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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

DD does not want to come on another caravan holiday next summer

220 replies

Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 17:20

Have been discussing family holidays over dinner today and my DD going on 15 said "if it's another caravan holiday to Mabel thorpe I'm not coming" she stated how much she hates it and I said well in that case you will have to stay with grandparents...she then said "I would be happy staying at home and just have a few friends over and I said no and tbh she was really rude and back chatting me while I said calmly what my reasons were. I think she should come on the holiday, however I don't want her spoiling it with moodiness if she doesn't want to be there so I will be asking grandparents to have her it would only be for the week. I'm not leaving a 15 year old home alone for a week. Has anyone else left a teenager with a relative/ grandparents while on holiday when they don't want to go?

OP posts:
WTHJH · 13/12/2025 17:24

I would imagine millions of parents have faced this situation!

And if I were you, I’d prepare to arrange for her grandparents to move into your house for the week - if she says she won’t go to stay with them.

AlastheDaffodils · 13/12/2025 17:24

Is there any possibility of doing a different kind of holiday this year?

Original poster
Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 17:27

AlastheDaffodils · 13/12/2025 17:24

Is there any possibility of doing a different kind of holiday this year?

We are doing a log cabin in Wales the end of August but that's quite a drive and she's happy to go to that one! It's just the end of may/June one she doesn't want to come to

OP posts:
gogomomo2 · 13/12/2025 17:29

Whilst often i would side with the parent and say just make them come, she has a point, mablethorpe is horrible, been twice and never will return, far better to stay at home and spend money on day trips. Could you look at going somewhere more interesting to a teen? I don’t mean abroad, plenty of nicer places in the uk (bucket and spade holidays like mablethorpe etc are fine for little ones, just nothing for older people)

Minjou · 13/12/2025 17:30

Sorry OP, but I can't imagine why she would want to spend a week in a caravan in Mablethorpe! I know I wouldn't.

FuzzyWolf · 13/12/2025 17:30

Shouldn’t family holidays involve input from everyone to ensure they are all happy with the destination and accommodation?

bitterexwife · 13/12/2025 17:30

Do you really want to inflict a moody teen on your parents for that week?
Agreed though, grandparents will have to stay at yours as she may refuse.
My sister at that age refused to stay with our dad when Mum and step dad on holiday. He tried so hard daily but she just wouldn’t, so stayed with me. It was fine, she went to school etc of her own accord, and I think dad just took us out for meals and we ate frozen food. I was 17.

Original poster
Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 17:31

That's another thing I forgot to mention I do have little ones that's why I thought its easy a quick drive, beach and supermarket very local

OP posts:
theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 13/12/2025 17:33

At 15 family holidays can be challenging and you cannot get an privacy in a caravan

She's old enough to have preferences at 15 so if her grandparents can have her, great

As long as she's sensible by 16 she could stay home alone

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 13/12/2025 17:35

bitterexwife · 13/12/2025 17:30

Do you really want to inflict a moody teen on your parents for that week?
Agreed though, grandparents will have to stay at yours as she may refuse.
My sister at that age refused to stay with our dad when Mum and step dad on holiday. He tried so hard daily but she just wouldn’t, so stayed with me. It was fine, she went to school etc of her own accord, and I think dad just took us out for meals and we ate frozen food. I was 17.

Edited

She'll probably be a lot less moody if she doesn't have to stay in a caravan with toddlers

(Sorry OP, I know holidays are expensive and you gotta go with what you can do, but a lot of 15 year olds would hate that)

ACynicalDad · 13/12/2025 17:36

#teamdaughter

Crumptes · 13/12/2025 17:36

How many times have you done Mablethorpe? If more than once, I can see that that (coupled with staying in a caravan) would really not be appealing to a teenager.

Mt563 · 13/12/2025 17:37

Can you do a cheap holiday somewhere else? Even just a different place in a caravan might be more appealing. I know as an adult I don't like to visit the same place every year. That's fine if it's your thing but if you want her to come, you may need to compromise

StopGo · 13/12/2025 17:37

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 13/12/2025 17:33

At 15 family holidays can be challenging and you cannot get an privacy in a caravan

She's old enough to have preferences at 15 so if her grandparents can have her, great

As long as she's sensible by 16 she could stay home alone

She's still only 14

Dominoeffecter · 13/12/2025 17:38

I’m with your daughter

Original poster
Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 17:39

Crumptes · 13/12/2025 17:36

How many times have you done Mablethorpe? If more than once, I can see that that (coupled with staying in a caravan) would really not be appealing to a teenager.

We've gone a fair few times over the years we keep going back to the same campsite. I can see a lot of people perspectives now and I'm probably going to have to ask the grandparents

OP posts:
Whereismyfleeceblanket · 13/12/2025 17:40

Let her take a friend? Change the location though!!
We left dd 15 at home with an older sibling once.
She brought her bf this year at 18.
Booked 2 caravans as there was 9 of us!

sleepyjessie · 13/12/2025 17:41

Yeah I see her point.

To be honest I’d see if she could stay with a friend.

HalloweenVibe · 13/12/2025 17:41

I can’t imagine anything worse than caravan and a nothing-to-do seaside town for a teen. I think my teen daughters would rather stay at home too. Holidays are for everyone. Not just young children.

Sirzy · 13/12/2025 17:42

Why not listen to her? Talk to her about the budget and what is needed for the younger children and come up with a compromise?

it doesn’t need to be the same place year in year out!

LlynTegid · 13/12/2025 17:43

I would have said the same thing at 15, even though we never went on caravan holidays. I was fortunate to have loving grandmothers and a holiday at each of theirs with or without parents is something I look back on with fond memories.

Yes have your DD stay with grandparents.

Saucery · 13/12/2025 17:43

I was your DD (many years ago!) and yes, I stayed with my grandparents at 15, felt supremely aggrieved by it, wished I’d gone on the caravan holiday after all.
She’ll get over it Grin

Sidebeforeself · 13/12/2025 17:44

Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 17:39

We've gone a fair few times over the years we keep going back to the same campsite. I can see a lot of people perspectives now and I'm probably going to have to ask the grandparents

Show quote history

I know your 15 year old shouldn’t dictate what the whole family does but I do see her point. What’s fun about this holiday from her perspective? You are thinking about ease, the younger kids etc but she has to get something out of it too

Screamingabdabz · 13/12/2025 17:45

Can you not see her pov at all? How absolutely dreary for a 15 year old!

Dearg · 13/12/2025 17:46

Oh dear god, the memories of family holidays as a teenager, in Britain, in the rain, in a caravan. Everything damp, no privacy, just utterly miserable.

I am also #teamdaughter

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