To let the kids down about Florida?

[WastedYouth]

We went to Florida last year for two weeks. Kids had the time of their lives and I promised them we would go back at some point.

Anyway, when we came home, we got a few quotes, things were ok with us finantially so we decided we would go back in 2012.

We made the mistake of telling the kids who are not excited about going back to their idea of paradise.

However, things have taken a turn for the worst. DH recently told me about a debt I never knew he had so we're stuck paying that back. He changed jobs and we ended up with a huge bill for back rent which we'll be paying for the rest of this year. The car has knackered up so that's another chunk out of savings ...

Basically, to get back to Florida we will need to put EVERY single penny we have into it. I'm starting to wonder if this is worth it. We're all walking around in clothes that should have been dumped yonks ago ... we're counting the pennies everytime we buy a nice bit of beef etc ... and I'm thinking "FFS, we're scraping the barrel for TWO YEARS for the sake of TWO WEEKS away ... this is ridiculous"

It's not as if the kids have not been ... I'm trying to tell myself they're lucky to have seen Florida AT ALL ... many kids can only dream of that ... but I'm still going to feel so guilty telling them.

The gist of it is, a holiday to Florida now is simply out of our league.

that should say the kids are NOW excited, not "not excited"

Of course you'll feel guilty. It comes with the territory. But of course you have to tell them. They'll be disappointed for a while I'm sure, but they're resilient chaps, kids.

Can you manage a week somewhere else? Camping, maybe? IME they'd love that just as much.

Just tell them it isn't going to happen in 2012, maybe in the future if things change. Plan something more affordable, and don't tell them about it!

I don't tell mine til the last minute about anything. They found out we were going to Florida 3 days before we went. They generally find out about trips to cinema, etc. when we get there! It's a lot easier that way, and they like the surprises.

don't be ridiculous...of course YANBU. Tell them that circumstances have changed and Florida is on hold until you can afford it.
18 months ago we could afford whatever we wanted.. recession hit and now we have to watch every penny. I was worried about telling the dc, but they have come up trumps and a nicer children for it. They have much more understanding about money and are generally less grabby and materialistic. I'm not saying your dc are grabby btw, just that there is a very good chance they'll understand.

We're thinking Greece would be a better option? cheaper ... much cheaper! and none of us have ever been so it would be a new experience for all of us?

(Shodan, can I ask where you got that name? is it Martial Art related? )

agree that they might love soemthing else as much. My youngest two are 4. One's favourite place is Amsterdam, another loves a particular playground in Spain. My oldest would love to go camping under canvas more than anything else, which ISN'T happening!

how old are they? what things do they like?

TBH if I was worrying about clothes/food or if you are still in debt then I would just have a cheap holiday in this country

Well, eldest has a residential trip coming up in June with school (north yorkshire dales, abseiling, orienteering, camping etc) with school which is costing us £100 ... youngest will probably go on a camping trip with Cubs in the summer ... so its not as if they never go anywhere.

Of course go somewhere else! I personally would prefer Greece over the hell on earth which is Florida.

WastedYouth- yes it is indeed martial arts related Although technically it should have a Ho on the end of it till November.......

If you're thinking Greece, we're looking at Corfu this year as it has a big water park for a day out. Ds1 (whom we took to Disney World last year) is very excited about that!

YANBU and greece is fabulous.

YANBU.
And Greece is gorgeous and IMHO much better than Florida. Apart from the history, it's difficult to beat the lovely Mediterranean sea.

Shodan good to see a fellow martial artist! how long have you been training? I'm nowhere near as high graded as you but I look forward to the day

Greece is looking more appealing, although its looking like it might just be me and the kids this time.

What's it like as a single parent holiday?