Gutted but it's going

Oh… not good if your other half can’t face going on a trip either. Is it because of your son being miserable on previous trips?

He really hasn’t experienced the best of travelling. Being confined inside in the cold and wet isn’t thrilling when you’re 11 I suppose. Having said that though he’s old enough to understand that in warm weather it would be completely different, especially, as others suggest, with a friend.
 
138go said:
I've got three sons and there's no way I would have let them decide something like this. He's eleven, he doesn't get to choose. You do.
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Got to agree with that, your the adult, you make the decisions.
If he wins this one it'll be a downhill slope from there on
 
scousebird said:
That's good, you need to keep that bit of enthusiasm going. Let him help by possibly picking a place to eat while you're away or choosing a meal to have in the MH.
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What she said .

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We took our daughters friend with us for all our annual holidays and certain weekends, it meant our daughter had someone and we could relax a bit more. It also meant when we came home she headed off with her friends family on holiday.
Also as others have said use the van for things he likes, for instance we’ve visited go-ape, theme parks and skiing at Glencoe, days like this mean your out the van all day and he’ll be tired when back in it.
Our daughter loved the lifestyle and caught the travel bug now.
 
Its not for everyone, especially being couped up in a tin box in the rain. The sun does make a difference, or even being dry.

Most kids just want a swimming pool and a pool table or something so they can make mates, they then entertain themselves.
As a family it dosent sound like its your time! Maybe when your son is off to Uni or something, you can try again.👍
 
Grasmere9 said:
And that's what I would say too but it's meant to be fun and relaxing...it doesn't feel that way at the moment. I loved camping in France as a child and really wanted him to enjoy it too.
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Why not try haven holidays, special offers can be as low as £10 a night with all sorts of amusements thrown in.
Our kids loved it and still go now in their fortys and now take their kids.
 
Grasmere9 said:
I don't know what to do ☹
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I think you have recognised the issue being that he hasn't enjoyed it. What does he do at home that he can't do in the Motorhome? What has changed between the two 'abodes'? If you can address that, then you're part way there.

Or change the way you do things in the Motorhome so that it's different (better) than being at home. Staying up late, family fun/games, midnight snacks and treats, long morning lie ins.

Take him to places he wouldn't get chance to go to.

Most of all dont give up until at least one trip abroad, but plan that well and include him in the planning (Disney Paris should appeal to him?) trying to make sure things are attractive to him.

You don't mention other children? So I assume they're ok or there aren't any, but if there are, try not to pamper to your 11 year old at the expense of the others (but as a parent you know that already!!)

Spending time in a motorhome when the weather is bad can be worse than double maths on a Monday morning for an 11 year old !
 
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Many years ago, while we were still caravanners, our daughter went through the same reluctance to enjoy our trips away, always moaning, missing her friends etc, she was about 11 yrs old. We couldn't stand the arguments and pulled faces, so , the c'van didn't move for about 2 years. Then we thought maybe take her best mate with us, they'll have been about 12 or 13...but it worked. It had to be a full facility site (we hated those) but the kids loved them. Apparently typical of girls of that age, our daughter regularly fell out with her 'best friend', but another one was always around the corner...and she's still best friends with all of them 35 years later. You've got to try something similar before giving up.

regards
Allen

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Grasmere9 said:
And that's what I would say too but it's meant to be fun and relaxing...it doesn't feel that way at the moment. I loved camping in France as a child and really wanted him to enjoy it too.
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Our grandchildren love the motorhome, we've never taken them abroad. It doesn't always rain in the UK but when it has, we've had indoor picnics, played cards and played board games. Even when it's raining, we've all got waterproofs so we've taken the dog on the beach, or we've found some indoor activities for them. We've been swimming, we've been to The Deep in Hull, we been to reptile houses, we've been to the pictures. We take their bikes with us and we've ridden along the seafront in many seaside towns and we've enjoyed some of the trails in Derbyshire.

There's always something new and interesting to do, when you have a motorhome.
 
MiFi and let him use his Switch or alike……our Grandkids love travelling in our van like that.
When we get to our destination then ‘Tech Time’ is over and off we go and do whatever.

In the rain they get extra ‘Tech Time’……after all, they’re on holiday. ;)
 
138go said:
I've got three sons and there's no way I would have let them decide something like this. He's eleven, he doesn't get to choose. You do.
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That's all very well but on a wet day in a motorhome an 11yr old's bottom lip can be an unwanted trip hazard.
 
All the family need to be happy - its not IMO a case of laying down the law.... take him to Alton Towers or Legoland in it - a short trip just for him ....? New bedding of his choice [our male g kids are 10 and 16 - luckily we have had great times with them at festivals would LOVE to take them abroad and they would love to come.]
As him to explain what he doesnt like - the journey ? are you stressed before you go [whatever reason - him?] and he picks that up. Does he miss being surgically attached to his IT ?

Find a site with a hot tub? Would he like to boast about the luxury moho holiday at school- breaks muy heart to think of him NOT enjoying the holidays with you xxx Good luck xxx

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Grasmere9 said:
We went to Chester to a CL...it poured down all weekend. The Lakes....it poured down and we sprang a leak..fixed under warranty and ran out of gas (rooky mistake), my sisters racing yard in Newmarket. Meant to be going away next week but other half now says he can't face it.
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I'm sorry but must say, there's not a lot among that lot that would appeal to an eleven year old, what's going to be different in other holidays you are planning.
 
Can see it from your point. I recall the time we had a caravan. The children at 11 and 13 by then just found the weekend trips interfering with their respective weekend activities, football netball and the like. I remember at the time about getting rid. Then came the holidays and these weekend events close down and we soon found that going away during the holidays in nice weather the kids then fitted in. Yes weekends were in short supply but then used the van to fit around the sports festivals.. Yes eventually the kids then did not travel so often with us.
What are you going to do if the van goes and you look at the 11, then 12 then 13 year old and think what do you want to do now. Consider seeing out this year coming out of Covid weather picking up and choose trips that fit the box.
Hope it works out.
 
Sorry but boarding school does sound like a good option. Only kidding. Such a shame.

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So many brilliant suggestions.
My top tips would be
- the friend
- water parks/swimming pool - maybe not your favourite holiday but could be the draw
- mine lived the Lake District because of the gingerbread at Grasmere!! and walks where we ended up at a cafe
- try to focus on incorporating something he loves on each trip …
Good luck. It feels too soon to give up.
 
Jenben said:
Being totally honest, these trips aren’t selling it to me as a lovely trip for your 11 year old , I can sort of see why he might have taken against the van .::bigsmile:

What does he like doing ?
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agree with your thoughts jenben, after reading that, I too would be hesistant, ( as a child)
Hubby and i 1st trip was in Hereford, yes rained lots, but to be honest, we were happy wee bunnies, tucked up chilling inside,but not great if 11.
Hopefully, some sun, ( a friend)... Will give him a different view...good luck
 
I agree with lots of the suggestions.
Take a friend, has always worked for mine.
My granddaughter loves theme parks. WOODLANDS IN Devon has lots of rides, and all free once you have paid admission. The campsite is on site, and campers get extra time, once the visitors have gone, which feel fab for a kid.

Local festival perhaps or incorporate a football match, ice rink whatever he likes.

Let him design the menu for dinner in the van. Maybe even bbq with marshmallows etc.

Haven type site is popular especially if he has a friend to do things with.

Maybe a camp out at a family members house?

You might find the trip is focused on him initially, and not much fun for you, but if he gets the bug, all sorts is possible.

Good luck, I hope it works out. One of my kids loves camping, the eldest hates it, but her daughter loves trips out with me. At least grey have experienced it.

Actually, their favourite camping holidays were near rivers, and nature. They spent hours building dams, getting wet and muddy, and just playing. Even as teenagers.

What about a bug hunt, or bat spotting somewhere rural. As an organised event.

Good luck

Karen
 
Mine are 10 and 12.

I feel your pain and despite what others say, just telling him to suck it up won’t make your holiday enjoyable and him suddenly enjoy it.

It’s not about giving them power, it’s about letting them make the decisions about what they enjoy and where. There is no point making them do something they hate, they won’t thank you for it and it doesn’t make them better people, it just makes them think you are a self centred selfish person making them do something you know they hate.

We don’t go away as much as we did, the kids love rugby and most weekends are spent ferrying them around for that at the various clubs they enjoy. If that makes me a mug or soft, then I am quite happy for that to be so.

It’s funny how mine suddenly light up when I say the rugby kit is in and we are finding somewhere to have a kick about. It’s all about compromise and enjoying time together.
 

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