I’m jealous that parents take their kids on better holidays than me
A mom has revealed she’s jealous of friends who can afford better family vacations than her, making her feel like “a failure.”
The anonymous poster went to the UK parenting forum Mumsnet and explained that she is afraid of school holidays.
She explained that “everyone” she knows has more money than she does, and that her weekends in Wales make her feel “small and embarrassed” compared to their lavish ski trips and holidays in Dubai.
The mom said she knows she should be happy for her friends, but instead “feels like a failure that she can’t give her kids these experiences.”
However, many other users were baffled by the mother’s post, with one writing, “You’re only making yourself miserable, which your kids will pick up on… Kids don’t mind big luxury vacations, we adults are.” !’
A British mum has revealed she’s jealous her friends can take their kids on a better holiday than them, making her feel like a ‘failure’ (stock image)
The anonymous poster went to Mumsnet to ask if she was being unreasonable in resenting her friends
Explaining her feelings, the mother wrote, “I dread school holidays. Especially since everyone we know has a lot more money than us, resulting in an endless stream of Instagram or Facebook posts about skiing, Dubai, Thailand, whatever.
“I know I should be happy for them, but I just feel like a failure for not being able to give my kids these experiences.
“I do my best to avoid social media, but this topic inevitably pops up in conversation.”
She ended the post by writing: ‘I find myself feeling small and embarrassed that we’re just going to Wales for a long weekend.
“I know there are people with much bigger problems than this, but I’m a little worn out and feeling thin and jealous.”
The post garnered more than 200 comments, with other parents sympathizing and saying they understand, but others wondering why it bothered her.
One user said, “Don’t feel jealous at all. I bet your kids are just having the best time going to Wales and they don’t even have the slightest thought of doing anything else.
‘Other people do nice things and you do your thing. I’d be proud to take my kids to do fun things, so no more of this “embarrassed” nonsense.’
Other users were sympathetic to the parent’s plight and drew from their own experiences in the comments
Another said: ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.
‘There will be people who don’t even go to Wales for a long weekend. Try to get the most out of what you can do. I’m sure your kids will have fond memories of that time, especially if mom/dad has a positive attitude during the trip.’
A third added: ‘We can’t even afford a long weekend in Wales. Still, I don’t mind, it is what it is. We do a lot of fun things and my children are happy.’
But while some Mumsnet users comforted the parent, others wondered why she was concerned about the situation.
One user questioned her finances and wrote, “Is there a reason why you can’t afford a vacation?” What is the obstacle to earning more?
“I mean, if you don’t work through choice or you don’t feel like going to college/university so you can afford these things, then that’s just the way it goes.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a holiday to Wales either,” they added.
But other users questioned why the parent was concerned about the situation, saying she was just “making herself miserable”
One mother said, ‘But why does this concern you and cost you energy? I have friends and colleagues who go on holiday much more often than I do. Of course it would be in our conversations, but it doesn’t really bother me.
‘I ask them questions about their travels, there are always interesting things to learn or funny stories to laugh at.
“They’ve never said anything to make me feel bad/inferior, so there’s no problem.”
‘My DC [dear child] often talked to me about wanting to travel more. My answer is always the same: this is what I can afford, or what I want to afford in favor of other things.
“When you grow up, you can travel as much as you want and can afford.”