We are here and it’s hot and gorgeous. All settled in and slowing down by the minute. Very chilled. Just as it should be and relatively surprising given how many kids we’ve got with us. So different though now they’re all older. No more having to be in the pool monitoring armbands or on the beach building sandcastles. They’re all pretty self sufficient and want to get a tan and listen to music and occasionally pick up a book (especially if it’s got rude bits in). So we’re facing different challenges – how independent are they allowed to be and how late can the older ones stay out until and how to avoid spending a million pounds every time we go out for something to eat.
With these dynamics, the challenge is finding the right balance for everyone concerned. Mostly the problem is that we are already on a different time zone to all the teenagers. Especially my recently returned gap year son. The first morning I had to wake him up at 9am to go and collect his girlfriend from the airport. An impossible task. I tried 5 times over half an hour and each time he just stared at me blearily and said “OMG CHILL OUT – what’s the problem, there’s plenty of time” and then went back to sleep. “Why are you so stressed?” kept appearing…..”I’m not stressed, I’m JUST TRYING TO WAKE YOU UP” – something he hasn’t been used to for over 6 months now. What a rude shock the real world is going to be for him some time down the line.
In general, en masse, the older teenagers massively perk up and come into their own around 9.30pm, just as I am beginning to wilt. Already (and it’s only day two) I have been up four hours before I hear a peep from them and it’s only going to get worse as they get more nocturnal and find their feet on the night life they’re looking for.
Still we are managing a group meeting at the pool. Lounge lizard city. Lots of us all comparing tans. Me sitting miles away because I can’t quite cope with all that young flesh compared to mine. Typically, because you can’t quite get away from it, there are several “Fifty Shades” books being read. “STOP READING PORN AND GET IN THE POOL” was the classic shout out from yesterday. Half the pool congregation looked up.
We are of course managing group meals out too because that is the main appeal for the all the kids and just lovely for us to be surrounded by so many funny brilliant characters. Love it. They do too. They get fed and watered before heading off on their own…..I don’t want them to do that every night, so occasionally I’m going to have to stay up a little later than I’d want to – but equally you want them to enjoy their freedom and come on holiday again next year. I certainly wasn’t allowed a free reign when I was on holiday with my parents – their money, their rules…..so just trying to work it all out. We’ve still got to have rules, but with perhaps a little more room for flexibility around the edges.
