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Original poster

Holiday aggro

81 replies

ihavenowords30 · 15/05/2021 22:45

So for lots of reasons myself and my partner have had a absolutely horrid 18 months and decided that we are booking a holiday abroad next may, now there is myself DP and out 3 year old. We extended the invite to my partners 3 kids. His 2 boys (14 & 18) straight away said no they don't like the heat and no gaming / wifi etc. They asked if we would still be doing a uk air bnb type break down south next summer and we said yes so they were happy and ticked off the list.

SD 14 However was very excited and 100% wants to go so we agreed we would go in may half term so she could come.

We approached this with her mum today and was told flat out no she wasn't going on holiday in may as she starts exams in June so she has to revise due to missing school... now she's very bright and was doing well e learning so no concerns about achieving results. SD is gutted.

We have 2 family weddings and other money commitments through July / august so no chance of taking the week then either, and as I mentioned we are in need of a break so not holding out till Oct 2022.

I posted another thread recently about the ex and her having issues with money / debts so we thought she would Jump at the chance for the kids holidays being sorted by us next year but no...

Anyway we've said to think about it until next weekend the we are booking either in the half term with SD or out of half term just the 3 of us for this one.

Any one had this before and managed to resolve?

OP posts:
Original poster
ihavenowords30 · 15/05/2021 22:46

Sorry SD 15 not 14

OP posts:
SnarkyBag · 15/05/2021 23:00

She won’t be doing exam right up until the end of the school year why don’t you find out when she finishes and go after her exams before the rest finish for the holidays. Will be cheaper than May half term so win win really

timedoesntalwaysheal · 15/05/2021 23:02

I agree with the mum, the SD will be studying and preparing for her GCSE's.

Aprilwasverywet · 15/05/2021 23:05

When we wanted to take dsd with us apparently it wasn't fair she should be having a good time without her dm there to share in it!!
We never took her away.

She still complained we took my dc though...

TreeDice · 15/05/2021 23:05

Study comes first, especially given how much time the kids have missed in the last two academic years.

If she cant come and that really is the only date you can go, then that's that as far as I can see?

Maybe do another trip the year after when her exams are (maybe) behind her?

SnarkyBag · 15/05/2021 23:07

It was also a bit shit to get her excited about the prospect of a holiday without consulting her mum about the timing of things especially if your non negotiable about going in the May half term

Original poster
ihavenowords30 · 15/05/2021 23:09

. I do understand about GCSEsbut surely after the awful year some revision abroad chilled out can't be a bad thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
ihavenowords30 · 15/05/2021 23:10

@SnarkyBag I did point this out to DH, I didn't want her told till after but he got excited and bulldozed I'm so yes that's annoying.

I know revision is only part the problem and it's deeper than that. She did accuse us of only inviting SD as a babysitter for our toddler 😂

OP posts:
SnarkyBag · 15/05/2021 23:11

@ihavenowords30

. I do understand about GCSEsbut surely after the awful year some revision abroad chilled out can't be a bad thing.
Oh come on OP no 15 year old is going to revise properly when abroad 🙄.
mummabear74 · 15/05/2021 23:15

The exams will be finished by mid/end June. Much better to go then as it'll be cheaper for you than half term and it'll be a lovely holiday for SD to look forward to after her exams. Unless you or your partner work in education I can't see why you'd want to go away in half-term.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 15/05/2021 23:16

Absolutely no way would a GSCE year child of mine be going away in May half term.

It's crucial revision time.

And possibly even more crucial this year because of the sub-optimal academic 2 years this cohort have endured.

It's jaw dropping that you'd even consider itShock

TheJackieWeaver · 15/05/2021 23:17

You want to take her abroad during the may half term of her GCSE year? Fuck no.

beefest · 15/05/2021 23:19

I do agree that it's not a great time to be taking her away but as pp have said, she'll be finished with her exams by mid June (google it as dates should be out) go away then and it'll be cheaper that may half term. If her DM still says no then there's not much you can do. Please be mindful of her prom date though

Docsmix · 15/05/2021 23:23

Terrible time to take a holiday if she's doing her GCSEs. I agree with her mum.

mumsnoangel · 15/05/2021 23:27

May half term normally falls half way through GCSEs. A holiday would be a big mistake

MrsKeats · 15/05/2021 23:29

The mum is right and surely you should have checked with her first anyway?

EnoughnowIthink · 15/05/2021 23:30

No. You’re wrong with this one. She needs to be at home, revising. If year 11, her exams will have started in May anyway.

KarensChoppyBob · 15/05/2021 23:39

With the mum on this one. GCSEs take precedence.

idontlikealdi · 15/05/2021 23:39

I agree with the mum too. Why take her on holiday to revise?

SandyY2K · 15/05/2021 23:53

I'm surprised your DP didn't realise it was her GCSE year before asking her, as that would be my first thought as a parent.

I wouldn't have gone on holiday on may half term with my DC and actually they wouldn't either.

now she's very bright and was doing well e learning so no concerns about achieving results.

My DD is very bright too and at her time was predicted 9A*. I still wouldn't do a May half term holiday and DD wouldn't have wanted a holiday then either.

She did accuse us of only inviting SD as a babysitter for our toddler

What's the basis of this accusation? How often if at all have you ever left SD to babysit?

Twobigsapphires · 16/05/2021 00:33

Most schools run intensive GCSE revision in May half term for their year 11s. No way would I have taken mine away in this week. Sorry op but it’s a bit of a no brainer.

excelledyourself · 16/05/2021 00:41

The mum is completely right on this. And the school would surely having something to say.

Magda72 · 16/05/2021 00:43

I also would not take a child away so close to state exams. Said child may think it's a great idea now but if my 3 are anything to go by she will be feeling the pressure by May & it won't be the most relaxing holiday for any of you.
Holding out until her exams are over seems like a much better option to me.

ThatIsMyPotato · 16/05/2021 06:27

If that's the only date you can do then she needs to stay back and revise. She only gets one (or maybe resits) shot at this. If you in the UK and are going abroad there is also the risk of having to quarantine etc at short notice.

Could you arrange to go for a nice day out with her after her exams?

ThatIsMyPotato · 16/05/2021 06:29

SD 14 However was very excited and 100% wants to go so we agreed we would go in may half term so she could come. I think before you agreed this you should have looked at her exam dates

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