I want to go on holiday with lots of other woman and their kids - help

[bumtibum]

Hi all, I'm sitting down to plan summer holidays and feel the usual ache in my heart at the idea of going away with my daughter by ourselves. My husband is working all through the summer until the final two weeks of hols. I work from home so generally stop work over the summer to take care of our daughter (aged 7.) My other friends always have their own plans over the summer and then work. Generally my only option is to go away by myself with my daughter. I have gone away with her by myself before, but find the sight of large groups of families and friends together makes me feel really lonely and I know that we have more fun when we're in a bunch of other like-minded folk. I've realised that I want is to find a tribe of women in a similar situation who want to join forces and camp together so their kids can run free and they can make new friends. I'm a feminist, author, slightly chaotic, very friendly, big fan of rum and coke and holidays by the sea, can anyone point me in the right direction?

A shrink??

I know how you feel. My dh works 7 long days a week in the summer and I've taken a few years to build up my Mum gang. This year I'm actually fucking off back to the UK with ds. It'll be horrific and I'll be worn out and angry by the time I get back.

ukcampsite.co.uk has a "meeting up and getting together" forum which might be worth looking at/posting on. You could also try meetup.com

You can camp on the grounds of Horton women's holiday Centre. It's lovely there.

The camping and caravan club has meet-ups of all sorts, all round the country. Some are specialist interest groups ( boating, folk music) but some are just general camp and chill sessions. They have a reputation for being friendly and inclusive.

I think a Mumsnet Camp would be great!

OP, I hear you!

I have seen the Meet Up Board on UKCampsite but I think people are a bit shy / cautious about making an arrangement with one other person. If you started a thread here and there: Mumsnet and CampsiteUK Camping weekend I bet people would sign up. These things usually get bogged down once everyone starts talking about dates and who can and can’t do when. I would be definite: this is the date!

A site like Kingsdown on the Kent coast could work (or somewhere more central).

Do it

(I am not in the market, as my kids are older and I am fancying some child free camping)

I've seen mn camping meet ups before on here.

There have been MN camps in previous years- great fun!
It's difficult now though, as the site is so big, most people don't 'know' one another in the same way.
Are you at all religious? There are Christian camps (but I can't vouch for them personally, I'm atheist, but I know some MNers have been on them previously)

I've just pitched my tent for the first time in 5 years. It appears to have packed up nicely and my daughter is going to trial it tonight with her friend.
I'd be interested in a mums and kids camp, as my divorce (from tent hating ex husband) was finalised in May. Count me in!

Op, when my kids were smaller i used to go to unicorn singing camps. People all camp in circles so even if you go on your own you won’t be left out.
They are warm and friendly. You mean get not be into singing, I know there are lots of these sort of thing( all of the tree hugging variety) , there’s a place in devon called Embercombe that do family camps, and Buddhafield who do festivals also do family camps.
Hope you find something. Pm me if you want, i can probably think of more.

Thanks for the judgement - really nice message - hope you never feel lonely and then judged.

Sorry, that wasn't for all of you at all!! Your comments were really helpful and useful - just the one nasty woman who wrote ' a shrink'. Thanks all, will look into.

I’m in!
Sounds like fun. My 2 year old would love an excuse to run wild

I suspect that was a comment on wanting to go camping!

DH would agree with that, anyway.

Maybe!! Probably I'm just a bit sensitive but it seemed a bit blunt when you pour your heart out - but yeah, sometimes campers do seem a bit sadomasochistic !

Why cant you go in the last two weeks with your husband?

Try googling HF family walking holidays. Your daughter would go free. I don't work for them but have been on loads of their holidays.
PM me if you want some more information

This sounds good. I might be interested, just not sure if I'm brave enough to take all 3 dc camping on my own (the 8 year old is fine but the other two are still toddlers)! I'll keep checking the thread to stay up to date, and if you decide to camp somewhere near me (Peak District, it's very nice!) I'll join you for a night or two.

Sounds great op! My dd is 7 too, I would be interested :)

A lighthearted message on a public forum is less offensive than a private message to a poster wouldn't you say??

Um, yes, but isn’t that like walking up to someone and punching them, then defending your actions with “it would have been worse if i’d run you over”...

go away, troll.

Thanks glitter biscuits! HF looks great too

I can't recommend them enough. I know you wanted camping but I reckon this would be a good fit for the outline you gave about yourself. It's sort of like youth hosteling gone posh/intellectual. Lots of freedom and activities for the children in family weeks and adult company for,grown ups too.
Happy to tell you more by PM if you are tempted.