Holiday childcare post Maddy.
Discussion
An interesting conundrum came up on the holiday we have just returned from. We were at a resort hotel in Tenerife which we had chosen for the good evening food and drinks. When we arrived at the hotel we found that it was really very large and our room was out of range of the baby monitor we brought and there was no baby listening service. So the options were either keep children up with us for stressful evenings and tired and grouchy days, stay in the room with them or put them to bed and leave them in the room (3rd floor, only access through door).
There was a fundemental disagreement between both me and my wife and a very different attitude between fellow holidaymakers all of whom did one of the three above options. Question is what would you do and why?
There was a fundemental disagreement between both me and my wife and a very different attitude between fellow holidaymakers all of whom did one of the three above options. Question is what would you do and why?
No decision to be made here - keep kids with us, and if that means returning early, so be it.
Mine are now all offhand, but my view on having kids is that they are the parents' responsibility, nobody else's. Hence my wife and I modified life to fit in with the requirement (yes that is the word) to ensure their safety and happiness personally, whatever the impact on our own desires.
We have enough time to do all that other stuff now they have flown the nest.
Mine are now all offhand, but my view on having kids is that they are the parents' responsibility, nobody else's. Hence my wife and I modified life to fit in with the requirement (yes that is the word) to ensure their safety and happiness personally, whatever the impact on our own desires.
We have enough time to do all that other stuff now they have flown the nest.
CommanderJameson said:
I'd do like the locals do and go out for dinner with the spawn in tow. A good kip in the late afternoon/early evening should set things up nicely.
I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
Agree 100% with the above. I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
CommanderJameson said:
I'd do like the locals do and go out for dinner with the spawn in tow. A good kip in the late afternoon/early evening should set things up nicely.
I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
Agree 100% with the above. I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
cal72 said:
My son is 14 and I still will not leave him on his own.
I am overly conscious of my own actions and my son is more valuable than a quiet meal.
His mother however is totally the opposite, hence she is an EX.
People are different so, hey ho.
I think that, at 14, he's old enough to be left on his own for a while if he's happy with it. I am overly conscious of my own actions and my son is more valuable than a quiet meal.
His mother however is totally the opposite, hence she is an EX.
People are different so, hey ho.
Relatives of mine went to sea at that age.
cal72 said:
My son is 14 and I still will not leave him on his own.
I am overly conscious of my own actions and my son is more valuable than a quiet meal.
His mother however is totally the opposite, hence she is an EX.
People are different so, hey ho.
He's 14. Practically an adult.I am overly conscious of my own actions and my son is more valuable than a quiet meal.
His mother however is totally the opposite, hence she is an EX.
People are different so, hey ho.
What's the worst that can happen?
As above... 14 is definitely old enough to be given responsibility for their actions....
We've got 3 kids aged 9 and under and in the OP's situation, we'd make sure they had an afternoon kip and then they can stay up later... unfortunately, you are a parent and you are responsible for them...
Much as you'd like to leave them and hit the bar for a few quiet drinks you would be vilified from all corners if anything happened to them, no matter how unlikely it is.
I completely sympathise with the situation...been there numerous times and we've always done the above...
We've got 3 kids aged 9 and under and in the OP's situation, we'd make sure they had an afternoon kip and then they can stay up later... unfortunately, you are a parent and you are responsible for them...
Much as you'd like to leave them and hit the bar for a few quiet drinks you would be vilified from all corners if anything happened to them, no matter how unlikely it is.
I completely sympathise with the situation...been there numerous times and we've always done the above...
Pothole said:
to answer your Q, OP. I'd research it better. What about the other people without children whose enjoyment of said evening food and drinks was ruined by annoying children every night? Ever think of them? Thought not.
Ruined by children just being there, how uptight are you? Just knowing those pesky kids are nearby ruins your evening. 
weirdo
el stovey said:
CommanderJameson said:
I'd do like the locals do and go out for dinner with the spawn in tow. A good kip in the late afternoon/early evening should set things up nicely.
I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
Agree 100% with the above. I think if you want to get blootered (or even just have a grown-up night out), it's probably best to leave the sproglings at home.
If you feel the need to go out without the kids don't take them on holiday or wait until they are old enough to be left alone.
Pothole said:
to answer your Q, OP. I'd research it better. What about the other people without children whose enjoyment of said evening food and drinks was ruined by annoying children every night? Ever think of them? Thought not.
My children have never disturbed anyone enough to spoil a night out. The 9 month old slept for 90% of the time in his buggy in the restaurant and my 4 year old ate dinner and chatted beautifully. (Not all kids and parents are the same though! 
)el stovey said:
Pothole said:
to answer your Q, OP. I'd research it better. What about the other people without children whose enjoyment of said evening food and drinks was ruined by annoying children every night? Ever think of them? Thought not.
Ruined by children just being there, how uptight are you? Just knowing those pesky kids are nearby ruins your evening. weirdoRather suggests they'd be noisier than adult diners and probably running amok like local children do in most Mediterranean countries, as I'm sure you well know. Why should my enjoyment of a meal I've paid for be ruined because someone else hasn't bothered to arrange care for their children?
Pothole said:
"keep children up with us for stressful evenings and tired and grouchy days"
Rather suggests they'd be noisier than adult diners and probably running amok like local children do in most Mediterranean countries, as I'm sure you well know. Why should my enjoyment of a meal I've paid for be ruined because someone else hasn't bothered to arrange care for their children?
Stressful because sociopaths lacking in empathy like you would be sitting po faced scowling at anyone with children. Didnt your parents ever take you out in the evening? Do you honestly expect the locals that take their children out for diner late in the evening in most southern European countries, to change their way of life because you're so uptight?Rather suggests they'd be noisier than adult diners and probably running amok like local children do in most Mediterranean countries, as I'm sure you well know. Why should my enjoyment of a meal I've paid for be ruined because someone else hasn't bothered to arrange care for their children?
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