I hate travelling now, especially with my family

[Anonymous]

Why can't you just do rollercoasters while they hang out at the pool?
I mean look at your post, you think it is a waste of time doing the things all your kids like doing???

[Anonymous]

Find a FWB who shares your likes, and spend a weekend with him every 6 weeks or so. Let your hubby watch the insolent brats.

[Anonymous]

I totally get it - we have “different” styles sometimes too. But maybe you could try to compromise and do things like play the games your kids and DH like, or go on a beach trip with a good spirit even though it’s not your thing. I’m guessing if you showed some enthusiasm and excitement for the things they like to do, they might be willing to do some of the things you like as well. I’m not saying that you have a poor attitude about it, but it could be coming off that way to them. Just try it and see.

The solo vacation/gf trip is also a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Still waiting to see how old OP's kids are.

One of my kids just does not like travel and hasn't since he was in early elementary school. He's not a mingler, he isn't interested in any of the things people do on vacations except go to amusement parks, and that's not something we're going to do every day of vacation. He'll go along with us and do one activity a day with us, but he's doing it for our sake. He'd rather be home.

I now do my sort of vacation with a friend or two, and my spouse and I take each of the other kids on one-on-one vacations where the kid gets to set the agenda, so people who like to travel can travel. But I've stopped insisting that people have my kind of fun.

[Anonymous]

What about planning a two-family vacation where the other family has some members who like the stuff that you like? The two families can split up during the day according to activities and gather for a meal/movie/game together in the evening? Opting out of family trips entirely seems unrealistic, but I bet you can find a way to make it a lot more fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about planning a two-family vacation where the other family has some members who like the stuff that you like? The two families can split up during the day according to activities and gather for a meal/movie/game together in the evening? Opting out of family trips entirely seems unrealistic, but I bet you can find a way to make it a lot more fun.

Great suggestion, but OP seems like she just likes to whine about the status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you just do rollercoasters while they hang out at the pool?
I mean look at your post, you think it is a waste of time doing the things all your kids like doing???

+1, I commented up thread about not giving up family vacations. OP seemed a little self centered to me. Everyone else is having fun and she's in the corner pouting. Yes the husband and kids could be more gracious, but short of that she needs to join the fun. She will be upset in XYZ year when she has all the time in the world to go on the coasters but the kids are grown living their own lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dream about a vacation all alone.

💯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not related to the pandemic or the recent travel nightmares. Over the last 3-4 years I realize I don’t want to travel, and I especially hate traveling with my family. We’ve got two kids and my husband and kids never want to do the same things I want. They all 3 like the same things so we usually default to that. We’ll do an occasional thing I want, but they complain throughout and want to cut it short so it isn’t enjoyable. They also want to stop and snack all the time, then don’t want to sit for a real meal, which I prefer than constant snacking. I find myself either going along with their stuff or we spend time apart with me doing my thing (e.g., eating alone in a restaurant) and then meeting up together, but they tend to complain if I’m not with them and it feels pointless. Even if we all want to go to the same place, we don’t like the same things! We all like amusement parks, but they like playing the games (I don’t like any of those games) and I like riding the roller coasters and rides, which none of them like. So we either split up or I wait while they play and they wait while I ride alone. It feels like such a waste of money to me. I hate the beach, they love the beach. I like walking through new cities to explore or taking tours, they like hanging at the hotel pool, etc.
My husband just can’t stand the idea that we spend part of our vacation apart because it’s “family vacation.”

And separate from that, what I really miss is just being home alone. I just want to putter around my house without feeding or driving anyone and get through a couple of home projects without any demands on my time and attention.

We are about to plan our next vacation and I’m dreading it.

Hugs, OP. I am in the same boat. I hate traveling with my family; they are into different things, God forbid you offer them to see a museum or go to the theatre. We have our annual vacation coming up in a week and I am secretly wishing I fall sick. I normally like spending time with them, just not 24/7.