Short term live in childcare for teen who doesn't want to come on holiday?

[whereiscaroline]

I am desperate for a holiday. DS is 15 and doesn't want to go on holiday with us. Fair enough. We don't have any family that could come and stay for a week to look after him whilst we go away.

Has anyone used a short term au pair type person for this type of situation? If so, any idea where I could look to find something suitable?

You say there is no one who can come and stay with him but do you have any family that you could send him to stay with? Aunts/uncles/grandparents? If that's an option, I'd offer him the choice - holiday with you and he behaves civilly or he can go and help his granny in the garden/aunt with younger cousins or whatever for a week. Barring that, residential camp.

When I was a truculent teen I used to go to stay with my grandmothers or aunt. Once I had school exams when my parents went away so they billeted me with their cleaner who lived very close to my school, she had a very hunky son a bit older than me, so I certainly enjoyed that break more than a family holiday.

Yes! I wouldn't leave my kids alone in a different city/country at that age! 🤷🏻‍♀️ especially not even with family

That’s a recipe for a shit holiday if ever I read one!

Fair enough it’s really not he is a child, he goes on holiday.

A live-in carer would do it - especially one between jobs. Expect to pay £900 for the week.

Why doesn't he want to go? I can't imagine why a week at home being babysat by a stranger would be better than a holiday?

What sort of holiday is it?

At 15 they'd be coming on the family holiday. They're too young to be left for a week.

If they just wanted to stay at the holiday accommodation rather than going out and about, so be it, but they would be on the holiday.

At 15,he is going in holiday.

Can he sofa surf over the week at mates’ houses, if he really doesn’t want to go. Remind him that this might be his last free holiday, that might get him to change his mind

I don't think this is shifting he gets a day in, at 15. Fair enough if there was a residential you could send him on our a willing relative to have him, but without that he's too young to leave at home, so he goes with you.

I remember being miserable on a family holiday at 15 because I wanted to see my boyfriend. If I'd been left at home on my own goodness knows what we'd have got up to! 😬

*something he gets a say in. Ffs.

Yes, there are nannies who look after children while parents are on holiday. It's called 'proxy parenting'.

Fees range from around £200 to £350 per 24 hours.

Ok... thanks for all opinions but I'm not asking for advice on whether he has to come. We've made that decision.

He doesn't want to, therefore I'm not going to pay out a considerable sum of money to take him somewhere he doesn't want to be and will just sit on his phone in the room all day and be a total miserable git.

There are many, many stories on MN of teens ruining holidays with their sulky behaviour because they frankly don't want to be there.

We have already done a long haul holiday this year which catered to DS and was much more active.

The adults in the family would now like to have a few days somewhere sunny where we can laze in the sun and read books, without the teen who doesn't want to come. This has the added bonus of meaning we can go in school time. I was just looking for advice on whether there exists any suitable childcare for older children.

Enrol him in the Army

Super, this is exactly what I was after. Thank you!

🤣 seems like an extreme solution but I'll bear it in mind!

Only on mumsnet is someone happy to pay up to £350 per DAY to have their teen pandered to.

Honestly can't work out if it's tone deaf or I just live on another planet. £350 is a months shopping here.

If he'll be at school most of the time, can he not just stay home alone for the week?

I'd either say that or get him to invite a friend to stay.

You could have just googled. Or just simply asked the question without all the background if you didn’t want opinions. 🤣

Only on mumsnet people don't realize everyone has a different income and they can spend money on what they want if they can afford it.

I couldn't but I don't believe everyone needs to pretend to be poor to please someone else online, get a grip.

Yep.

Nice job for someone - what are the dates? I am DBS checked & experienced in raising a teenage boy who has turned out OK .

Why does he have a problem with a holiday where you laze around and read books? Can't he laze around and game or do something other than read books that he prefers?

Good God, talk about more money than sense 😳