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My wife and I have three daughters all whom have been with us on our caravan holidays over the years. The eldest is now married with a three year old and new baby still loves caravanning and has persuaded her husband to buy a caravan.

Problem is our other two now 18 and 16 are starting to say that they dont want to come away with 'mum and dad' now and prefer to go to stay with their friends and 'do their own thing now at weekends and bank holidays. I am still trying to persuade them to come with us on our touring holiday with the caravan to Lake Garda next year.

Problem is now when we go to sites we have always been with the girls in the past, we really miss them being with us. I cant sell the family van for a smaller one because I want the room available for the girls on the odd occasion I can get them to come. Has anyone else found that the memories of sites you have visited with the kids, means you dont really enjoy going back to the same sites when they are not with you and grown up. For all of those lucky enough still to have children that want to come away with the parents, make the most of it.......you will miss them when they are not there. Call my wife and I soppy but I wish Iwas still tripping over those bikes in the awning....      

I know just what you mean - aaaahhhhh! You do miss them don't you. I don't think that ever changes.  I have three grown up girls and a son of 11.  The only time we could get one of them to come with her husband and young son last year was to all go together (we had tents then) for a weekend with friends.  It was very successful and we all loved it.  However, my daughter is pregnant again so this isn't an option at the moment.  We have a caravan now and so I am planning to take my grandson for a weekend camping with us.  One of my daughters lives in Scotland and so the opportunities for camping will get better I suppose as her baby gets older.  However, my youngest daughter wont even entertain the idea of camping! They all loved it when they were younger and we were all in a tent together but I suppose thats part of growing up - they only want to do what they want to do!

Make the most of your time together as a couple.  Its a good time to rekindle your relationship and just think you can browse round antique shops, etc without kids moaning "haven't you had enough yet"!!!  We have a precious few days on our own in October as my son is away with his big sister for half term and so will be doing just that.  Hope you can persuade them for the odd weekend!!

My 2 are adults now, but we had great times caravanning when you had to press a button on the floor for water or try to fit a new gas mantle without splitting it!

The kids might get your caravanning love when they've done their thing for a few years.

Our 'children' are 16yrs and 13yrs.  They have been with us in the past, and intend to come with us again next year for our main holiday.  However, our 16yr daughter now has a saturday job, is studying etc and doesnt want to come away at the weekends.  Therefore a dilema - the 13yr old son doesnt want to come now!!!  Do we leave them together (with the dogs), and hope they behave whilst we nip off locally for a weekend, or drag in reinforcements ie grandparents?  Grandparents are a little doddery and our son runs rings around them - so we feel really awful asking.  The alternative is make him come with us (and put up with the moaning).  I also wish they were smaller again and we could just strap them in the car and go!! 

Dave11,

I read your posting here with tears in my eyes.

Our Son is just 8yo at the moment and loves caravanning with us. We often (well usually) take his cuisines and we dread the day he won’t want to come with us. He is especially precious to us as his older brother died at birth and we had terrible trouble conceiving after. We have only been blessed with the one and love him to bits.

We have caravanned all our married life and I sometimes think that I could not face continuing caravanning once he does not want to come with us…

… still at 8yo it’s a while away for us, but I sympathise with your feelings…

Regards

Frostyman

Problem is our other two now 18 and 16 are starting to say that they dont want to come away with 'mum and dad' now and prefer to go to stay with their friends and 'do their own thing now at weekends and bank holidays.

I know what you mean ,my 2 daughters 11 and 14 and son soon to be 16 have started to complain when i mention the words going away camping at the weekend .Hopefully when they grow up they will realise how lucky they were to see all those nice places ,villages,beaches etc they had chance to see whilst camping.Its like alot of things when you are young you do not appreciate what you have but i will keep dragging ours away for as long as i can .

............Alan............

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My boys are 15,17 and 19 and are generally keen to tour with us in the summer. (also in the snow as they appreciate how cheap a ski/caravan holiday can be) They loved Europa Syllveya (sp?) on Lake Garda a couple of years back and would love to go again. We have been very careful over the years to choose sites with the right activities for the age of the boys, ie nice pools/play areas when they were young moving on to night clubs/discos/water sports as they got older. Our eldest now has a serious girlfriend and we have bought another annex for the awning to accommodate an extra person, though health problems with elderley relatives actually prevented us from going this year.

I don`t know how long you are going for but how about the girls join you for part of the time. We have done this a couple of times as cheap flights can often be bought. All you need is an accommodating friend or relative at this end to help out.

I would not go back to the sites generally that we have used with the boys as I would prefer quieter sites in different sorts of areas and also the memories would prevent me from enjoying the place.

Happy holidaying what ever you decide.

Borrow your grandkids! I am hoping thats what my parents will do when our little one arrives!