I decided to take my sister-in-law and her little boy on holiday. Ive regretted it a thousand times.
My husband and I are on our annual seaside camping getaway. For the past few years, weve all headed down to the coast with our friends, driving our own cars. Were seasoned pros by nowpitch the tents somewhere quiet and spend the days swimming and sunbathing. When the evening falls, we gather round a fire on the beach, strum a guitar and share a bottle of dry white wine while singing our favourite old tunes. This year, my sister-in-law, Rachel, joins usalong with her two-and-a-half-year-old son. We did wonder whether or not to bring them.
Unfortunately, we ended up giving in. Looking back, the trouble wasnt with my nephew, but with Rachel herself. The problems started as soon as we set off. Rachel insisted on stopping every hour. She was exhausted and needed to stretch out. Thanks to that, we arrived embarrassingly lateour friends were already well-settled, sprawled on picnic blankets, some of them even managed an evening dip. Still, we made it in the end, but then the trouble really began. Rachel was absolutely livid.
I cant possibly stay here! she said.
Why? We said were going camping!
I thought that meant wed look for a place when we arrived, maybe find a hotel room or B&B.
If that was the plan, why do you think we packed tents and sleeping bags? my husband muttered, getting quite irritable.
I just assumed you enjoyed a bit of tenting, not that the whole lot of us would be roughing it!
In the end, we had to rent a little room just for her. Then my husband had to play taxidriving her back and forth so she could join us during the day, then taking her back each night. It didnt stop there: she wanted lifts into cafes and to the local market; she asked all of us to watch her son while she took a break from her daily grind.
Despite all that, looking after the boy was no trouble for any of us. He was a lovely ladlistened well, ran about, splashed in the sea, ate anything you gave him, and napped quietly in the tent during the day. The only problem was his mother. Next year, weve all agreed well be leaving Rachel behind. But if his parents are happy, well happily take the little one alonghes a perfect camper!
