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[quote=Anonymous]My parents were energetic and adventurous before they retired in 2017, and they’ve declined a little each year since then. We’ve traveled with them (DH and me, then, all of us and our children) on and off for nearly two decades, but the last two times (2019 and 2022) were the worst. In 2019 we vowed never again, but Covid happened and we sort of experienced a sort of amnesia and renewed our hope that it would still be enjoyable, but our 2022 trip together was the worst yet, and I haven’t forgotten this time.

The issues now are things like they can’t handle any travel hiccup without getting completely derailed, meals take up huge chunks of the day with timing being rigid, physical limitations that slow everyone down, can’t tolerate the slightest hint of heat or humidity. All of these things were fine when our kids were little and slow, hungry on cue, etc themselves, but now everyone just gets annoyed. Also important, these limitations lead to my parents bickering constantly and it just spoils the mood. Last time my mom stormed off and left us all alone, and then we spend a large chunk of the evening talking her down off the ledge. It’s things like that. No way we want to spend the precious time we get off from work.

We have a trip planned later this summer, and I was going to wait until the last possible moment to tell my parents, but now I have to tell them because my mom is planning a birthday gathering for my dad, and it’ll be when we are gone. To make matters worse, DD just told me the last time she and grandma spoke, grandma mentioned how much fun she had the last vacation and how she can’t wait until we can all go again.

I’m not worried she will be mad, I’m worried she will cancel the party and invite themselves along! Please help me formulate what I’m going to say that basically say, “Absolutely not. You two are the worst travel companions and we won’t be putting ourselves through that again this year”  but in a nice way! ;) [/quote]

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