Does anyone else not go on holiday

nicky_s_2

Sorry if this is the wrong section of the forum, but as the title says, does anyone not go on holiday. I have ten year old twins who are going to secondary school in September, and do not want to take them out of school for a holiday during termtime ( we did occasionally when they were a lot younger). We cannot afford the prices for the school hols, but feel incredibly guilty that they probably will not get the annual holiday that we got as kids. All their friends parents are a lot richer and take they kids away probably 4 times a year. I feel they are missing out.

Nicky

midnightraven3

do you take them out on days out during holidays?
so you spend time with them?
thats worth more than any holiday

even if money is tight, you can do so much for very little
what do these parents sacrifice in order to take them away like that?

and can they not content themselves better? surely not all these holidays are educational trips and more a needed break as the parents have burned out working all hours to pay for said holiday

kids need time more than trips

we used to go away, but found a change in lifestyle was better, one we can maintain all year rather than those weeks away,

Bennifred

Please don't feel guilty - there are LOTS of families who don't go away on holiday every year. You probably don't hear about those, though, only the ones who do! It really is a luxury, not a need. We save up and have a holiday every four years or so - there are so many ways to enjoy just being with your children near to home, WHERE you are is a secondary consideration really.

Boodle

My eldest DD is 3. The last time me and DH went away was for our honeymoon in 2005. Now I think about, it didn't realise it was so long ago! When Dh has annual leave we spend the fortnight doing things as we would if we were visiting somewhere new, so check out the local tourist attractions, go for walks, go to the beach, go out for lunch, etc. When the girls are a bit older we might think about going somewhere. But I don't see why we "have" to go somewhere every single year just because it's apparently the done-thing. We might be visiting family in the UK later this year for a weekend - we look at that as "going away" I suppose.

What's important to us is quality family time. Wherever we are. Perhaps the ppl who have 4 trips away a year manage that because they are working all the time so don't get to see much of their kids in between these trips? Just a thought I would rather my kids had me and their dad all year through, than just for a week somewhere on a tourist beach on the Med

nicky_s_2

Thank you for the reassurances. Nice to know we are not the only ones!:)

ubamother

We go away for weekends or half term based long weekends or short weeks for very little money by camping in a big group and hiring a campsite (with building) from a Guide group - dead cheap as long as you look after it and great fun with loads of kids. We meal plan and shop before we go and share the cost of the building and food etc. Each family brings an activity of some kind - sporty/crafty etc. and we often have a theme - it was American Indians at the last one. Going in a group saves a lot of money, worth checking out Scout/Guide/Youth sites that are bookable by outside groups.

Penelope_Penguin

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canidothis

My eldest is now 18 years old and in all that time we only ever afforded 4 holiday abroad - I guess if we had the money then we would have gone each year but that was never the case - but in my opinion my children have grown up into well rounded individuals and dont give the impression that going without holidays has had any adverse effect -time spent as a family is more important and that doesnt need to involve an expensive holiday

Blackpool_Saver

nope, staycations here

SailorSam

Can't remember the last one, years ago now.

weenickieS

My oldest dd is 6 this year and her first holiday was last year. I felt guilty esp when my friend used to rave on about her holidays.
We only managed to get away last year because my mum saved tokens in the paper for us and she paid. Now this year i have saved up tokens and hoping to have a cheap holiday this year too.
My last holiday was in 2000, it was my first time abroad and for my 18th.

Please dont feel guilty because you are not alone. And like someone says, just spending time with them is enough.