In the dark you think you can't do it.
It's 5:15 am, horses need feeding and mucking, mom needs changing and ensure-ing. Dogs fed. Snack stroller packed. B is on mom duty for the day with visiting guest stars Julia for dinner feeding and Nandy for lunch feeding. Johnny Washer comes at 4 to change her diaper. So the juggling of mom seems accomplished for my 12 hours off.
By 6:20 we are in the car getting gas. Stressing about traffic. We have to grab McDonald's so we can eat before all the rides. There's no food you can grab on Main Street is the discussion.
By 8 we are running like mad to Space Mountain.
It is weird to be going on a roller coaster before 9 am. Like when that's your actual life.
What's also weird is how for one day your biggest worries are what to ride next
is the ride broken
can we make it in time
It's fun when the conversation is
I really need that pickle
I just bought a 12 dollar pretzel
That's the hugest pretzel I've ever seen
It's nice to be in line and hugging someone.
I forgot the hot fries that I had originally packed but took out because I didn't want to overpack.
Always overpack. Don't believe less is more.
It was the only thing Lilly wanted and did I have it.
I did not.
Don't let anyone snack stroller shame you. It also holds water and jackets. It's the mom's secret weapon of never carrying any fucking thing extra on my actual body.
The stroller is way more fun without an actual baby in it. It's good when the babies are big and can tell you you HAVE to go on this INCREDIBLY SCARY TALL rollercoaster. So you think about it on the smaller roller coasters and when eating the giant pretzel. And then you say well I'll just get in the line and think about it. And then there's a five year old kid in front of you that comes up to your knees and HE'S going on the thing and you're like bro
So you go
I put my body into the hands of Disney. I figure I won't die. I'm not a barfer I just can't do rides that swish you sideways like a rocking boat because it swirls my brain fluid and makes me want to get out of my body and leave it like a husk. Luckily in the line with the five year old was also an 8 year old and I told her I was scared and she said you'll like it it's really fun.
Sometimes that's all you need. I trusted her. I also held Emma's hand really hard.
After we did the shoot you straight in the sky ride and drop you down and shoot you back up etc with the 8 year old spirit guide, I figured nothing could be harder. So when the broken incredicoaster was opened again at the end of the night we sprinted 47 miles on shin splints through a PARADE to get to it and this huge white planet of a coaster is the biggest thing I have ever been on in my life. Who tries big things at 56? Looks like I do
This roller coaster is not only fast, it is high and it is a long ride. Like it is an actual story, you're chasing a baby who is jetrocketing ahead of you at the speed of insane and you have to catch him. It is a ride where your mind is blown while you are on every inch of it and for several hours after.
It caused wonder, and surprise. Surprise you're still alive. Also we smiled. Almost all day.
It is lucky to have kids who still like you. Who push the stroller sometimes. Who don't see that you have a little bit harder time getting out of the autopia car because your knees are all folded up and you're a little bit lacking cartilage.
Also the Matterhorn should be renamed the Motrinhorn because you need a handful of them afterwards for headache and multiple contusions. The Matterhorn should be closed down while people lay flowers on all the tracks to make up for the pain and sad memories we made there.
But we still go on it cause it's tall and snowy and the yodel music fools you, this is no alpine getaway. It's just get away.
We went on Soarin Over California and when we flew over the Eiffel Tower all lit up, legs dangling, the kids and I screamed and pointed at the ACTUALcorner where we stood 6 months ago and said
WE WERE THERE WE WERE THERE!!
On a Disney Research Note, I saw two parenting styles which made me laugh. At the front of the Cars line, an asian lady in a very trim lycra running suit with sensible slim jacket was waiting with her young charge, 6 year old boy. The metal gate they were waiting behind opened slightly and knocked him in the face but like a tiny TAP, like you've been jostled by a fairy's wing. And she was like Oh NO! gently taking his hand. ARE YOU OKAY? Crouching down and looking him in the eyes like at his level. Like we're not about to get on the ride and she's holding up the line, like she's going to take this moment to ensure his total body well being. Then she meticulously escorted him onto the seat, narrating the whole way like ok let's get on! OOO look, you have to put this yellow seatbelt on! all carefully and thoroughly and I was getting on behind her in Normal Parentingland where I live and thinking that is definitely not your kid
that is a kid you are auditioning for
you must be the childless aunt. I hope
Then later we were walking and a lady with 8 hour worn in hair, and good tennis shoes pushing a stroller ahead of us, with food and drinks hanging off it, and one kid up front and a kid in the luggage rack underneath, and I watch the kid fall OUT of the bottom rack and roll under the mom's feet and she leapt OVER HER BALLED UP CHILD and STAYED IN forward MOTION while the little ball of a kid unfolded stood up and ran back past her and back into the luggage rack and I wanted to get that lady a GIANT PRETZEL because she was THE MOM
Mom Ballet and they kept going
It is nice to now have snowy mountains for children
they help fold the stroller
They drive you home in the car
I told them how we used to pack their footy pajamas when they were little and after disneyland in the parking lot I'd wipe them off with a baby wipe, stripped down and put them in their pjs, zip them all into their carseats and then when they fell asleep on the way home, lug their slumber corpses in and put them in bed, heavy full of disney memories for that year.
The traditions have to roll with the growing. We have to add new traditions, like the babies driving and talking about their lives and loves and struggles, in the safety of the aftermath
satisfied exhaustion of the after trip in the car on the way home, still all of us all together
not done yet
