Yes, this sounds like a nightmare to me. This would be hard pass. Maybe in a few years when all the kids are older.

I feel like there are ways to make this work but they just have to be discussed in advance. I did something similar with a couple of other families last year with a wide age range of kids and it was fun! Definitely a 'family' vacation and not sipping pinas in cancun but fun in it's own way.

To have fun on these kind of things though you need to have the right attitude and the right spouse. Seems like you definitely don't have one and that you don't seem to believe you have the other.

As a kid my parents would vacation with their friends kids. Since I was the oldest, my “vacation” was watching the little kids, being forced to sit in the baby Pool, bringing snacks, lugging diaper bags, and entertaining everyone. I never got paid a dime and most of the time didn’t even get a thank you. Don’t do this to your kids. It’s cruel.

This sounds like my worst nightmare.

N I G H T M A R E

We only vacation with friends who have similar aged kids as ours (and same number of kids). Everyone pitches in and the kids can play together requiring minimal supervision. Even still, the mom of the youngest will often be left out of the fun b/c the nature of taking care of children.

This will be a hard no for me. I don't know what your H is thinking. Is the other family offering free lodging or some carrots? Even then I would not take it. It will be chaotic and stressful.

Not a chance in hell.

I would find a family with kids closer to my own kids in age. That might actually be fun, because the kids will play together (mostly) and require minimal supervision other than around the water. When we do family vacations, it's great because the nieces and nephews are all 7-12 and can get along.

A true nightmare vacation

No no no no, that would be a hard no. I want to +1 so many peoples comments here. Basically, moms will end up doing most of the work, you will be sucked in to help with the little ones, your kids will sucked in to be helped a little ones and it sounds like a stressful “vacation”. They might be a lovely family but your kids are at very different ages and stages. They are napping, yours or not, yours want to play outside unsupervised and theirs have to be watched all the time. It just won’t work out.

If your husband wants the families to become friends then suggest an afternoon barbecue.

No one can possibly have a vacation in the true sense of the word when young children are present.

I would take a hard pass on this horrible idea.
The point of a vacation is to get away.....and just relax.

How does he expect that w/all these kiddos around??!
Lol.

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?

+1

Yes to all of this. In other words, forget it, OP.

No way. Your kids are older and will not play together. Not fun at all.

OP, your husband needs to realize that you will be roped into helping the other couple with their four kids. Four kids’ needs will expand to incorporate whatever grownups are around. No question. He is being unrealistic, and calling you “antisocial” in attempt to goad you into agreeing is unfair. And when he and the other dad peel off and you are left with the other mom and a bunch of kids, that’s going to really suck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of four little ones here. I do want to add that since our kids were up early and young enough that we got up with them, we often took all six kids out of the house for breakfast and time at the beach while the other couple slept in. We didn’t just mooch off of them the entire time.

I would NOT want to travel with OP though. If you go into it looking for ways for little kids to be a nightmare, they won’t disappoint.

Nobody asked you did you want to vacation with OP. Quit being defensive about your kids and stay on track. If you didn’t have 4 little kids would you really want to spend what otherwise could be a relaxing vacation with other people’s 4 little kids?

Dude. I wrote about my experience with other people’s 7 and 9 year olds.
I don’t think that ANYONE is going to enjoy this vacation. Not OPs family. Not the other family’s. No one.

x1000

The Takers are starting to chime in! OP is your DH a magnet for this type?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of four little ones here. I do want to add that since our kids were up early and young enough that we got up with them, we often took all six kids out of the house for breakfast and time at the beach while the other couple slept in. We didn’t just mooch off of them the entire time.

I would NOT want to travel with OP though. If you go into it looking for ways for little kids to be a nightmare, they won’t disappoint.

Nobody asked you did you want to vacation with OP. Quit being defensive about your kids and stay on track. If you didn’t have 4 little kids would you really want to spend what otherwise could be a relaxing vacation with other people’s 4 little kids?

Dude. I wrote about my experience with other people’s 7 and 9 year olds.
I don’t think that ANYONE is going to enjoy this vacation. Not OPs family. Not the other family’s. No one.