Destination
BC: New York, Ibiza, Dublin. Places where booze can be drunk, fun can be had and shopping can be done. Non stop partying and lying round the pool the next day, or visiting the wondrous local tourist sights.
AD: Places filled with other rabid children and knackered parents. Children shoved in every possible nook and cranny. Preferably tops a two hour drive away. Any further? You're in for a journey from hell (don't remind the husband of the ten hour Eurodisney drive when the girl puked three times during hour one). You choose your destination based on whether it has a good soft play and a pool that opens at 6am with lots of slides.
Free trampolines? Yes please!
Packing
BC: Bikinis, wedges, specially brought 'going out' outfits in white to show off your tan.
AD: Everything you own. Bar obviously a few vital things you will inevitably forget, which your husband will use against you in future arguments to prove your crap packing skills. Despite you packing for over a week prior to your departure. I forgot to pack swimming nappies once. This basically proved I was a bad mother. Forget the white dress, if you do make it abroad you will be forced into the shade for the fear your children will burn alive, so will see no sun. And white? You can't hide poo stains on a white dress. Fact.
Food
BC: You may have tried to taste the local delights. Sat down for lengthy, boozy meals where money was no object and you had all the time in the world. You would not only enjoy a few cheeky cocktails but also indulge a ice cream based pudding as well.
AD: All you can eat buffet. A place where you can gurantee to have chips (Annabel Karmel can sod off when you're on your holiday) and also you can make as much mess as humanly possible without feeling guilty. This type of meal will inevitably mean that you never actually eat food with your partner as one is always at the buffet waiting for more nuggets. Whilst the other? Restraining the children from putting their mouth under the ice cream machine. PS take a big bag and fill it with rolls and fruit to last you the rest of the day. It's your right!
Man or Woman. Dressed as Scooby = happy girl.
Entertainment
BC: Maybe some nice Spanish music in a little cafe you find and it becomes 'your place'. Or perhaps hit a club with mates and get to listen to a song that will become the song of the summer, and when you hear it back home you can say you heard it first.
AD: People dressed as things. Could be Scooby. Could be Bob. Could be Belle. Just people. Dressed up as other things. Miming to crap songs. Eventually you will cave in and somehow will also get excited by this and will find yourself screaming "Miiiiinnnnniiiie" as you run after a character, punching other parents in the face (subtlety) to get a photo with them.
So there you go. After delivery your holidays will never be the same. In fact? You will end up coming home so exhausted you could do with another holiday to get over it. But there's no worries. Your kids will leave home at 18 by which point you will be in your late 40s/50s and there's nothing classier than a mid 50s woman, in a white bikini, supping cocktails whilst dancing to the new hot dance craze. Right?
Fab post as ever.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have never actually been on one of those grown up holidays of which you speak. That's what happens when you have your first child at 27 and you've only just started earning money!
It's ok! You can be the lady dancing in your bikini at the end! You will have a great old time! xxx
DeleteHaha this is fab! We are about to take Boo on her first abroad Hol, and looked for all that criteria when choosing the hotel! We're going with hubby's fam so hopefully Boo will just want to hang out with them and hubs and I can pretend we're on a BC Hol for a lil while at least!! Our other hols AD have all been self catering in this country- I can't believe I'm not going to have to cook, or even prepare breakfast for 12 days!!!!!!!! This is defo what I'm most excited about! That, and we have a swim-up room! I said it was an absolute necessity so that we can still lounge outside the room when Boo's napping! They do have their benefits this kids don't they?! Hope you have a fab time on your Hol- where are u off too??! Xxx
ReplyDeleteYay for not making breakfast! So exciting! Oh I intend to read and sit on the balcony whilst the boys snoozes. I just can't wait! xxx
Deleteha ha yep so with you on this! To be in any way happy yourself the kids have to be amused at all times. We are off to center parcs in france in May, a sort of happy compromise :)
ReplyDeleteOh my god! Theres a center parcs in France??? Sounds amaze! xxx
DeleteThis is great. I remember taking Buba away for the first time and even both of them just recently to Lanzarote. It's definitely different type of holiday and things to do and packing etc is SOOO different. But we make the most of it and still all have a great time. Glad you get to get away for easter. Have fun. Thanks so much for linking up to Share With Me and all the blog support. Feeling the love. #sharewithme
ReplyDeleteThat's where we are going! Can't wait! Glad you're feeling the love bab. Good luck with the mads! xxx
Deleteeeek!! We're off on our first family holiday in October...to a wedding with none parents. It's got disaster written all over it! Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDelete#sharewithme
Oh ignore everything I say. I'm a miserable sod! xxx
DeleteYou see I know that 50 year old woman will be me! In fact I'm already in my 40s, wear a bikini and never say "no" to a cocktail. I don't wear a white bikini though. Definitely not white. Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh yes twill be me too but in a sensible cossie! Can't wait! xxx
DeleteOh yes, all so true! I love my holidays with the kids, but sometimes, just sometimes, I hanker for that holiday where I lie in, get up and have a huge leisurely breakfast and then flop in the sun by the pool all day. Oh well, one day again, maybe...!
ReplyDeleteSigh. One day. We will be normal again! One day!!!!!! xxx
DeleteAww I love your post! I am nodding at every points tackled =P #sharewithme
ReplyDeleteThanks! It proves we are all the same xxx
DeleteI know I tweeted you yesterday, but your post does make me laugh, a lot! Have fun in Lanzer-grotty! x
ReplyDeleteWe had loads of fun! xxx
DeleteWhat a great post! We're going away in June with little bean and I'll admit I'm a little anxious and trying to cover ever event possible, lol #sharewithme
ReplyDeleteIt will be fab. As much as I moan holidays are good with the kids. But you will be knackered xxx
DeleteVery funny! We re attempting our first trip on a plane with our 3 young kids this year! Hopefully the kids will behave on the plane. I remember travelling BC on planes and getting so annoyed with kids kicking your seat and crying etc... oh well there will be wine when we arrive!
ReplyDeleteHahaha this post has just made me literally lol it is so true!!! last time we went away was with all four kids and it was "interesting" to say the least x #archiveday
ReplyDeleteHa. Agree with all of this. With our youngest just turned two, that's only 16 years to go. Oh. My. God.
ReplyDelete