Joanna Fortune: Going on holidays with my sister but our parenting styles could not be more different

"Making conscious changes to your routine with your children in mind is not moving away from structure; it is changing it temporarily."

children are running towards the shore at the sea in swimming trunks, running on the sand, enjoying themselves and being happy

My children love my sister’s older children, so we’ve booked a joint week in the sun next month. We are close, but our parenting styles couldn’t be more different. She lets the children stay up late and eat when they are hungry, while I prefer a structured approach so everyone knows what to expect. How can we avoid falling out over the children?

You and your sister have good insight into each other’s parenting styles and you get along despite your differences. Managing these differences on holidays requires planning.