Boomer Parents Upset Son Refuses to Pay $12,000 for His Family of 5 to Join Their 2-Week Vacation

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Oct 7, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Family vacations can be a great way to bond, but for one son, his Boomer parents' expectations have gone way overboard. They're planning a two-week Thanksgiving getaway and expect their son, along with his family of five, to join them. But between the $12,000 price tag for airfare and covering half of the Airbnb—not to mention the cost of food and activities—the son had to draw the line. Besides, two weeks off work isn't an option, and the kids can't miss that much school.

Instead of understanding, the parents tried to guilt trip him, saying things like, "You only live once." The son, tired of the pressure, offered a compromise: if they're so insistent, they could pay for his family's airfare. Unsurprisingly, the parents refused, calling it too expensive. Apparently, spending thousands is fine when it's someone else footing the bill—classic Boomer entitlement at its finest.

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  • 01
    r/BoomersBeing Fools me315 My boomer parents are mad that we "don't want to spend time with them" because we don't want to pay $12,000+ to go on a family vacation.
    via u/me315
  • 02
    My retired boomer parents decided they wanted to go to Hawaii in November, they will be there over thanksgiving. They wanted my family of 5 to join them for 2 weeks. 1. We cant take 2 weeks off work
    via u/me315
  • 03
    2. My kids can't take a week and 1/2 off of school 3. The airfare for 5 people plus 1/2 the cost of the condo is over $12,000 and that doesn't include any activities or food while we're there. And they expect us to arrange this in about a month. Ok boomer.
    via u/me315
  • 04
    I told them these things and now they're and moaning that we don't want to spend time with them over the holiday. I flat out told them we can't afford it and they're trying to guilt trip me by telling me "you only live once" "you have to make memories
    via u/me315
  • 05
    with your kids while they're young" yada yada. I said, fine, if this is so important to you can you cover our airfare and we will still chip in for the condo. Of corse that's too expensive and they can't afford such things. Ok then, I guess we
    via u/me315
  • 06
    will see you when you get back. Frankly I'm glad because now I won't have to put up with them on thanksgiving, we can have a nice peaceful holiday at home without a side of guilt tripping.
    via u/me315
  • 07
    Ok_Project_2613 • 1d ago This is the way. Turn it back on them that they only have so much time to see their grandkids when they're little, isn't it worth them spending the money to make memories with them?
    via u/Ok_Project_2613
  • 08
    • Melodic Policy765 1d ago • They've overextended themselves and want you to pay for the condo.
    via u/Melodic_Policy765
  • 09
    Snarky_McSnarkleton • 1d ago Two weeks in an AirBnB with boomers. Sounds like a reality show. WHO WILL SURVIVE?
    via u/Snarky_McSnarkleton
  • 10
    Practical_Wish8416 . 1d ago This is the same generation that about younger people "spending beyond their means", yet they want you to drop $12K to hang out with them over Thanksgiving. Crazy times.
    via u/Practical_Wish8416
  • 11
    420medicineman • 1d ago • Can relate. My boomer parents retired from Michigan to Hawaii, and would then get upset at me for not coming to see them unless they paid. Plus they'd get REALLY mad if we ever went anywhere else. I was newly married with two newborns working for a social services agency. Made like
    via u/420medicineman
  • 12
    30K/year. I tried to remind them that when they were at that stage of life, they couldn't afford to take their family to Hawaii every year. They truly didn't seem to get it. Also, don't ask them to cover the costs. They'll hold that over your head until the day they die.
    via u/420medicineman
  • 13
    Intelligent_Mud692 • 1d ago I HATE traveling. Yet every year my folks ask when we're gonna fly down to their 2nd house in Florida... they offer to comp everything, sure. But we dont want to go to Florida. I have limited vacation time and using a week of it to go somewhere i hate is not relaxing at all. I'd
    via u/Intelligent_Mud692
  • 14
    much rather they just invite us over for dinner on one of the hundreds of days out of the year that they are in-town.
    via u/Intelligent_Mud692
  • 15
    Meta Professor • 1d ago • ΜΡΙ Gen X Get ready for the best Thanksgiving ever. My family has set a no boomers rule for family gatherings and it has made everything so. much. better. We have a ton of fun and it's really brought us all closer together.
    via u/Meta_Professor
  • 16
    • ganon95 23h ago "Why can't you go" "It's too expensive" "No it's not" "Then you pay for it" "I can't, it's too expensive"
    via u/ganon95
  • 17
    BigFitMama • 1d ago • Branson is less expensive than Hawaii for an example. Las Vegas, too. And it's lovely weather in Fall. Prob going to OG Cali Disneyland for 2-3 days and the Hampton Inn or BnB rental would be 1/4 of that cost plus you could afford beach trip,
    via u/BigFitMama
  • 18
    rental car, and good food. There's lots of good options. that aren't a 15-22 hour flight to Hawaii as neat as it is there.
    via u/BigFitMama
  • 19
    QueenieMcGee • 1d ago Flip it back on them and tell em "Why don't you spend any time with us? Don't you care about seeing your grandkids? You only live once, plus you guys are old and running out of life. Shouldn't you be cherishing what little time you have left with your family?!?!"
    via u/QueenieMcGee
  • 20
    Guest2424 1d ago • If they wanted to spend time with family, they wouldnt have flown off to Hawaii.
    via u/Guest2424
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ok boomer family drama drama kids parenting baby boomers boomers family trip reddit thread Reddit son parents vacation
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