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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:
ChikinLikin · 13/12/2025 23:05

I met a gorgeous lad on the beach at Mablethorpe in 1977. Best holiday ever. Tell your DD he might have a grandson.
But seriously, let her stay with your parents or a friend for the week. You'll still have the Wales holiday with her to look forward to. Happy days.

Tulipsriver · 13/12/2025 23:08

Charlotte350 · 13/12/2025 18:45

It's our towing caravan we take. The little ones from age 10, 6, and my youngest 2

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I don't understand why you are prioritising your younger children to this extent instead of finding a trip that works for all the family.

Sitting on a quiet beach all day or visiting a run down pier is unlikely to appeal to many teenagers but there are lots of places in the UK that would have something for everyone to do.

autumnskyes · 13/12/2025 23:10

Once I was that age I had no interest in family holidays. I wanted to spend my free time hanging out with friends and earning money at my part time job, not taking part in organized 'fun' with my parents and younger siblings.

I have two teens now, it is probably easier without a big spread of ages, but I discuss with them and we do stuff they also want to do. Ie last year we went on holiday to a town my oldest son wanted to go because his best friend was going to be there. It wasn't somewhere I would have thought of going, but we all loved it.

Nantescalling · 13/12/2025 23:11

AlastheDaffodils · 13/12/2025 17:24

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

If they lose that battle to a 15 yr old, what will she be like at30 ?

Livpool · 13/12/2025 23:11

A touring caravan?! Sorry OP, as an adult I am
happy to stay in a static caravan, but a touring one would be my idea of hell. In a touring one she’ll have NO personal space. Let her stay with grandparents.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 13/12/2025 23:14

Personally, I’d prefer one holiday somewhere new and in southern Europe or Turkey than two holidays in the UK. I’m sure you’d even save money.

vanillalattes · 13/12/2025 23:16

Nantescalling · 13/12/2025 23:11

If they lose that battle to a 15 yr old, what will she be like at30 ?

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It’s not “losing a battle” it’s accommodating all their children instead of just the little ones.

OhDear111 · 13/12/2025 23:26

We did holidays dc we’re interested in. Not a variety of ages in my family but surely parents need to find something for everyone? Is there not a good school trip for DD?

WaneyEdge · 13/12/2025 23:30

Nantescalling · 13/12/2025 23:11

If they lose that battle to a 15 yr old, what will she be like at30 ?

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I doubt she’ll still be going on holiday with OP at 30!

RampantIvy · 13/12/2025 23:31

JemimaTiggywinkles · 13/12/2025 22:47

The OP said they’re going a log cabin in August. Some teens honestly don’t know they’re born. A holiday (anywhere, any time) is a luxury many children don’t get to experience. “this holiday isn’t good enough” gets short shrift from me. But I suppose I’ve got little tolerance for brattish behaviour.

I don't think it is being brattish to not want to stay in a caravan with three other much younger children and two adults at 15.

She won't get any privacy. The noise will be horrendous and, although I have never been to Mablethorpe, it doesn't sound like it offers much for teenagers.

When women decide to have children with large age gaps they need to take the needs of all family members into account when spending time together in holiday accommodation where space is at a premium.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 13/12/2025 23:35

RampantIvy · 13/12/2025 23:31

I don't think it is being brattish to not want to stay in a caravan with three other much younger children and two adults at 15.

She won't get any privacy. The noise will be horrendous and, although I have never been to Mablethorpe, it doesn't sound like it offers much for teenagers.

When women decide to have children with large age gaps they need to take the needs of all family members into account when spending time together in holiday accommodation where space is at a premium.

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I agree with you. The any holiday is a luxury is just like the there are children starving to death right now so clear your plate and other “be grateful for this shit sandwich” type parental comments.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 13/12/2025 23:45

RampantIvy · 13/12/2025 23:31

I don't think it is being brattish to not want to stay in a caravan with three other much younger children and two adults at 15.

She won't get any privacy. The noise will be horrendous and, although I have never been to Mablethorpe, it doesn't sound like it offers much for teenagers.

When women decide to have children with large age gaps they need to take the needs of all family members into account when spending time together in holiday accommodation where space is at a premium.

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So she doesn’t have to go. Should the rest of the family cancel too? If the choice is caravan vs no holiday some people will choose no holiday. That’s completely fine. Others will choose the caravan. Also completely fine. Brattish is refusing the holiday AND refusing the alternative (staying in the care of other family members). Preventing your family from going on holiday cos you don’t want to go is very selfish.

pforpig · 13/12/2025 23:49

Can I be honest? In secondary school I found it embarrassing to say I went on a caravan holiday when my friends were going abroad. I wouldn’t even say I went on holiday.

Redflagsabounded · 14/12/2025 00:04

I have always been very grateful for everything my parents did for me, including our very few holidays. I did not turn into a brat for life because I did not enjoy 1 holiday. I have never forgotten the utterly grim boredom of a week at a quiet seaside with younger relatives when I was 14. All day 'playing' with the little kids and their buckets and spades. It was miserable, and so was I. It's painfully bad for teens.

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 14/12/2025 00:12

cooksbrandedclock · 13/12/2025 21:05

Could she take a friend to stay in the tent annexe with her? At least they would be able to do teenagery things together.

That’s what I was thinking. Is it on a site with any activities, swimming pool, or a fair nearby?

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 14/12/2025 00:13

pforpig · 13/12/2025 23:49

Can I be honest? In secondary school I found it embarrassing to say I went on a caravan holiday when my friends were going abroad. I wouldn’t even say I went on holiday.

Presumably as an adult, you now realise that every family can’t afford to go abroad.

Franjipanl8r · 14/12/2025 00:19

pforpig · 13/12/2025 23:49

Can I be honest? In secondary school I found it embarrassing to say I went on a caravan holiday when my friends were going abroad. I wouldn’t even say I went on holiday.

Depends who the DD’s friends are. I never felt embarrassed to say we were going caravanning or staying in hostels. My friends were only going camping or doing nothing at all! I can’t remember any of my friends going on loads of holidays abroad as a teen.

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 14/12/2025 00:20

JemimaTiggywinkles · 13/12/2025 22:49

£400 for a family of 6 in school holidays?! On astounded they’ve found anything tbh

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They have their own caravan so they would only be paying site fees. I’m surprised it’s that much but I’ve no experience of this kind of holiday.

Franjipanl8r · 14/12/2025 00:24

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 13/12/2025 23:14

Personally, I’d prefer one holiday somewhere new and in southern Europe or Turkey than two holidays in the UK. I’m sure you’d even save money.

Going abroad in the school holidays with a family of 6 will be eyewateringly expensive compared to a couple of caravan holidays in the UK where they own their own caravan.

Moveoverdarlin · 14/12/2025 00:24

I hated caravan holidays as a teenager. Despised them, and I didn’t have younger siblings to contend with.

She’s too young to leave alone so you either sack of the caravan holidays or leave her with GP.

Franjipanl8r · 14/12/2025 00:27

Some of the comments on this thread are just rude and snobby! The OP isn’t asking for a critique of the type of holiday she can afford, she’s just asking for advice about her teen who doesn’t want to go.

I loved caravan and hostel holidays as a teen, but would have hated hanging out with very young siblings. I can see why the teen DD doesn’t want to go.

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 14/12/2025 00:28

shiningcuckoo · 13/12/2025 22:37

My parents owned an ancient static in manlethorpe when I was a teen. I loathed that fecking caravan and refused to go - they’d go every other weekend. I was so difficult about it that they left me at home in the end. They’d ring me from the camp telephone box at 11 every night to make sure I was in. I played the long game and lulled them into a false sense of security by being as good as gold … at first. My weekends got increasingly wild. Those were the days!

This isn’t really going to convince the OP to let her DD stay at home! 🤣

Cat1504 · 14/12/2025 00:30

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

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Mablethorpe is grim…I don’t blame her for wanting to stay home….can’t you go elsewhere

Littlebuddh · 14/12/2025 00:30

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.

Me either or a cabin in wales im 40 and i can feel the depression setting in just thinking about both get aways, id be so bloody miserable and bored.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 14/12/2025 00:32

Franjipanl8r · 14/12/2025 00:24

Going abroad in the school holidays with a family of 6 will be eyewateringly expensive compared to a couple of caravan holidays in the UK where they own their own caravan.

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You must have missed the log cabin in Wales in August which combined with a second caravan holiday in May/June often costs more than 1 holiday abroad.

All the holidays are during the school holidays, UK holidays price gouge as much as the abroad ones do.

Better to have 1 nice holiday somewhere new than to have 2 holidays in the UK every year. It’s like Groundhog Day. Boring.