been awake since 5.30 pondering and thought i'd write on here to get things off my chest and see if any of you ladies had any thoughts on what i'll write about next(WARNING this could be a long one)
due to go on holiday at the end of august when i'll be 36 weeks pregnant, which would be lovely if it were just me and OH going, but were supposed to be going with some friends and their 2 year old and also OH'S 2 boys, the friends i can deal with but the thought of taking OH'S kids away is filling me with absolute dread!!!!
the most time we've spent with OH'S kids in the last 2 years is about 48hrs (long story, demonic ex all sorts of reasons why haven't had them for longer but i won't go into that)so the fact that we're going to be away for a whole week with them is scaring me.
i find it quite hard spending time with them even if it's just for a few hours let alone a week. OH thinks it'll all be fine and dandy and that we'll just 'keep them busy' 'what 24/7' i don't know what planet he's on you can tell he hasn't spent more than a few days with kids. they fight at the best of times which all kids do, but i just don't think OH gets how hard a whole week will be when he's only used to a couple of days.
when i said about a month ago that i wasn't sure i wanted to go he got arsey with me and said 'well you better make your mind up cos i'm not payin for a holiday and then you not go' 2 days later he paid for the holiday anyway without any further discussions with me and it really p****d me off it felt like he just thought tough s**t to what i felt we were going anyway.
really sorry to have gone on but just wondered what any of you would do or have done in my situation.
love laura 29wks+3dayblue bump
(might get back to sleep now i've got that off my chest!!!)

your post was total deja vu for me cos I've been in your situation several times! OH's parents live 200 miles away from us in Devon and we take his kids down to see them at least once a year. I always feel exactly like you in the weeks leading up to going, only usually have the kids at weekends so the prospect of looking after them for a week is always seriously daunting. I've tried everything to persuade OH to go without me but he won't hear of it so I end up feeling that if I don't go then he and the kids miss out on seeing his parents and vice versa, feels like a massive responsibility. I have to say it's never as bad as I anticipate though, being away does seem to make it easier and there is undoubtedly more to do in a holiday setting than trying to keep them occupied at home. You're right you won't manage to keep them busy 24/7 but there probably will be enough to do that they'll be too tired to play up when you do get some down time. The other thing I've noticed is that they're different kids when they're away with us. They seem to realise that they have to play by our rules, not their moms and are actually nicer when we're away than any other time! We're definitely stricter than their mom and they know we won't put up with the kind of c**p their mom does and you have to remember they'll probably feel a bit lost and more dependant on your good humour than at home so they might just surprise you. I think it's a bonus that your friends and their little one are going with you too, you'll probably find the kids will want to spend their time together and you'll have less to do with them than you think. If you can talk to your friends beforehand (the mom in particular) and explain that you're feeling tired because of the pregnancy they may well take some of the pressure of you too, remember they have their own to look after and keep amused already and your OH's 2 can probably be included in a lot of their activities even if there's a big age gap kids are kids at the end of the day. You know I'm always here for a chat if you need it hun, hope it doesn't turn out too bad for you.

Lotsa love,
Clare 22+6 xxxx

Sorry Laura and 29wks+3day blue bump
A holiday is a holiday and i would go - but man i would play on being pregnant.... you have the best excuse ever. You have a bump which allows you say you need time on your own, that you need peace, give you an excuse for snapping at the little sods iof they do p**s you off. You harmones are your excuse - use them for you and be selfish if you need to be.
Personally i dont have this problem all my mates kids are little angels for me, i think coz they know what will happen if they are not lol
Enjoy your holiday, thats what holidays are for, maybe have a word with your friend and just say that you irritable at the moment so might not be great having the kids around you all the time - she might take them off to leave you some time and your OH alone.
Micaela 6.6wks (grain of rice)