A parent says they cut their holiday short after just 24 hours because they were being driven "crazy" by their sons fighting "like cats and dogs" and behaving like "brats".

Although they've "had countless talks with them about respecting each other", these have so far proven unsuccessful, and their intense sibling rivalry has now gotten to the stage where they're being "disruptive" on a daily basis.

Ahead of their family holiday, they told their husband that they had some apprehensions about how well the boys would behave during the trip, but he brushed off their concerns, and the holiday went ahead regardless.

Unfortunately, the trip started off as badly as they'd feared, with the two boys "fighting and riling each other up" throughout the three-and-a-half-hour car journey from "hell".

Although the couple tried their best to reassure each other that things would improve once they reached their destination, they couldn't have been more wrong.

The children had all been reminded beforehand of what they should and shouldn't do once they reached the rental house, however, they ended up doing pretty much everything they were instructed not to do from the moment they arrived.

They claimed they were so sick of the behaviour of the boys - aged eight and nine - they headed home, meaning their three-year-old girl also lost out on her summer break.

The Mirror reports the exasperated parent revealed the steps taken in a post on Reddit. They wrote: "Shoes on the white furniture? Check. Running in the house? Check.

"I turned my back for two seconds and the eight-year-old threw a box of chalk in the pool to keep his brother from getting it. We went out to lunch and they were out of control in the restaurant.

"The nine-year-old ran away from us in a strange place because he didn't get his way. We finally go to the beach and they are frankly being brats. Refusing sunscreen. Fighting over toys.

"Pushing their luck repeatedly, going farther and farther out in the water than we told them to. Cursing. By the time we got back to the house, it was around dinner time and I was fed up.

"They were totally ruining it for everybody. Nothing had worked and I told my husband we needed to go home, for the reasons mentioned above, mainly that they needed to see a REAL consequence."

And they said they stuck to their guns and demanded they leave after their husband insisted things would get better as the holiday went on.

They added: "Either I was leaving, or we all were. He got super p***** and told me it was ridiculous and unfair to our daughter. I actually agree with him but saw no other choice at this point.

"Of course, when I tell the kids they immediately burst into tears and are begging to stay, promising they will behave. My mother, who came with us, was also near tears. She thinks her precious grandbabies do no wrong.

"She argued with me too, begging me to 'just let it go' but I refused to budge. So, we left, less than 24 hours into a four-day vacation. Half the ride home was spent with them sobbing and my husband pretty much gave me the silent treatment the whole way.

"My mother decided to stay behind a little longer but then started randomly texting me about 30 minutes in, asking if I was serious (she knew I was) and told me the whole reason she came was to spend time with the kids.

"I had now 'ruined it for everybody' and 'they're only little once'."

Now the entire family is upset at the decision, except from the three-year-old, and the parent wonders if they took things too far.

One fellow Reddit user advised: "Probably, with the benefit of hindsight, the thing to do was shut down the beach sooner on the off-chance you could avoid going nuclear. No sunscreen? Okay, back to the hotel we go.

"Going too deep? Nope, we have to go now, I can't trust you to be safe. But it's hard when you don't want to shut down the activity for the whole family."

Another remarked: "I would've left with the daughter to stay somewhere else for three days, and let dad and grandma deal with the boys if they didn't want to leave."

A third person commented: "There should have at least been one attempt at a punishment solely aimed at the boys, like missing a nice meal or activity, rather than immediately canning the vacation which punishes everyone.

"And/or seeing if they simmer down after the first day. I'm no expert but it sounds like counselling is also needed here to improve communication between you and your husband and also you both and your kids."

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.