s hard when there isn’t someone else to carry the bags, carry a child, amuse children while checking in, ordering the uber or whatever. When you have this type of fog from the heat and they’re stressed and needy it’s very stressful. But definately worth it!

Thank you for being supportive x

South of France does not equal long haul 😂

MrsBucketHat · 16/08/2026 09:24

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 16/08/2026 00:51

South of France does not equal long haul 😂

I understood that OP was saying that she’s flown long haul before and managed just fine, not saying that this journey was long haul.

GreenShady · 16/08/2026 16:45

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 16/08/2026 00:51

South of France does not equal long haul 😂

Oh give over. That’s all you could find to say? OP didn’t say it was long haul.

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 16/08/2026 17:59

GreenShady · 16/08/2026 16:45

Oh give over. That’s all you could find to say? OP didn’t say it was long haul.

Oh give over. That’s all you could find to reply? She did in subsequent post that she has flown long haul before.

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