It
really shouldn’t surprise me that in the middle of exiting Space Mountain Gracie
would ask “what’s next?” I mean we just spent 90 seconds on one of the most fun rides in existence. A ride that she screamed and giggled though all
of the dips, drops, and hairpins. A
ride, I might add, that she had just ridden for the third time in 30 minutes
due to Emilee’s expert use of the Fast Pass and Parent Swap system. A ride she begged to go on, on our third day
at the Magic Kingdom, after having ridden it ten times already this trip. I know my daughter and she can be the consummate
brat. But when I explained to her that
it was time to go find something that Gage and Sophie could enjoy I was a bit
put off by her answer. “I never get to
do anything fun…”
I
was pretty sure that Gracie was not going to make it much further in life. She was on day four of a Disney trip and her
little snot attitude was still in effect.
Plus, Emilee had the flu, Emilee’s Dad was getting sick and in full
blown denial about it, and Gage and Sophie were both in the middle of a stomach
bug. I was not in a good place, and the
last thing I needed was a seven year old telling me, in the middle if Disney,
that she never got to anything fun. I
could hear the news teaser…
“Dad loses it at Disney and accidentally wipes
out entire family wearing matching lime green Mickey shirts. Details at Six!”
But,
right before I lost it she told me she had found something she thought I would “totally
love”. She had been looking through the
magic bands and had found something for me.
And, she was right! As she took
me over to the specialty bands I saw it; there was Tigger! And, Tigger just happens to be my favorite
character in the Disney world. So, in a matter of two minutes, the kid I was
ready to kill was now the kid I wanted to kiss. She had actually shown me that
she did look out for someone other than herself from time to time.
Her
brother and sister managed to find ways to both drive us crazy and make us
laugh. It seemed like every time we were
ready to pinch one of their little heads off, out of love of course, they would
do something that made you laugh and smile.
The looks of awe on Gage’s face as he met the characters, or the complete
vanishing act that Sophie would pull off if they ever appeared. The amazement on their faces when they got to
watch the Giraffes, Zebras, and other animals as they passed just below our
balcony of the room we stayed in. Or,
the massive meltdowns they would have when they were forced to come inside. The
pre-meal rages and prison riot like screaming for food, all so they could
ignore 90% of the food on their plate and then claim to be full. Well, at least Gracie and Gage acted that
way. Sophie puts down food like some
kind of Olympic athlete in training. And, of course there was rain...
It
seems Karma gets involved too. After I
had one of MY tantrums, Emilee, who would not know a Stormtrooper from
Snuffleupagus unless I was there to point it out, was questioned by two of them!
They wanted to know her part in the rebel alliance and wanted her to know that
they would be “keeping an eye on her”.
All of this while I waited with a complaining Gracie and Gage for Handy
Manny’s autograph. I would have been
speechless, and it was a non-event for her.
I learned my lesson after that event.
Tantrums lead to bad karma. Lol
At
least we found something the kids loved every day. Staying at Animal Kingdom gave us the benefit
of the kids seeing exotic animals at breakfast, and when we came home at night. We had our daily viewing of the many
giraffes, zebras, and other African animals that would walk by our balcony
every day. Watching them get excited about
each viewing and listening to their excited ramblings about what they saw was
amazing. It made you wake up happy and go
to bed happy. If you can start and end
your day well it makes everything ok. It
made me appreciate the good, and not remember the bad so much.
 |
Disney
is a contraindication. It is one of the
most frustrating places on the planet, and one of the most rewarding. It is a place that brings out the best and
worst in your kids. It is a place where
both young and old can find something to make them happy. And even as it completely wipes you out, you
find it and your kids refilling your spirit. And I found one more pic for your entertainment...
Keep
Smiling,
Rob
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