Can sympathize with you both. My children were little some years back and now students. I must say that during a flight to Australia (that's posh enough, not all of us do travel down under certainly not with the intensity we did back than, but husband worked with the airline) Remember a lady flight attendant taking little Liam, aged 3 with her into the gally to read stories to. She commented: these children are not spoiled and that's what you hardly see nowadays. Nowadays being 16 years ago. The Aus. rello's thought our daughter was spoiled, she wore Nikes on her feet!  whereas she had difficult feet and we were happy to have found a pair of shoes she could wear... So it's all in perspective.
Think it helps when parents are active and doing outdoor stuff encourageing the kids. My son loved climbing Snaefell and it kept being an attraction to him every year we visited. Electronic gadgets fine, gaming fine, but NOT just full stop and I talk to parents sometimes, with younger children who do have to make an effort to ban these items. As for my son, studies, plays in a band and is gaming heaps, but during summer holidays when golf surfing is on, gaming is forgotten.
I think I visited IOM 6 or 7 years consecutively. Last time 2013 to see TT... next time... not sure, off the dole first, see what 2015 will bring job wise. Would love to visit for TT 2015 and when I do will still climb Sneafell!