Most families have different ideas about what a holiday should involve.
For some, no trip is complete until you've gone out exploring a new place, but others would much prefer to lounge around a pool, with a good book in hand.
Sadly, one mum was left deflated after her children's idea of fun completely clashed with her own.
While the single parent had been looking forward to getting out and about, her kids wanted to stay in on their phones.
And after her daughters ended up getting their way for most of the trip, she had been left feeling it was "s**t".
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Taking to Mumsnet to express her frustration, the mum to three girls, aged 21, 16, and 13, shared her regret.
She wrote: "I've been looking forward to this holiday for so long and have been really looking forward to it. I'm not a deluded fool though. I knew we'd have our moments. I adore my children but probably wouldn't choose to spend this much time with them, in two rooms.
"I am fed up of managing their moods, their spats, trying to get them out the room at a reasonable time (2pm today).
"I've just told them - calmly - that I won't be doing this again, and that future holidays can be taken with their father (money no object to him). That if they wanted to stay in on their phones, we could have stayed home."
She continued: "I'm doing my best and it's going to s**t. I should add that it hasn't been ALL bad. I do seem to be catastrophising though, probably because it meant a lot to me that we all had a good time."
The mum then asked for "some words of wisdom so that we can enjoy our last few days together."
And her fellow parents were quick to offer words of encouragement.
One commenter wrote: "Oh you poor thing - fellow single mama of 3 teens here and I feel your pain!"
She also suggested the mum should plan her own day then tell the kids they had to be ready before a set time if they wanted to come along.
Another agreed, writing: "Let them get on with it and go and enjoy yourself. Stuff em, if they want to stare at their phones then they can carry on, don’t let it spoil your holiday. Teenagers can ruin anything."
But a third thought: "Its natural to want everyone to have the best possible holiday and be excited for family time, teenagers are just built differently and sometimes the best way to have a great time is to just let them come to you naturally and enjoy their space as well."
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.
