So, let me tell you what happened when I brought my sister-in-law and her little boy along on holiday. Honestly, I mustve regretted it a thousand times over.
It all started with this seaside trip my husband and I go on every year. For the last few summers, weve done these trips down to the coast with our friends we all pile into our cars, drive down with tents and all, and just pick a spot to camp. Were pros at this now. Days are for swimming, sunbathing, or just having a laugh, and once the sun goes down, were round the campfire singing with a guitar, sipping a bit of good dry wine. Just bliss. This year, though, my sister-in-law, Alice, wanted to tag along and she brought her little boy, whos about two and a half.
We did wonder if it was such a good idea taking them along. But after much deliberation, we agreed and thats when the trouble truly began. Honestly, the little one wasnt any bother at all. It was Alice who nearly drove us round the bend.
From the get-go, everything was more difficult. On the journey, Alice kept asking us to stop every hour because she was too tired and needed to stretch her legs. With all these breaks, we turned up really late; our friends were already there, fully settled in and even managed a quick dip before we arrived.
But the real drama kicked off the moment we arrived. Alice had a face like thunder and immediately announced, Im not staying here!
I tried to keep my cool and told her, We warned you, Alice were camping!
She huffed and replied, I thought you meant wed find somewhere to stay once we got here. Like a B&B or a guesthouse, not literally camping on the beach.
I could just see my husband losing patience: Why do you think we brought sleeping bags and tents?
She just moaned, I thought you all just called it camping.
In the end, we had to rent a room for her. And, of course, my husband had to ferry her back and forth between the little guesthouse and the beach every day, then take her back every evening. On top of that, we ended up chauffeuring her around to cafés and shops, and whatever else she fancied. If ever she needed a break from her exhausting routine, wed be on child duty.
Not that I minded looking after our nephew the kids a dream, really. He runs about, splashes in the sea, eats whatevers put in front of him, and naps happily in the tent during the day. So much easier than his mother.
Next year, theres no way were inviting Alice again. But honestly, Id take the little lad in a heartbeat if his folks wanted a break. Hes just the right sort of person for a camping trip.
