30 Tell Tale Signs You’re on Holiday with Young Children

30 signs

 

1.  Packing gets a whole lot harder as there is far more to think about, plan and organize for (plus as fast as you fold and neatly pack it – does your 18 month old come and unpack it!)

2.   You find your luggage doubles in size as you take all the kiddy and baby regalia and pretty much pack everything bar the kitchen sink!

3.   The most scary thing to think of losing as you travel is no longer your passport! Instead it’s a favourite teddy or Blanky (in our case Wo-Wo the cuddly dog) which is no longer manufactured so truly is irreplaceable and you just know all mayhem would break out if that went missing.

4.   You’re no longer allowed to sleep on a flight, as either you’re up trying to soothe and comfort your overtired and irritable babies and toddlers, or they’re fast asleep but with you in the most uncomfortable of positions in order to prop them up enough to get them settled.

5.   Your hand luggage is no longer books/magazines//music/puzzle books, as instead its been accosted by colouring books and pencils, teddy’s, dummy’s, sticker books and kiddie snacks!

6.   A gin and tonic (or two) onboard a flight is a necessity – not just ‘a nice thing to have’!

7.   You make the most of getting up early and go out to put your towels on your favorite sun loungers right in front of the pool so you can hopefully get your kids to play whilst you can supervise from the comfort of your lounger!!

8.   Whilst lazing aound the pool (yeah right… as if!!), you find you’ve read the same paragraph of the same chapter, ten times over, as no sooner have you picked up your book, than a little person pops up and asks for a wee or for you to play in the pool with them.

9.   A sandy beach used to be relaxing, fun, a great place to people watch and to get a cracking sun tan – now it’s a disaster zone, with sand found afterwards in every crevice a human possibly has, every pocket of your bags, in your mouth, in your eyes and up your nose and in your knickers!

  1.  The bikini, alas, is a thing of the past. A distant memory of the fun times when you were young and gorgeous, as instead, you now have to fold and tuck your wobbly bits into a magic ‘hold your tummy in’ swimsuit or tankini!

11.  The music around the pool is no longer relaxing background, rhythmic beats or fun party anthems which get you in the holiday mood – instead it’s far too loud and is about to wake the baby up!!

  1.  You find yourselves watching others and passing judgment! And wrongly too I may say – see this post here!! Though come on…. Seriously some people just can’t help themselves and are simply asking for it with their wacky or antics or pretty awful behaviour!!

13.  Though equally – you find more often than not – that it’s actually you that people are staring at. Tutting and cursing as you try to manhandle your impossibly strong toddler away from the mini market display of balls, inflatables and toys, whilst they scream blue murder and throw the biggest tantrum you’ve ever been unlucky enough to witness, let alone to deal with in public!!

  1.  You’re first down for breakfast each day as you’ve been up since the crack of dawn – so much so that you have to wait for all the food to come out still and by the time it’s out the kids are already bored and itching to get out to the pool!

15.  Your generally very high hygiene standards from home, lax a little whilst away…. If the toddler wee’s on the tiles by the pool, just wash it away with a bucket of pool water and hope no-one was watching; if the dummy falls on the floor, the three second rule is elongated somewhat into a one minute rule as you scrabble around on the floor underneath a restaurant table to try and retrieve it!

  1.  You find yourself forever waiting for lifts as you can’t physically lug your buggy up 5 flights of hotel stairs! Along with all the other buggy wielding mums and dads out there!!!

17.  You desperately flick through the hotel room TV channels in attempt to find Nickelodeon or CBeebies instead of MTV.

  1.  You could pretty much sketch a detailed schematic drawing of the hotel grounds with your eyes shut, because you’ve walked the paths so many times to get the baby off to sleep in their stroller.

19.  You can probably count on approximately 5 mini – bickers/arguments a day with your kids/partner over minor details like:

Who’s turn it is to take them to the loo?

Can’t believe you didn’t lock the passports & valuables in the safe!

Why is it taking you so long to get ready, when I’ve managed to get me and two kids ready in the same amount of time?!

I thought you said you had the door card/key!!

This is the last time I tell you not to run round the pool!

  1.  You can’t go out and get drunk any more (especially if you’re me with such god-awful hangovers!) as you just know you’ll be woken up early each morning by boisterous and excitable kids!

21.  You’re dragged up onto the dance floor….SOBER….. by your wonderful kiddies to dance along to Hey Macarena, The Birdie Song and Wigfield, and although you know all the moves and are in time with the beat your husband on the other hand is embarrassingly doing the typical Dad dancing*

  1.  After the kids disco at 7pm, it’s us who are tired, and the kids are still raring to go!

23.  You end up sat in your hotel room at 9:30 pm, trying to read your book with the torchlight from your phone, just so as not to wake the kids on the other side of the room on their ‘put-me up’ beds.

  1.  You can rest assured that through the course of the holiday you will be pooed on, vomited on, peed on and sneezed on and that baby wipes will be your new best friend!

25. A relaxing and laid back meal out whilst on holiday – what’s that????

  1. Although you’ve had a fabulous time – you’re ready to return home for a rest!

27. All your ethics go out of the window and you start to wonder if dosing up your kids with a little cold medicine prior to travelling is actually bad for them after all?!?!? (Just joking!!)

  1.  You can go home whiter than when you went out as you’ve been sat in the shade all week and your fake tan has now faded or is patchy!

29. You come back from holiday feeling even more washed out than you did when you went, and feel the need to book a second holiday in order to just get over the first!!

  1. The washing pile when you get back home practically hits the ceiling, yet you’re too tired to do anything about it so it’ll just stay there for a week or two!

*Dad Dancing – a definition according to Oxford Dictionaries:

Awkward or unfashionable dancing to pop music, as characteristically performed by middle-aged and older men.

 

The List

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41 Comments

  1. 21st February 2016 / 8:40 am

    Love this! We have just returned from Disneyland which was an ‘Experience’ rather than a holiday, but we had a great time! Those swimsuits really are magical by the way! 😀

  2. 24th November 2015 / 5:28 am

    Brilliant and so very true! We’re braving our first holiday abroad next year and I think I’ll probably have to start packing next week… x

  3. 15th August 2015 / 8:16 pm

    This made me laugh so much, we are going on our first little holiday at the end of the month to Devon, and I have started making a list of what we need to take and now questioning if it will actually fit in the car?! I am now dreading the sandy beaches I was so looking forward too! Hope you have recovered, great post Xx

    • 2nd May 2016 / 7:59 pm

      Finding this post has ansrewed my prayers

    • that I have not been selected for further processing.Could this have happened because my new case number has nullified my old confirmation number or does this mean that I have not been selected for the second step/interview phase?I am a foreigner already in the US.Also, how long does it take between sending out the documents and receiving an interview date?Thank you for your help.G.

  4. 28th July 2015 / 11:47 am

    Thanks for the brilliant and funny insights. I am looking forward to my first trip with my 13 months old. The joys!

  5. 7th July 2015 / 6:30 pm

    Brilliant! This is why I’ve put off going abroad but we’re braving it next year. This made me laugh, they’re a handful on the best of days I can only imagine it’ll be more than a handful abroad!

  6. 13th June 2015 / 9:39 pm

    Brilliant! Love it! We’ve not ventured abroad yet with ours but I think the same applies wherever you go! X

    • 22nd June 2015 / 6:45 pm

      Yep, most likely everywhere I would say! Good luck on your next travels Steph xxx

  7. 30th October 2014 / 8:28 pm

    Ooh so very true!!! I actually got excited this year as it was the first time we’ve not had to take a double buggy. How sad is that. It shouldn’t really be allowed to be called a Holiday should it?!!

  8. hannah mum's days
    2nd October 2014 / 10:41 am

    Haha! I never want to go on holiday again! Seriously, this is not relaxing stuff at all. But it’s fun all the same 😉

    Thanks for linking #TheList hxxx

  9. 27th September 2014 / 1:20 pm

    haha! loved this! just about to take my 18month old abroad for the first time :l

  10. 27th September 2014 / 11:56 am

    Brilliant, so true! #thelist

  11. 27th September 2014 / 7:42 am

    brilliant got to love abit of dad dancing!

  12. 26th September 2014 / 1:12 pm

    Fantastic post – all so, so true. I hate the extra packing! #TheList
    Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx

  13. 26th September 2014 / 8:47 am

    Breakfast seems so LATE when you’re on holiday with kids – you’ve been up for hours and the kids are hungry lol! #TheList

  14. 24th September 2014 / 9:32 pm

    You’ve got it all covered, love this list! A holiday is no longer that with kids 🙂 #sharewithme

    • 25th September 2014 / 7:58 am

      I know! Just total carnage but we still book each year and although I’ve made this list, I must admit I secretly love my holidays with them!! Plus – if I didn’t go – what would I have to blog about!!

  15. 24th September 2014 / 8:05 pm

    I love this so very true. I just went on holiday with both my kids and I can’t tell you how much has changed then when it used to be just me and my hubby! I was laughing and nodding along. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme

  16. The DADventurer
    24th September 2014 / 4:43 pm

    Nice post and sounds like things change a lot! Number 19 in particular made me laugh. We have a 6 week old and I can’t wait to take her on holiday. But then again, after reading this, we might have to just stay at home! 🙂 #MMWBH

    • 24th September 2014 / 5:14 pm

      Nooooo! You must take your gorgeous girl on holiday! It’s just one of those things that had to be done! Can’t wait to hear all about it afterwards!! Thanks for commenting. X

  17. 24th September 2014 / 12:54 pm

    Its all so true, its much much easier for me to stay home and go out for the day instead!

    • 24th September 2014 / 3:04 pm

      So true also! Though hindsights a wonderful thing – I will learn my lesson one day. Thanks so much for commenting xx

  18. 24th September 2014 / 10:01 am

    Such a funny post and every single word is TRUE! haha! When we came back from our first family holiday with 4 kiddies, I swear the darling man and I needed a holiday after the holiday! lol! Thanks for linking up with #MMWBH xx

  19. 24th September 2014 / 8:52 am

    Oh dear! Have to say it does get better as they get a little older – I got through 3 books this time!

    #MMWBH

    • 24th September 2014 / 3:05 pm

      WOW!!! I can only imagine what it’s like to actually pick up a book!!! I’m very envious though also now hopeful as you’ve said it gets better!! Thanks for commenting xx

  20. 24th September 2014 / 8:45 am

    Great list. I’ve never been abroad with my brood but this still stands true for me. #mmwbh

    • 24th September 2014 / 3:07 pm

      Thanks Louisa. I think it’s fair to say small children – or in fact children of all ages ! – are rather a handful in whatever they’re doing!! Xxx

  21. suzanne3childrenandit
    24th September 2014 / 7:18 am

    This is all so very true! Brings back memories, that’s for sure. When we returned home from holiday, I wrote a post comparing holidays with toddlers, to holidays with teens – not much different really!!

    • 24th September 2014 / 3:09 pm

      Oh no!! I was starting to think I was through the worst but my optimism has been extinguished somewhat now

  22. 23rd September 2014 / 9:42 pm

    This is utterly brilliant!! One of the best lists ever – and every word so very true! Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂 x

    • 24th September 2014 / 3:09 pm

      Thanks so much – am so pleased you enjoyed it – means a lot to me. Xx

  23. 19th September 2014 / 2:55 pm

    haha these are all so true!! Lovely post : )

  24. 19th September 2014 / 9:46 am

    Awesome post! Had me chuckling all the way from the beginning. #PoCoLo

  25. 18th September 2014 / 4:41 pm

    Brilliant! Glad to see you back. We have missed you! This is spot on, and hilarious!!!!! Am nodding away to everything. You are so right about feeling like you need another break when you get back…maybe minus the children?!! 😉 x x

    • 19th September 2014 / 3:47 pm

      Most definitely minus the children!!! We’ve been back a week and I’m still semi comatosed!!!


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