Dealing with the Holidays

[Ray75]

I have a bit if an issue/concern over school holidays that Im not sure how to tackle.
During summer holidays I am having DS for the 1st 2 weeks to go away and whilst we are doing that ex is away with his partner. He has then asked for the next 2 weeks after we all return. The problem I have is that I know he is not planning to take another 2 weeks off work adding to a total of 4 weeks. This happened at Easter where I asked for the 1s week to take DS away so he asked for all 2nd week to do something with him but didnt end up taking aytime of work and DS was farmed out to either G/parents or his GF etc. By the time DS came back to me he was quite sad how little he had seen his Dad (Exes problem I know)
What im worried about is for the Summer it is 2 whole weeks which of course I will miss DS like mad and although I can deal with this in the know he is having a great time with his Dad, but knowing he is farmed out instead I'm struggerling with - would it be unreasonable to suggest to ex if he is working that DS is with me on the ususal days he would be in term time? Surely if he can't spend the time with him and I want to this should be a given? I should point out ex is not amicable and very much 'my time/your time'
Any advice would be appreciated

up to him to arrange the childcare while he with him.... how old is ds ?

I can't work out why either parents would rather their children were with childcare or other relative over being with their mother or father. Mine can't spend much time with their dad so I have to use other people but my sister and her exh always ask if the other one wants the kids before they arrange other childcare. To me that seems like whats best for the kids.

If your ex isn't planning on taking him away anywhere, then would be much better if he had the two week time with him split up into smaller chunks. I'd find two weeks really long too - and no reason for it if he's not taking him away.

And yes completely reasonable to ask if he can stay with you in the daytime if you're not working and he'd otherwise be farmed out - though your ex may think that it's nice for him to spend some time with grandparents.

What about suggesting your ex has some extra weekends/all weekends over the summer instead of the two week block if he's working and you're not? That way you can do things with DS in the week and he'll get more time with his dad at weekends when he's not working.