Family Day Out

OK, I figure I'd better write something if I'm going to maintain a blog. Otherwise both of the people who read this well be forced to read something else, like a book, or cure a disease or something, and who wants that, really. Since it's the first day back to work after a long weekend, I'll take it easy and not get into anything too philosophical or controversial. I just had a few thoughts about the weekend I wanted to share.


On Sunday, we went to a local amusement park for some fun and a picnic sponsored by my wife's employer. The tickets were about half price with food included so it was a good deal overall, even with the 2 hour trip there. My brother and sister-in-law also came and were willing to be occasional toddler wranglers, and I almost never turn down an offer to help with the kids. Our little 2 car caravan was easy to manage, too. Only one stop on the way there for a Dunkin' Donuts break and then back on the road. We had done our best to prepare our 3-year-old for the long drive. "It's going to be a long drive, hon, so let's make sure we go pee pee before we leave." You know the drill - suggest using the bathroom 3 or 4 times before they realize they have to go. She did really well overall. We didn't even have to deal with, "Are we there yet?" too many times. I was intrigued because she did ask us why the park was so far away? How do you answer that? "Well, honey, it's because we live in the sticks." We actually arrived sooner than expected and neither child was freaking out so I thought it was a great ride there.

From the parking lot we could see some of the rides like roller coasters and waterslides and the kids were now ready to get movin'. That is, until we got to the gate to collect our little wristbands allowing us onto the rides. My daughter would not let the park attendant snap the plastic wristband on her. We let her see us getting the band to show her it was OK. Did she think it would hurt? I don't know. For a minute there I thought we'd have to spend the day watching other kids ride the rides. Finally I took the band and we gently coaxed her into holding out her arm while mom and I snapped the band on. Into the park we go.

I never paid attention to the lines for the kiddie rides at other parks, but between being there when the park opened and having relatively few kids competing for the rides, we were able to walk right on to virtually any ride they wanted to go on without waiting. It was great! I wished I was under 36" tall so I could go on some of them. We rode the little cars, and the little boats that went in a circle. My one-year-old son was able to enjoy these, too. He even went with me on the little helicopters ("hedicaca") that go up and down. He was really getting into it. He was a little hesitant on the merry-go-round, but definitely enjoyed it later in the day. There was a little train they rode together (no hair was pulled the whole day, even when sitting next to each other). My daughter rode her first Ferris wheel. Just about everything the kids did that day was a first. Everywhere we turned there was something else fun to do. And it turned out that I was too big to ride on many rides instead of my daughter being too little like we expected.

She even surprised me on a few of the rides. She tried a toddler version of a turbo drop. The adult version raises you up, then drops you from about 15 stories. The kiddie version lifted the little ones anywhere from 10 to 15 feet, then dropped them a foot or two at a time. Well, it was more like bouncing them, but they squealed and laughed the whole time anyway. My wife, brother, and I took my daughter on the tea cups. We went easy, then we would spin our cup around fast for a few revolutions, then easy again. She looked just a little green towards the end, but so did I, so I don't blame her. We also took her on a ride called casino. Every park has this type of ride - a big disk of some type that rotates, then tilts and spins some more. In this case, it was a giant roulette wheel. I was a little concerned because, unlike the kiddie rides, if my daughter started to cry, there was no turning back. I kept a watchful eye on the seat she was in with my wife as it went around a few times. It tilted upwards and I prepared for screaming child sympathy. I was way off the mark. Both mother and daughter were laughing their heads off as the wheel spun around and up and down - Smiles ear to ear.

I was having one of the best "dad moments" enjoying watching my kids enjoy themselves. I used to be the frantic amusement park visitor who had to either be on a ride, or in line for one. I always needed to be sure I got the most out of my entrance fee. This time, I could've cared less if I got to ride or not (although I would've liked to check out the "Funtoberfest Beer Garden" for a few hours). My wife and I did get to ride the roller coaster. It was a great wooden monster and with some chiropractic adjustment, my back should feel better in a month or two. Have you ridden a wooden roller coaster lately? Take a pillow or a massage therapist if you do. But never mind us. That day it was about the kids. That seems more and more true in a lot of activities lately. I do my best to be the adult by not letting the kids run wild and taking some time for myself here and there. But aside from holding hands to avoid a lost child, they were free to check out whatever they asked for. That's what I'm in this whole thing for - doing what I can to keep the kids safe, dressed and fed, so they can be kids. No worries, just enjoy life like kids should.