Yay for your holiday LaDiDaDi. I hope all goes smoothly and you have a fab time and it helps your DH. Hopefully, it'll be the first of many holidays. I found a lot of our last minute, out of season bits on Ebay as even at the end of July, lots of stuff was out of stock ready for the Autumn switchover. Is there anything I might have that would help?
As for Bloods V Outsiders... Things started well, there were a few comments but nothing that I couldn't brush off and ignore. I even had a drunken SIL2 tell me one night that I was part of the "circle" (she actually called it that!!) more so than the BIL's
But then at lunch on the last full day, I got a full set of comments from both SILs and MIL and ended up in our room in tears.
DH had said that he fancied sitting in the air conditioned lounge with the children after lunch (he doesn't sunbathe, he hates it) so I said I might sit by the pool - cue SIL1 asking me how many books I had read (1 and a bit) and how many DH had read (he didn't even bring any) - very obviously commenting on time I had spent sunbathing when DH hadn't. She'd read a couple of books herself and her DH kept pointing out that he was only on page 100 and something of his 1 book so they were in the same situation but it was seemingly OK for her being a 'blood'. I was hardly lazing around all day either. Generally, I'd have a sit or a play in the pool with Alex when Catherine slept in the morning (for about half an hour) and maybe again after lunch when DH sat with the children inside when it ws very hot just after lunch (maybe an hour if Catherine was co-operating) and that's assuming we were at the villa and not out. Anyone would think I'd been leaving DH with both children while I sun worshipped for the whole holiday!! Catherine is still very clingy so generally, it was the only time I got not holding her all day. My arms were agony for the first week from carrying her so much.
The other standout barbed comment was from MIL. I asked DH while job he'd like, cleaning Catherine, who was covered in food after lunch, or cleaning the highchair. Doing both together would have been impossible as there was food on the floor too and Catherine wouldn't be put down so I only had one hand. He chose Highchair but his Mum piped up with "Say neither" meaning I should do both. Even he piped up at that one and said that he was capable of making his own decisions.
It's like they think I'm lazy because I didn't spend the whole holiday simultaneously looking after both children while washing and cleaning everything like some 1950's housewife so that DH could sit next to the pool sunbathing. I'm not sure it's even possible, never mind no fun at all and not what DH would want!!
He found me sobbing in our room and told me that he loved me and reassured me that he was perfectly happy with the amount of time he was spending looking after the children etc and that he thought I deserved to have that small amount of time everyday to chill out as it was my holiday too after all and not at all easy with 2 such small children. I still didn't feel comfortable sitting out with them all (they were all next to the pool obviously!) so we spent the last day hiding in the villa. Up until that point, I would probably have said yes to trying a family holiday again but there is absoluetly no way now. We've invited PILs to join us at Center Parcs in December and I'm dreading it now. My Mum and Brother are coming too then though so at least I'll have backup.
Sorry that's long but I needed a rant. I think I got so upset because it had all started so well and I actually felt really let down when they reverted to form. At least it's over now...