Teenagers on holiday

[swingofthings]

Is it only my kids who turn into ungreatful spoilt brats on holiday? My two are normally good kids and no trouble but come out time abroad on lovely trips (that they get very excited about) and they turn into the teenagers from hell. So disheartening when it takes saving all my pennies all year to afford it and all they seem to want to do is watch football they could see at home, seem blaze about most of it and treat me like in dirt then tell me I'm the problem so I end up hidding from them. I see parents with their happy teenagers and I just wonder where I've gone wrong!

I've just taken my two away and am sick of the pair of them.
I think it's the undiluted nature of holidays. We've all had the time we wouldn't usually have to get on each other's nerves.
That said, if you saw a quick snapshot they may look really happy and well behaved, it's just me who's frazzled.
I think holidays bring high expectations too, like Christmas and it's just real life but somewhere different.

Not just teenagers. My 12 and 8 year olds have reduced me to tears this afternoon and I'm hiding in my hotel bathroom whilst the sun is shining outside. I also have my MIL to contend with...

I never took mine after they were 15.

Hmm, I am new to teens. But the last few holidays (UK) we have miraculously managed to find cheap options where they had seperate bedrooms and/or there was some kind of extra living space. I also find they are more up for things later in the day. Any chance you can go somewhere you can please youself for part of the day and then go out together in small doses. I did make them cook a meal each though, and do a share of chores.

The last time we took ours on holiday we booked separate rooms which was fantastic for everyone. Well worth it

It's a pain... we all have different ideas what a great holiday means.

The teens definitely want to lounge around in a bedroom like environment all day on their phones, only 1/3 days going anywhere, doing anything.

I want to climb mountains all day long, every day.

My little kid wants a playground or swimming, but not daily.

We usually find some cross over activities & timetabling. If my teens only lounge in the holiday let bedroom 9/10 waking hours, I can live with that.

Thanks everyone makesme feel better to share this with others!

The main issue is not as much the getting on each other's nerves but the attitude that comes out of them treating me like I smell! I had my 14yo asking me to 'move' on a tone that he would dare use at home and then got all snappy when I picked him up on it.

Then they seem to enjoy making fun of me or contradicting all I say. It's all banter which I can take to some extent if balanced with some nice comments there and then but they've been none. When I ask them if they want to do a particular activity their resp9nse is not now then come back telling me they've done it and how much fun it was! I feel that they rule the roost and I'm expected to go with the flow or I get attitude back. What gets me is they are not like this at home.

Anyway I've learned my lesson now and I regale from the fact that not taking them next year I'll be able to afford 3 holidays for myself! Next time I go with them they'll be paying for it themselves!

My eldest had a tone of "spoilt brat" about him on holiday recently. I dealt with this by flicking the Vs behind his back. Made me feel a lot better.