Does this sound like a nightmare to you as well?

Anonymous
We have two kids, 7 and 9, so pretty self-sufficient. Our friends have four kids, all under 7 (6, 4, 3, 1). My DH wants to take a week-long vacation with them this summer. To me, it sounds like a child-centric nightmare. I can’t imagine truly bonding with our friends (DH’s goal) while tending to the needs of a gaggle of kids, particularly the 3 and 1 year-olds, on top of four other kids. Thought?
Anonymous
I would hate this
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I would hate this

My husband thinks I’m being “antisocial”. I’m sure it seems like it would be relaxing and fun for him (and the other dad) while the moms take care of the kids needs.
Anonymous
Strong pass.
Anonymous
No chance.
Anonymous
Eff no. Also, even if the family has same number of kids who are the se age, you MUST be absolutely sure, and even then, I would not share living quarters. The family who would have the advantage (in your case, the family with more kids - but I have seen it with a family of bratty kids with lazy parents too) will otherwise ruin your vacation. Eff to the no.
Anonymous
My kids are 4 & 1. I don’t even want to travel with them let alone subject others to that scene. I don’t get this.
Anonymous
*same
Anonymous
Not unless the other family plans to bring along a nanny or someone to help. You just know you’re going to get sucked into helping out with the young ones and I wouldn’t want to spend my vacation time doing that.

And I say this as a mom with a 1 and 3 year old! So no offense to the other family, but this is such a different stage than having a 7 and 9 y/o (I imagine, haven’t been there yet).
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Not unless the other family plans to bring along a nanny or someone to help. You just know you’re going to get sucked into helping out with the young ones and I wouldn’t want to spend my vacation time doing that.

And I say this as a mom with a 1 and 3 year old! So no offense to the other family, but this is such a different stage than having a 7 and 9 y/o (I imagine, haven’t been there yet).


x10000

PP here. Even if they have a nanny, the kids are going to be chaos, OP. BTDT, never again. People parent differently - vacation is not the time to find that out.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Not unless the other family plans to bring along a nanny or someone to help. You just know you’re going to get sucked into helping out with the young ones and I wouldn’t want to spend my vacation time doing that.

And I say this as a mom with a 1 and 3 year old! So no offense to the other family, but this is such a different stage than having a 7 and 9 y/o (I imagine, haven’t been there yet).


We did something like this with multiple families and hired a live-in babysitter for the whole week. It was great.
Anonymous
That is no vacation. We were briefly stuck in a similar situation just for a weekend and I left early with our kids. The house smelled like a diaper pail.
Anonymous
I can imagine some very specific circumstances in which this would be relaxing and fun. Those circumstances are vastly uncommon and unlikely.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would hate this

My husband thinks I’m being “antisocial”. I’m sure it seems like it would be relaxing and fun for him (and the other dad) while the moms take care of the kids needs.


This is probably what he’s thinking. I wouldn’t do it.

What is the other mom like? Is she a martyr mommy? Does her husband fully participate in parenting or is it mostly left to her? What is their family dynamic?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would hate this

My husband thinks I’m being “antisocial”. I’m sure it seems like it would be relaxing and fun for him (and the other dad) while the moms take care of the kids needs.


This is probably what he’s thinking. I wouldn’t do it.

What is the other mom like? Is she a martyr mommy? Does her husband fully participate in parenting or is it mostly left to her? What is their family dynamic?


OP, if you end up doing this, I'd have a conversation with your husband about how he and the other dad are going to take over childcare half the time -- like, how will this work? So you and the other mom can have some free time. Maybe the two of you will go for a long drive one day, or have a day when the two of you focus on swimming and are off childwatch, etc.
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