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Original poster

Can't help thinking that a holiday in a remote French cottage with a six year old, a three year old and a 2 month old baby isn't going to be much fun.

82 replies

Enid · 09/01/2006 11:10

dh is determined to go to France as usual this summer when our new baby will be 2 months old and hopefully breastfed.

the cottage is very remote, with no tv or dvd. I am dreading it. The girls got a bit bored last year, and how on earth do you spend the day on the beach with a 2 month old? I probably will have had very little sleep and this will continue on holiday. atm I can't help thinking it will just be like being at home except without any comforts or friends.

Can't bear to say I don't want to go though as it would ruin holidays for everyone else.

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 09/01/2006 11:14

Does it have to be that particular cottage? Why don't you tell dh you can't bear the thought and though France would be fab you need him to find somewhere with more going on?
or could you take a laptop/dvd player with you?

codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:14

its is a very bad idea
nwo i love your dfh and normally agree iht him on all issues but here he is w rong

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:14

it is a friends and we get it for nothing scummy

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codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:15

we binned otu holiday when ds3 was tiny it was that really hot summer anyway

coudlnt bear the idea of broken nights elsewehre

why not just do a week in e ngland and then go away in october

mummytosteven · 09/01/2006 11:15

is DH determined it has to be exactly the same place? i.e. is there no scope for negotiation to somewhere a bit more exciting in France? The DVD thing is easy enough to sort out - Portable DVD players are dead cheap these days.

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:15

dh says this or nothing

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Feistybird · 09/01/2006 11:16

Wouldn't fancy it with my 2. You will need to be up and out every day to entertain them...is it booked yet?

Feistybird · 09/01/2006 11:17

why is he so dead set on this one? (and why don't you have any say?)

codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:17

so tell heim you arent oging
how odd

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:17

no feisty

it is a friends, we have it every summer and they are expecting us to have it

but easy to cancel

my best friend says ah but it wont be like being at home as dh will be with you to help

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serenity · 09/01/2006 11:17

By all accounts it will only ruin the holiday for your Dh, not you or your DDs! Tell him you don't want to go this year, he's not going to know if you don't is he? I'm sorry but he's outnumbered on this, go somewhere else - how about a not-so-remote fully equipped french cottage?

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:17

but part of me really wants a holiday!

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Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:18

it will be shite won't it

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serenity · 09/01/2006 11:18

Xposted with all the posts rendering mine useless

nutcracker · 09/01/2006 11:19

TBH I think any holiday with a 2mth old is going to pretty unappealing, much to much messing about i think.

I would give it a miss that year and have a few days out instead.

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:19

no not useless serenity

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sansouci · 09/01/2006 11:19

Could you get an au pair? Or maybe find a student who gets on well with children & would be up for coming along for a bit of a holiday & some extra cash? Where in France will you be? Maybe a friend or 2 could come visit for a few days? It doesn't sound like much fun for you as you'll have to do the same things in a "reduced" and strange environment without the comforts of home & friends. I'd be worried, too. Good for you to be considering this now so you have a reasonable chance of finding a solution.

bossykate · 09/01/2006 11:19

hi enid

we went on holiday to the seaside last year when dd was 5wks and ds was 3. this was in the UK, though, at a hotel and not particularly remote.

i would say dh and ds had a good time. for me it was like being at home - but we did have the chores taken care of because it was a hotel.

i spent a lot of time b/feeding as you would imagine. we managed by dividing the days into slots e.g. when i was feeding the baby, dh would take ds down to the beach, when she was having a sleep, i would take ds to the playground or swimming.

tbh, i don't think you will have much fun unless your dh steps up to do a lot more of the cooking, chores and childcare than i gather (from your posts) than he normally does at home.

another option might be for you to go with another family - at least some of the domestics will be shared and you and the kids will have some company.

or could you change your plans and go to a hotel? at least cooking and cleaning will be taken care of then.

Feistybird · 09/01/2006 11:19

Is it a case of you can afford this or nothing? If so, then I'd take it, but it will require a lot of planning effort up front to organise trips out etc...

codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:19

deffo

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:20

ok

so I ask dh to take 2 weeks off and we just stay here during the summer

we live in dorset ffs, so its not like we are stuck in some smoky city

also dh and I are planning long weekend away in sept anyway for my 40th

days out for girls here, moors valley etc

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codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:21

yes
but only let dh have a week off

bossykate · 09/01/2006 11:21

many posts while i was writing that.

codthemod · 09/01/2006 11:22

yes a week in a hotel in adjoinign rooms
very good idea

Original poster
Enid · 09/01/2006 11:22

bk a hotel would be fine

also yours sounds near the sea

our cottage is 25 min drive from sea.

dh suggested he take girls to beach and I stay behind and 'rest' at cottage. This cottage is on a farm in the middle of nowhere. I would have no car. Sounds bonkers to me.

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