About to go on vacation...

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I've been married to my husband for about 2 years and we are about to leave this weekend to go on our first family vacation. I have 3 teenage kids and he has 2 and we are taking them all. I am feeling so much anxiety about his kids coming and I wish we could just leave them at home. His son, age 11 is obsessed with video games/youtube/his phone and never puts it down. I have no relationship with him because that is literally all he does. His dad doesn't say or do much to get him to engage in the family, its just awkward. His daughter, age 20 is a bratty attention seeker that never comes around fo longer than 10 minutes at a time and now we are expected to spend a whole week couped up in a little condo with her? I just worry its going to ruin the whole trip having them there. Anyone got any words of wisdom to help get me through? I'm really hoping it goes opposite of how I am envisioning and we all get along and get to know each other better.

Yes. BTDT. Do plan escapes

Yes. BTDT. Do plan escapes and activities to do on your own. If there was ever a need to parallel parent, this is it. Maybe gather for breakfast as a group then your half skips off for a fun day and they can do what they want. You will need to prepare for DH to get annoyed with the skids and want to join you but even then drive separately if you can so when the skids act up , you can skip out and on to a better activity. I pray for good weather and warm temperatures for you so you won't be cooped up in a condo together.

Yes please pray! My plan is

Yes please pray! My plan is to be on the beach the whole time with a drink in my hand. LOL I'm gonna need it to survive!

If you did not have a good

Relationship with SK, why are you spending a week with them? Sounds like a makings for a disaster. I agree make plans to escape with your bios. Check around vacation spot for activity for you and your kids, so you have some place to go. Even thing like lunch in a shopping mall

Good Question...

It's not that I have a "bad" relationship with them. We don't fight and argue when we are around each other. The frustrations I have with them are not known to them because I keep it all in. They just drive me insane with their personalities and mannerisms. I am really planning to try to go with the flow and hopefully it will all be great. This is exactly why I feel like such a bitch over this whole situation. I can't understand why I have such negative feelings towards them all the time. As for doing things on our own, I have already made everyone aware that since there are 7 of us going down, there will more than likely be a time we don't all want to do the same thing so it will be ok to break away from each other.

ifeellikeabitch

"I cant understand why I have such negative feelings"

I can, or anyone reading this. Dang it lady what you described anyone would have negative feelings. Your gut knows. After everytime you see them do you feel shitty? Aggrivated? If you do thats their energy imprinting on you.

It could be worse you were just going with the skids without your bios. So you have your bios to draw attention away from the energy vampires. That and booze, like lots of booze LOL It wont be an ideal vacation by any means but hopefully it is tolerable. If it isnt, which I sense it wont be, never do this again. This is a test.

Hope you post a follow up as to how it went.

Did you ever think this was a

Did you ever think this was a good idea, or did your husband force you into this vacation? I'd recommend managing expectations and having an escape route, whether that's having separate activities in mind for you and your kids or a means to get home if it's a total disaster. Good luck - I hope it turns out much better than you think it will!

One thing I have learned

One thing I have learned about blended family vacations is there always seems to be one or two people who become the "tour guide" for the group. Meaning they end up doing all the planning while others sit around and complain about what they are doing. Don't fall into that trap! Also allow time for just you and your DH.