So, You Wanna Know What's a REALLY BAD IDEA?

Making a plan to take five of your kids and one friend to Busch Gardens.

By yourself.

That's the very definition of a bad idea. It SCREAMS "You are an idiot of the highest caliber!"

The day started off well, but many little things worked together to slowly spin the afternoon down. It was the 6 year old spectrum kid who wanted to ride every.single.ride - until it was time to get on the ride and then she changed her mind - all day long.It was the older kids who begged to go off alone, but stay together, and forced the younger sister tag along to sit in the front row of the scariest roller coaster - even though she cried, even though she begged, even though she pleaded - was made to sit there and just.deal.with.it. The older sister has the bruises on her hand to prove it.

It was the fact that the bigger kids don't like the little kids rides, and the little kids don't want to stand around and watch the big kids stand in line. But the dumbest move I made was actually Rookie Mom Move (#2) disguised as a Professional Mom Move (#107).

I (smartly) dressed my kids in jeans and sneakers, because it was chilly. I packed a bag of shorts and flip flops (for when it warmed up), sunblock, epi pens, inhalers, wipes and hand sanitizer. The bag was full and I slung it on my back. We went to the water rides as SOON as it warmed up, and quickly enough, my kids were soaked, so I proudly took my kids to the bathrooms to change.

I was really proud of myself. I remembered that they needed sunblock, I was thoughtful enough to bring clothes and shoes more appropriate for the warmer weather and I only forgot one teeny tiny thing.

Wet jeans and sneakers, times four take up a HELL of a lot more room than dry shorts and flip flops. And there was no way to stick them back in the small bag on my back.

Which is why I spent the remaining 7 hours of the day carrying two shopping bags of wet clothes and one bag of wet shoes on my back, as I waited in line for ride after ride after ride.

It was a very long day. 

Price goeth before a fall.

Comments

[Trece]

(((((Carmen))))) You get 1,000 "Good Mommy" points for this. You're a better woman than I, Gunga Din.

[Nikki Moon]

You are far nicer than I am and if you makes you feel any better I could see myself not thinking about the bulkiness of the wet jeans and sneakers too. I think my 6 kids had a hand in my brain not always functioning up to par.

[amie]

Nice! When is that vacay with hubby?

[kyooty]

BUT!!! they must have been so over joyed that you took them, and think of the smiles and the great sleep? you had that night? YES there was sleep right? tell me there was sleep?

I have a hard enough time going to the island with 3 kids bolted down to a van alone, I wouldn't have even tried to make this day event. YOU rock!

[UKCraftySal]

I wouldn't even have considered doing this, let alone actually done it: you are a much better Mum than me!! It's the kind of day they will remember, even if it's one you'd rather forget!!

[Holli]

Don't they have lockers??

We were there a few years ago - dressed in bathing suits, did all the wet rides, then went to lockers and got our dry clothes and shoes.

[Carmen Staicer]

They do indeed have lockers. What I forgot to say was that my oldest daughter lost her flip flops on the first roller coaster and took my $40 to buy new ones. I thought shed bring me change, but she didnt - effectively leaving me with no cash and the only available working ATM was back at the front of the park.

I didnt think that the bags would be that heavy.

[Liz@thisfullhouse]

My kid probably wouldn't bring me change, either AND now MY back hurts, too -- better ideas, next time!

[Retro Jordan]

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