Anyone else's family not interested in vacationing together?

[Anonymous]

I wish I had a family who was interested in vacationing together. I hear about these summer family reunion trips to the beach and feel so envious. My parents live on the West Coast and I have suggested a variety of interesting trips to do together but they are not interested. However, they travel the world several times a year so they do travel, just not interested in traveling with us. When they visit us they just want to sit in the house and do nothing. So I thought vacationing together would be much better, but they are not interested. Anyone else wish their families would be interested in vacationing together? It would be so great for my kids to experience the whole extended family at the beach house experience, or even any kind of vacation together, and I am bummed that our family just isn't interested in that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

I have zero interest in any type of family vacation.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP. My father and his wife vacation all the time with her kids but not us. It sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had a family who was interested in vacationing together. I hear about these summer family reunion trips to the beach and feel so envious. My parents live on the West Coast and I have suggested a variety of interesting trips to do together but they are not interested. However, they travel the world several times a year so they do travel, just not interested in traveling with us. When they visit us they just want to sit in the house and do nothing. So I thought vacationing together would be much better, but they are not interested. Anyone else wish their families would be interested in vacationing together? It would be so great for my kids to experience the whole extended family at the beach house experience, or even any kind of vacation together, and I am bummed that our family just isn't interested in that sort of thing.

To some extent the grass is always greener. Go read some of the beachouse drama threads and be careful what you wish for.

You may discover that you don't actually like spending time with members of your family - or that you don't like the way members of your family revert to old methods of interacting. You may discover that you disagree with the way your siblings are parenting their kids - or that they disagree with the choices you're making for yours.

Packing extended families into vacation homes for several days can give long festering issues an opportunity to be ....explored... sometimes in ways that preclude further familial interaction, let alone another vacation.

A couple of rainy days at a beach house where everyone is trapped inside can be just the opportunity for that one little spark to make the whole thing explode.

[Anonymous]

I have family in California too and the great thing is that the state is so beautiful that you can go on mini vacations while you are there. How about a two or three day trip to Big Bear, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara or the like. It sounds like your family finds the idea of traveling with small children too difficult but a short trip could work.

[Anonymous]

I avoid vacationing with most people from hubby's family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in any type of family vacation.

+1
My vacation time is for me, DH and our small kids. My family lives nearby, so we see them all the time. Do not want them around on vacation. Talk about stress!

[Anonymous]

People vacation with their families?

[Anonymous]

After the fourth day, I am miserable.

[Anonymous]

The grass is greener. You're just seeing smiling vacation photos on Facebook. Unless you have the easiest to get along with family, it can be really stressful.

[Anonymous]

You couldn't pay me enough to vacation with my husband's family.

[Anonymous]

Life, in general, is not like the ads or shows you see in foreign films of extended families sitting at long indoor style tables and chairs placed outside in the yard, surrounded by Mediterranean gardens strung with delicate light bulbs on rustic posts; everyone laughing and drinking as beautiful children frolick, unfettered from table to yard, cheerfully grabbing food from the table -- while unseen minions prepare and serve the food and clean up the mess afterward.

No, it's your sister Nancy, who thinks her kids should be able to wake up at 5 and disturb everyone; it's your battle ax SIL who insists on making the huge grocery shopping trip before you can even begin to get your three kids unpacked; it's your brother Bob who thinks that after a few beers it's fine to use the word 'fuck' in front your children. And so on. Count your blessings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You couldn't pay me enough to vacation with my husband's family.

+1

You couldn't pay my DH enough to vacation with HIS family, which is fine by me!

[Anonymous]

Currently at OBX with what's left of our families. It's pretty awesome. DH is an only child and his parents have passed away. My brother is here with his 2 kids-- he's in the middle of a divorce so no SIL. Our younger sister is here with her BFF from preschool. And our kids. It is amazingly relaxing. I suspect it helps that there is only 1 4 yr old and any many more adults/babysitting age children.

[Anonymous]

NP here, right now I am taking a 4 week long vacation with my parents and kids in my home country, and reading the responses to this thread is so soothing to my frazzled nerves.