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Teenagers

Holidays with one teen - aaaaaargh

11 replies

irises · 12/11/2007 10:50

What do you if you have one teen on holiday?

Our ds is just turned 13. Last year we had 2 weeks in the West country in a beautiful thatched cottage, went for lots of long walks, looked round posh gardens, castles etc. That's what dh and I like to do.

Unfortunately, our ds was clearly bored out of his tree but too polite to tell us so. We did do stuff with him, there was a private pool, a snooker table, table tennis etc but there weren't any other properties around so just the three of us.

We don't do resort holidays, basically because we're unsocial buggers on holidays and can't be arsed to make small talk with people we'll never see again.

So my idea for next year is to drop him off at PGL for the first week of the holiday, so at least for that week he can do motorsports, abseling etc etc. He's done PGL holidays when younger and did enjoy them. We could take a friend with him for the PGL bit but don't want anyone else with us for the second week (like I say we're unsociable gits).

I'm interested to hear of any other solutions anyone else has found, and whether you reckon this will work.

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frogs · 12/11/2007 10:55

Take one of his friends with you?

Or how about you ask him what he thinks would be a good solution?

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frogs · 12/11/2007 10:56

Or find a local activity centre and book him in for day activities?

IME taking an extra child with you on holiday (or at home for that matter) is less work, not more, as they keep each other occupied.

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noddyholder · 12/11/2007 10:57

My ds is 13 too and I totally sympathise.We went to New York at half term and it was our most succesful holiday ever with him!He loved it we loved it No rows and plenty to do.He would die if I suggested a walking type holiday which dp and I would like but we have accepted that is not right for the three of us.What about going abroad with a teen club where they can mix with other misery guts!Ds knows the next holiday will be on a beach so he has accepted it We are not package holiday types either but there are some places which are a happy medium!Greece is fab easy to do your own thing

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Lilymaid · 12/11/2007 11:00

We always take a friend and book them into some adventurous actvities. We find that the boys then entertain themselves and leave us alone - so that should suit "unsocial buggers". You can't do country houses and long walks with most teenagers, so get them canoeing down a long river whilst you indulge in your own interests.

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larry5 · 12/11/2007 20:56

Our dd is 15 and this year for the first time we didn't go away on holiday together. She went away with the school on a music week - we went to Cornwall, then she had a week at camp with Explorer Scouts - we had three days in Dunkirk and finally she had 5 days in France with the school and we went to South Wales. We decided that although we love having her with us she would much rather go away with friends and as she was going with organised groups this was the best way of dealing with it.

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Tortington · 12/11/2007 20:59

we drive to france and go camping with 3 teens.

we too are unsociable - we can't bear small talk with other people - who oddly like to talk about how much they have, money they earn, jobs , cars and always but always know the best price of everything where to get everything - and how to get everywhere quicker - i digress. so we go camping - the kids piss off in the pool, or play pool or join in other activities - we go visit towns during the day - bores them shitless - but we have an ice lunch somewhere - then we come back they piss off - we dont see them and we read books galore and get sloshed on red wine.

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irises · 13/11/2007 11:47

Custy, your holidays sound idyllic, however although ds is pretty outgoing, I'm not sure we could really expect him to go off by himself and find some action.

Will see if dh will ok our taking another lad with us.

I sometimes wish I could just fast forward a few years to when dh and I can do our own thing without feeling guilty and ds can go off to Halkidiki on an 18-30s holiday

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BecauseImWorthIt · 13/11/2007 11:53

We have a similar situation - although we have 2 dss, they don't get on that well. And ds2 (12) is very gregarious and usually finds someone who is more appreciative of him than his older brother!

Next year we're planning a big trip (to Oz) and I'm hoping to get both of them involved a little bit in the planning of the details, so there will be stuff that they want to do as well.

Otherwise, if we go away to a beach/villa type place we'll have to consider the friend option. Trouble is, I don't like ds1's closest friend much - and the thought of having him on holiday with me dismays me.

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irises · 14/11/2007 11:56

Well, have made the decision now. We're taking him on a motorsports holiday at PGL while we chill out in a thatched cottage, then picking him up and taking him to this rather fab castle place we've just booked. In middle of nowhere, but has a hot tub with surround sound on the battlements, trampoline, pool table, home cinema and 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. For 3 of us. Wondering whether to try a different bed every night.

The owners will book Karting for us and driving a Sherman tank.

I'm really looking forward to it now!

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Notyummy · 14/11/2007 12:10

Bloody hell!! Where is the castle??...think I fancy a piece of that even if I have to remortgage the house....

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irises · 14/11/2007 12:15

It's in East Devon, near Honiton. Unfortunately booked up now right thru' summer hols & into Sept. Can't wait!

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