Gemma Collins and Kate Ferdinand are part of blended families who enjoy holidays – navigating them isn't always easy, so experts have shared their top tips with OK!
Reality TV queen Gemma Collins, 41, recently said she was “buzzing” to be on her first family holiday with fiancé Rami Hawash, 48, and his son Tristan, three.Kate Ferdinand, 30, enjoyed a break in the Maldives with hubby Rio, 43, their son Cree, one, and Rio’s kids, Lorenz, 15, Tate, 13, and Tia, 10. But while blended families are the fastest-growing family type in the UK, they face some unique challenges.
So, if you have a blended family, make your first getaway a success with tips from Navit and Professor Lisa Doodson, author of How To Be A Happy Stepmum and founder of the Happy Steps parenting website. 2. Give everyone their own space Providing plenty of space makes it “easier to manage some of the more intense feelings”, explains Navit. Lisa says that, rather than going for a hotel where room is limited and you’ll be living on top of each other, a house might work better. Tempted to chuck all the kids into one big room? “Discuss it beforehand,” says Navit. “Younger children might find that exciting, but older kids might hate it.
From exclusive at home tours, cleaning hacks, the latest in beauty trends - and of course, all the latest celebrity gossip, look no further.When planning a getaway, you hope it will help to build relationships and strengthen bonds in your new family – just bear in mind the old adage that less can be more. “Keep it simple, don’t be over-ambitious,” says Lisa. “Don’t start with a week in the Maldives. A short, cheap break in the UK is a better starting point.
5. Don't expect everything to go smoothly There are bound to be some meltdowns. “Big feelings will arise,” admits Navit. It could be scary for children to be away from their other parent, or there might be some sadness or resentment. 7. Don't expect everyone to do everything together 24/7 “You don’t have to all be knitted together for the whole holiday,” says Lisa. “A small amount of quality time together is better than forcing everyone to do things they don’t want to do, creating resentment.”