Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I'm on vacation right now with my in laws.

i'm getting some passive aggressive flack about how strict I am with Logan on some things because it's "Vacation".

I've let up on the structure of our day - bedtime is lax and bathtime is skipped a few days.

But I don't think vacation is an excuse to be whiney or rude.

Please and thank you are still musts.

Throwing a fit because your plate is blue and you wanted a white one? Not happening - vacation or no vacation.

Whining and carrying on that you are "too tired" to clean up when you were just running all around playing? No sir.


Please tell me I'm not the only one here who doesn't hand their kid a "free pass to bratdom" just because it's vacation.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I am the same as you described. a little more easy going with the bedtime, baths, etc...but in general, she is still expected to have manners and behave the way I would expect her to at home.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

i'm with you!

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I think you are doing the right thing.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I completely agree with you!

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Posted by janedoe


I completely agree with you!

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

with you! I follow same routine vacation or no vacation

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Vacation is for fun. But not free for all to forget manners, etc...

Yes, we have been more relaxed on bed time but otherwise, we don't change anything either on our parenting style.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I am with you too and I got the same flack last year when we brought my mom with us.

My kids still received time outs if they needed them.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

i am with you....vacation is not an excuse to lose your manners!

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I do the same as you - bedtime is more lax - but not that lax because it makes them more difficult to deal with the next day. Baths every other day.

Manners still count, brattiness not tolerated. I wouldn't hesitate to dole out punishments, sitting out of an activity, read quietly because we're on vacation.

When he gets arrested on Spring Break, tell the ILs they have to pony up the bail money.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I would never let that behavior fly because we were on vacation. No way no how. You're in the right.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I agree with you 100%!! Logan has NOTHING to gain from losing all respect for rules and manners. Making the difficult decisions now will mean EVERYTHING to him in the future. You're a great mommy Lauren

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I'm with you!!!!

And really, it doesn't matter what they think, you're the mom, you make the rules!

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Respect is never negotiable!

Schedules- go out the window (bedtime, naptime, even what they eat/when they eat)

BUT; manners/respect- to me its apart of life that needs to be ALL the time regardless of where we are/what we are doing!

As far as whining... I accept that sometimes it is a result of loss of schedule (nap time/bed time or extra activities) I correct it, but understand why that may be there... (if that makes any sense!)

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Bedtime, baths, and eating schedule is lax, but there is no excuse for not using manners and being rude.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I agree with the way you handled things. I let Sabrina have a more relaxed week on vacation last month but she still had to do some basic things. We expected her to respect us and say please/thank you. If she complained she was tired, we told her we would head back to the room and not see something in particular.

We were lenient with schedule and eating and I made it a point to tell DH to relax and not get on her case about stupid little nagging things and not blow a fit if she spilled something.

It is easy to overlook some things, but constant disrespect would result in time spent in the hotel.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

I'm with you.

I'm always lax with bedtime anyway. She's a healthy eater and pretty well behaved .. BUT

In Hawaii she wanted more marshmallows (no) I got a few nasty stares and said "You don't have to sit an airplane for 10hrs with her home, nor do you have to deal with the let down in 3days so I'm only SAVING her sorrow later".

She got put in time out a few times and did so respectfully.

Sorry no sitituation allows free pass to bad behavior, ever.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Thank you for your responses.

I'm not waivering from what I've been doing, but I was curious about how others handle it.

As relaxing as this vacation has been, I'm very ready to get back to my normal Logan.

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?

Re: Do you let your kids behave differently on vacation?