Holidays – it’s that time of year again – in just seven weeks the school term ends and six long weeks stretch ahead for your terrible teens. Have you booked a family trip, but instead of looking forward to it you’re filled with dread? Most of the year you don’t actually see your teenagers. They hide in their bedrooms, glued to gadgets, skulk down for mealtimes, if you’re lucky. A holiday will force you to spend time together as a family. And what about your partner? You hardly see him. He works long hours and actually your interests are very different. How you ever got married is a mystery. Or maybe, like me you’re a single parent and invite the ex along, partly for company and partly to take the stress away from dealing with the kids.
How can you ensure your family trip will be one to remember? Firstly don’t let everybody’s annoying habits get to you. If you read my book “Holiday” https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOLIDAY-Laugh-out-loud-romantic-Joanna-Warrington-ebook/dp/B01MXYJJ3V/ you’ll smile at all the annoying habits we have to put up with from family members and hopefully not react in the same way that the characters do! Like Lyn in “Holiday” I took my ex on holiday several years ago. Every day he washed his underpants and socks and hung them across the apartment balcony. He insisted on doing all the washing up and when I tried to help he flung the crockery around the room. Like Ray in “Holiday” he has Asperger tendencies. I’m pretty sure of it. It’s hard being on holiday with him! Ray in “Holiday” is based on my ex. My ex had a paddy in the car when the sat nav didn’t know where we were, so he got out and in a rage he jumped up and down on it! It was such a funny moment that I had to put the scene into “Holiday.”
Treat your teens like teens. Encourage them to use their iPhones to research the area, map read, look things up and play music in the car for the whole family to listen to. Agree acceptable screen time. Equally treat them like adults. Order a jug of sangria for the whole family. Let them stay out late, provided you know they will be safe. Set parameters. In “Holiday” Brett, 16 takes cocaine in Las Vegas. How would you cope if your teenager was offered drugs?
As a family you can bond over a meal. But don’t expect your teenagers to want to try exotic dishes like alligator, snails, steak tartare or even a humble paella. They want pizza, pizza and pizza. In “Holiday” Brett says “I’m a fun guy, give me pizza fungi.” There are far too many Mc Donald’s meals in “Holiday” but eating somewhere familiar will help you cope better and avoid any dramatic scenes and one of them storming out or sulking through the meal. It won’t be long before they’re grown up and then you can do what you like. For the moment though holidays need to be tailored to their interests, not yours.
“Holiday” is a funny feel good romantic comedy about a single mum journeying across America with her defiant teenagers and ex partner. It’s largely based on my own experiences. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOLIDAY-Laugh-out-loud-romantic-Joanna-Warrington-ebook/dp/B01MXYJJ3V/
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!