Holidays with In-Laws

dewsbury

Hi all,

This poll is really for those who are probably 40+ with children.

My spouse and I differ in this matter.
We will be renting a house (or two?) in West Cork for a week in the summer.
My spouses sister, her husband and two teenage kids will be joining us.

The Question:
===========
There will be 4 adults, 4 teenagers and one 8 year old.
Do we rent one 4 bed house or two? (1 Bathroom with additional toilet downstairs.)
(Money not an issue).

Argument for one house is that we will all bond together better and share meals and commmunal time together as a family.

Argument for two house is that we will have our own privacy and "space".

PLACE YOU VOTES NOW!

goat2

Two houses please - I need the space

one larger house would still give you the space, i know that you say money would not be a problem, but for the sake of the young ones also they could use one of the rooms in the larger house for their snug, and all have a ball together, how many boys and girls in the young age group,

dewsbury

9 people in all - houses are 4 bed but not huge. One shower / two toilets.

Ages:

4 adults over 45

Teenagers : 18,15,15,13 and an 8 year old.

goat2

Two houses please - I need the space

dewsbury wrote: »

9 people in all - houses are 4 bed but not huge. One shower / two toilets.

Ages:

4 adults over 45

Teenagers : 18,15,15,13 and an 8 year old.

the 18 yr old will feel like he/she is in a creche, if you had a 6 bed house, yes it would be very enjoyable, but with that mix of ages the 4 bed would be a problem, then 2 houses would be better if a larger one is not available, the 18 yr old would need their own room, the 2 15 yr old in another room, and the 8 yr old in another room them the parents rooms would really call for a 6 bedroomed house for all

RachaelVO

Holy fighting holidays Batman, that is a total no brainer... 2 HOUSES!!!!

Under no circumstances could anyone persuade me to rent ONE house with my sister (and we're close) and her family, I'd fecking well kill them.

Jaysus one house and there'll be very few presents under the tree next Christmas!

Robbo

Moved to Travel.

Leper

Depends on personalities

Last person standing, please post here. 2 hourses repeat two houses.

mikedragon32

Depends on personalities

Two houses OP. Even the best of friendships can be strained in a cramped house!

By all means spend as much time as you want together in one house, but both families will appreciate the ability to go back to their own house to recharge or have some time away from the other family.

It also gives you the option to do your own thing as a family and join up again later without much fuss or planning.

fofany

I'd go for the 2 houses. A week is a long time & I would need my own space. What if the weather is so wet that you are all stuck in the one house together? 2 houses next door to eachother would be ideal.

dewsbury

As the OP...


I find the responses interesting.

I have tried to be as objective as possible in my Poll .....

Next question is .... do I show the Poll to my spouse or keep it a secret!
More responses welcome.

ncmc

Depends on personalities

Absolutely 2 houses OP. If they are in the same complex, or even better, next door to each other, you can still have comunal meals and bonding time, but the difference is you can retreat to your own house for a bit of peace and quiet and some time alone with your own family.

If you are all in the same house, shower and breakfast time would be bedlam! You'd need an undustrial sized kettle and toaster

For your own sanity OP, please go with two houses or at very least a much larger single house.

ncmc

Depends on personalities

dewsbury wrote: »

As the OP...


I find the responses interesting.

I have tried to be as objective as possible in my Poll .....

Next question is .... do I show the Poll to my spouse or keep it a secret!
More responses welcome.

I take it your spouse is the one who wants the one house, and you want two?

In that case I would show the poll to your spouse, some very convincing attitudes for having two houses.

If it's you that wants one house, then don't show it. No real persuasive reasons for one house here!

dewsbury

You are right ncmc .... I am the one who wants two houses.


It is interesting that you deducted this and indicates that perhaps my portrayal of the situation was not fully objective!

However, it is not too serious a matter!

ncmc

Depends on personalities

dewsbury wrote: »

You are right ncmc .... I am the one who wants two houses.


It is interesting that you deducted this and indicates that perhaps my portrayal of the situation was not fully objective!

However, it is not too serious a matter!

I think your OP was fairly objective,you stated the facts as they are, I wonder if your spouse has a more idealised view of the house sharing, whereas it seems to be that you have the more realistic view!

Show your spouse this thread, I bet they see the light and go for 2 houses

zagmund

You need two sets of everything. Two kitchens, two bathrooms, two living rooms, etc . . .

One is just too small.

What happens when cousin Jimmy keeps putting his dirty dishes in the sink and just leaving them there ? Or when Auntie Maisy insists that the TV viewing will consist of Coronation Street, East Enders, Life in Wenslydale, Armenia's got Talent, etc . . .

For a day or two you can live with that. By the end of the week you'll be cursing whoever thought it would be nice to share a house.

You really do need somewhere to retreat to. When everything's going swimingly the adults can be in one place, doing whatever it is adults do in your family (cards, drink, telly, music, etc . . .) and the kids can be in the other doing whatever it is kids do in your family. If someone wants a break they just go into the other house to escape. When everyone is in the one house you can't do that.

z

Elliejo

Two houses. Join up for main meal each day but alternate between the houses so nobody is left to do all the cooking/cleaning up.

dewsbury

..from the OP ..

Any final votes before I show my spouse..???