Would you go on holiday without your children

lozzy81 · 10 September 2014 at 8:27PM

YES!! every year we book a log cabin up north somewhere and spend a week as a family and then at some other point just me and my husband book somewhere child free!! my daughter is ten and has the same demanding tendencies... everything about the holiday has to be about her and what she wants.... well i have my own week to look forward to!

got to love granny :T

Lavendyr · 10 September 2014 at 8:41PM

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

However, throwing strops when she doesn't get her own way is not to be tolerated is it? She's 9, not 2 and can surely comprehend that you were genuinely ill and that her 'wants' cannot always come first. She'd been taken away on an all expenses paid holiday and done lots of activities during the week already. You're not doing her any favours by not letting her experience the occasional disappointment, especially when there was a valid reason.

This, totally. My initial thought on reading was that she's old enough to know that she's not the only person in the world and other people have needs and wants too.

Carmina-Piranha_2 · 10 September 2014 at 8:45PM

I haven't done yet, but I would if I felt the urge, and if my kids (well the 9 year old at least - the 18 year old can look after himself) were with somebody they were comfortable with and happy to go to. But only if we also had a family holiday with the kids so they didn't feel that they were missing out.

We sometimes have a holiday just me and the youngest, and my husband sometimes goes on his own or takes the teenager with him, or both kids. The only reason we haven't gone without the kids is because we act like kids anyhow, so we'd still be going to theme parks on holiday, we wouldn't be lying on a beach, so there's no reason not to take the kids. If we wanted to do something different to them then sure, why not?

bigheadxx · 10 September 2014 at 8:51PM

We have done it the last two years, the kids loved going to their nanas!

thorsoak · 10 September 2014 at 8:52PM

alias*alibi wrote: »

Last week me, DH and DD aged 9 went on holiday to Cornwall. We were blessed with beautiful weather and our site was on beautiful Hayle beach. Each day my DD would pester us to do something and throw a strop if we didn't. She did archery, fencing, aqua jets and kayaking on the site; we spent a day in Helston and the other days on the beach. Unfortunately I came down with flu the day before we were due to leave but still went to the beach for several hours and ended up being really quite poorly when we got back to the caravan. Anyway, because at the beginning of the week i mentioned going to the clubhouse on our last night she had it firmly planted in her head we were still going despite seeing how ill I was and pulling an almighty strop. In the end DH took her there for an hour or so. She is so unappreciative of things we do for her and ends up ruining the day with her strops. Even calling us the worst parents ever at times.

I love DD to bits, she has come on every holiday we've ever had (except my 40th trip to london to see a show); however me and DH have never been on holiday together. I'm desperate for a week away in the sun, lazing the days away next to the pool and me and DH popping out for a relaxed meal and drinks on our own. We hardly ever get out for an evening on our own as my parents live in the USA and his live 45 miles away and don't drive so we spend a lot of time with DD. I tried to book a holiday on our own a couple of years back but felt guilty then tried to justify the cost factoring in free child places and saying DD might as well go as it would cost the same etc. We never booked it and done a family trip in the UK instead.

Would you go away with your OH without the kids? Have you and how did your kids react?

I feel your pain! The "It's all about me" holiday ...times 4 (fortunately at least three years apart) - each child turned into a BRAT for one annual holiday - and I think it's part of growing up. But yes, we always managed to ship 'em off for a few days with doting grandparents :-) and we managed at least a weekend without them. One thing that we always did, when they reached the age of 10 (bearing in mind this was in the late 1970s) we would drop them off about a mile away from home, to see if they could get home before us :-D - and they never did! Gave us time to get home, get in, and BREATHE before all four were there again :-D

balletshoes · 10 September 2014 at 8:58PM

yes i would - i haven't yet, we take a friend with us on holidays with my DD, its great, much more relaxing because the kids have each other for company so you don't feel you need to entertain them all the time you're away with them.

But I am looking forward to the day when we are all happy for DD to stay home/with friends or relatives while we go on a relaxing holiday

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Shelldean · 10 September 2014 at 9:09PM

I never have, but having four kids close in age, they kept each other amused on the beach or in the pool etc etc.
However once the eldest reached 18, she stopped coming. But that was ok as we still had the three boys, aged 15,15 & 12 at that point.
My problem came this yr as the twins turned 18 late last yr, so last summer was their last holiday with us.
we just had the youngest 15 with us, and he definitely found it a strange holiday as he's never been on his own with us. It was much harder work even tho he is 15. I was very conscious that he had no one to muck around with in the pool etc.
So we did do things that catered for him, although we tried to make it interesting for us too, as after all it's our holiday too. OH like sea fishing, but DS has never been, so they did a short trip together while I mooched round the arcades and shops. Worked well.

So maybe taking a friend as company for your DD is the way forward, but there is no way I'd put up with strops, as it my holiday too.

alias*alibi · 10 September 2014 at 9:14PM

Thanks for all your replies. Whilst sat on the beach watching DD learning to body board and making friends I had a pang of guilt about her being an only child. I'm sure she wouldn't be so stroppy if she had a sibling to play with but alas she doesn't. She can be quite selfish; this year we've had a mini break to Blackpool, she's been to alton towers, a day down in burnham on sea, bowling, cinema and TGI Fridays, days out walking the dog and kite flying plus Cornwall. She craves attention and ultimately looks to me and her dad for it.

If we had a holiday without her I'm sure DH's parents would have her but she hates staying there. 1. Because her nan goes to bed at 7pm and gets up at 2am (no joke). 2. Grandad takes her out but nan doesn't step outside the house. 3. They are confined to that area as neither grandparents drive so limited stuff to do. She already pulled her face when I mentioned it whining 'I hate staying there' and calling us bullies for even considering it. We at one point were just going to save up for 2 years and go to disney world the summer after her leaving juniors but not sure that I can wait that long! I just know me and DH desperately need a holiday together, on our own! We would have a short break again in the UK for all if us too.