We went on a cruise last month, and my mother came as well. It had been her idea to come with us, she basically told us she was going to book the same one as us (rather than asking if we minded), and she stuck with us for most of the time. The 2 or 3 times we did do something alone, I felt quite guilty, as much my own invention as her saying anything, I'll admit.
After we've come home, my mother keeps saying how much she enjoyed it. She makes no secret of the fact that she'd like to do it again.
Dh feels rather differently however. I said we probably wouldn't be going again for a couple of years anyway (we normally do 'big' holidays occasionally, rather than an ordinary one every year).
Anyway next year will be our 15th wedding anniversary, and dh wanted to do something special for it. So he's persuaded me to book a 3 week cruise (it's fantastic), but said I mustn't tell my mum, at least not yet.
Obviously she'll have to know eventually. But how, and when, do I break it to her?
Right now I'm praying that her friend asks her to go with her (they have done that before, but friend kept crying off for this year, hence mum decided to come with us), but if that doesn't happen, I feel a major guilt trip - offence session coming on.
Any ideas, other than my idea of telling her that dh booked it as a surprise for me, so that it's him she hates?