My daughter spent the first week of one holiday being an absolute - no other word for it - cow. I ended up balling her out in the tent and the whole site could hear.
My husband said "Right that's it you're going home" and packed her into his car and took her home where he proceeded to ensure that she had not one bit of entertainment from him for the rest of the time I was away with our son. Lucky we had 2 cars with us that time.
The following year, she went off on one a number of times. Part of the holiday was to be a trip to Legoland. She was told that if she kept this up she would be staying behind while Daddy took her brother. In the end, she missed out on the trip. I sat down with a book for the day and she appeared at my side thinking she was going to have some fun with Mummy for her exclusive use. No way! It has since dawned on her that I am just as pig-headed as she is! She had to entertain herself, in my sight, for the whole day while everyone from the campsite was off out for the day.
Since then and nearly 2 years on, we have been on various family trips and she and I have been away on several weekends together which she has enjoyed hugely so thank goodness we've got through it!
However, big bro is now 13 and I suspect we may have a battle on our hands there soon
We had two mini camping breaks with my ten year old this half term. The first at Kingsbury Waterpark and just me he loved - mainly because there were lots of other kids to play with and he had freedom to ride around on his bike. The second he hated - on a farm, no play area no other kids, long walks with his parents, kept complaining of being bored! It is such a shame, I hate having to be tied to going to all singing and all dancing sites - not least because of the cost and partly because I like a quiet field near a village with a pub and some nice walks!
However we will continue to compromise and go to some sites with play areas etc because it's not his fault he's an only child but he also know sometimes it will have to be a boring few days with just Mum and Dad, a toilet in a barnyard and that fresh country air.
I find that by looking for site with a children's play area usually guarantees that there will be other kids on site. We've just got back, and the kids spent more time away from the tent than they did in it. Even on the first night when it was teaming, they were out playing. DVD didn't get used, and the painting set is still in its' wrapper.
The only time they moaned was when we went shopping, They did get told off, after I couldn't get what I wanted in one supermarket, as they were playing up, going on about fancy cereals. We then had to go to a dffferent one. When Richard was in the shop I had words
YES there has been the odd occasion when they have been balled out, so that the rest of the site could hear. Have heard other mums ball their kids out.
Most kids get bawled out at least one time per camping trip, surely? I thought it was part of Ye Olde Rules of Ye Camping? It's the ones that don't that are the troublesome ones.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 02/6/2008
Most kids get bawled out at least one time per camping trip, surely? I thought it was part of Ye Olde Rules of Ye Camping? It's the ones that don't that are the troublesome ones.
my kids must be angels then because they get bawled at least once a day if they need it or not! LOL!
------------- Annie :)
Its better to regret things you've done than things you have never tried
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 30/5/2008
Well, the answer to this in our house would be "Tough". And in the deeply unlikely chance I did take him home then I would ensure 100% that home might well mean sleeping in his own bed and crapping in his own toilet, but it would also mean no telly, no PC, no playing with pals and a ton of chores, room tidying and homework.
Sure, children are allowed preferences, but they also have to learn to compromise and that doesn't mean ruining holidays for the rest of the family. The correct way for him to have approached a hatred of camping would have been a serious discussion with you and dad and a suggestion of how to improve things, not throwing a pre-pubertal strop. But now he knows this works for him......
100% agree with this
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 02/6/2008
Most kids get bawled out at least one time per camping trip, surely? I thought it was part of Ye Olde Rules of Ye Camping? It's the ones that don't that are the troublesome ones.
and indeed with this
Thank goodness someone else takes this attitude, I was beginning to think we were on our own
shed63, we have just come back from Rocks East Woodland near Bath for the umpteenth time and it is a pretty basic site with few facilities. However, it is as it says - woodland. It is also popular with families and the kids play together a lot as well as spend loads of time exploring the surrounding woods in safety. I highly recommend it if you prefer that kind of camping to the all singing all dancing variety which I also avoid like the plague. It allows campfires which kids love too and mine are old enough at 9 and 13 to be taught about fire safety yet be involved in building and lighting fires. My son is in sea scouts and is always raving about the fire lighting aspect of sessions he has with them.
The Rocks East Woodland sounds great - though probably a bit far from us for an economical short break. That's a great idea though - I will do a search for similar sorts of campsite. Safe, lots of kids and scope for adventure...that's what we need.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: naughty child, ruined camp
