How we classify our station in society is by scrutinizing the luxuries we have in comparison to others. Did we grow up in a family home or a rental? Did our parents always have new cars, luxury cars or a beater that constantly broke down? For others it might be did they have two parents, were their parents married when they were born, were they divorced? For me, it was vacations. Where did families go? What did families do? Who did they do them with? My family teased me growing up that I wanted the “beaver cleaver life.” What I couldn’t articulate at the time, is that I wanted a close family. I wanted to feel that connection with my family members that “The Cleave” had with his family. I once went to the beach (Jekyll Island) for a week with my mom and my childhood best friend. It was the closest I ever got to a family vacation. Well, and the time my grandparents took my brother and I to Disney world was not great (from the little that I remember, I was 4 I believe).
As an adult, more specifically, as a parent I have had the opportunity to look back on my upbringing and decide which parts I would like to emulate and which have room for improvement. After a lot of professional assistance I can now tell you that what I want for my family includes a family vacation. It is what I did not have, that I want for my family. So, I took my 22mo son on a plane and flew from the East coast to California. He met my grandmother, my uncle, aunt and cousins. We went to Disneyland and California adventure, played at the hotel water park (oh my god, so much yes) and back to Disneyland. We learned about Minnie, Mickey (Me- Mo-s-e) and that you have to book some things 180 days (yes, 180 days) in advance. It was so much fun.
Our trip to Disneyland was everything I ever wanted and more. The best part was not the rides or the food (honestly, we didn’t eat much, haha). The best part were the giggles and the moments. Lots of memory making moments. Meals eaten together. Challenges overcome together. Snuggles, oh the snuggles, they were endless. These were the things I craved. When our flight landed back home in Charleston, I was tired. A good tired, you know?
In preparation for our trip to California, I asked many people if we were crazy to take a toddler to Disneyland. Some said it was the best trip they ever had (for them, their kids did not remember). Others said it was awful. But everything is about perspective and expectations. I never went anywhere with my mother and father. My father barely left the house during my formative years. Most of my “summer vacations” included my mom, my brother and I driving the 8 hours to Savannah to visit my grandmother. Over a period of 4 days, she would buy us our school clothes for the fall. We usually would spend one day at the beach and deal with a nightly meltdown from our father. Once he even showed up in a drunk rage.
For this trip, I wanted to bond with my husband and my son. I wanted us to bond together as a family. I got that and more. No, we did not “get our money’s worth” on our Disneyland tickets, but boy did we have so much fun (and yes girl, get the maxpass). In the moments in between we loved each other. I have priceless memories saved in the gyra of my brain. Things I hope to never lose, to save and fill my cup when it’s running low.
Was it worth it? Emphatically, yes. My son may not remember the trip, but it will hold a special place in my heart.
MumGene 