Disappointed with son's reaction

tmclanton

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
My husband and I have been discussing taking a cruise Spring Break for my 40th birthday. I am sitting here looking at the videos and my ds (10 years) comes in and says, "I am not eating there" When I told him we were probably taking a Disney Cruise he said, Oh no!
I know he is 10 and at that, "I am too cool for that" phase, but I am hoping he changes his mind! Have any of you experienced this? Did you make your son go and did they have a great time? Should I be concerned or should I just say, "Its my 40th birthday and this is what we are doing?
 
My husband and I have been discussing taking a cruise Spring Break for my 40th birthday. I am sitting here looking at the videos and my ds (10 years) comes in and says, "I am not eating there" When I told him we were probably taking a Disney Cruise he said, Oh no!
I know he is 10 and at that, "I am too cool for that" phase, but I am hoping he changes his mind! Have any of you experienced this? Did you make your son go and did they have a great time? Should I be concerned or should I just say, "Its my 40th birthday and this is what we are doing?

He may just be afraid of the unknown. We surprised our kids with their first Disney Cruise in January. They were confused and had a lot of questions. My DS is 10 and DD is 8. DD actually was more unsure about it. Once they got on, they had the time of their lives. As you can see by my signature, we are going back next month and they are very excited because now they know what to expect. Just give him time to digest the idea. Maybe show him the DCL video and show him what is onboard for him to do. He will have a blast!
 
Leave him home :rotfl2:
No seriously, if there's any way to do so, give him the option to stay home. I bet he will come around pretty quickly. Also, maybe show him videos of the older kids areas, not too many little kid pictures...

I'm dealing with this with DH, he's really not interested and it is killing me that he's not as excited as I am.

Good luck!
 
He will probably have an amazing time. Let him do his own thing at the Edge. Have a great 40th! As the parent of 3, i know that kids feed off of our reactions. Just say what you ARE doing, and show him some youtube videos of things he can do. Don't get upset, just be all smiles and pixie dust!
 


I like the idea of giving him the option to stay home! However, I am pretty sure I would lose my husband as well!
I found a video of the ice cream station... that will probably entice him!
 
I guess I come at this from a different style of parenting. If I wanted to do this for my 40th birthday, I wanted primarily a family vacation where we would spend most of our time together, and my husband was agreeable, my kid would be going no matter what. Even if he just hangs at the pool, watches movies and hangs out with you guys he will have a great time. If you are looking for him to get all involved in the kid's club and pretty much leave you guys alone though, then I'd probably just pick another cruise line or vacation because not every kid enjoys them (most seem to though). Good luck with whatever you decide to do for your birthday! :)
 
I like the idea of giving him the option to stay home! However, I am pretty sure I would lose my husband as well!
I found a video of the ice cream station... that will probably entice him!

If both of them prefer to stay home, I will go with you!! :stir::cool1::thumbsup2

I will never understand how anyone turns down a vacation, let alone a DCL one! My DS is 13 and cannot wait for our Med cruise. He is begging to do the Fantasy in 2014!! Just stop trying to convince him. Take him. He will love it
 


My son is 10 and absolutely loves cruises! He can't wait until our next one, and in fact I have to hide the fact that we are going on The Dream again in 2 weeks.
 
I think it depends on your family situation. If you can give him a choice--fine, WE are going, you can stay home with grandma--go for it. Make it clear that you will ask him ONE more time (like a week before the penalty date), but he is free to let you know if he changes his mind before that.

If your situation is such that he has to go (or you can't), then approach it as you are the parents and this is what the family is doing. We didn't ask if you wanted to, we told you what was happening. And then play up the "big kid" aspects thru videos, pictures, etc.

Like the others, I suspect he'll change his mind.
 
i think i would have gotten in trouble for saying something like that to my mom back in the day! :crazy2:

i wouldn’t give it a second thought really, if thats the family vacation, that is the family vacation. he will have a fine time! :goodvibes
 
It's your birthday, and you're the parent. Don't leave him if it will make you worry. Trust me, the ship is so big and so much fun, he will find something to do. Plus the CMs are awesome, and will get him involved.
 
My daughter said she was getting sick of going to Disneyland and didn't want to go any more. Next year I said we will go without you and she changed her mind real fast.
 
I agree with the several posters who have suggested giving him the option of staying home. We have been working very hard lately with our almost 10 yo on the concepts of 1) understanding that while we spend a great deal of time catering to his specific preferences, that sometimes he will have to allow others to make the choices of what to do and where to go, and 2) gratitude. You know once he's onboard, he'll have a great time because there's something for everyone on a Disney cruise. As a middle school teacher, I deal with children in his age group daily, and I've never heard one react with anything other than enthusiasm or envy when I've discussed my Disney cruises with them. He should understand how lucky he is to have parents who are willing and able to take him on such a special and luxurious vacation. Good luck!
 
I say its your birthday tell him it is what you have chosen to celebrate and help him understand that he needs to accept your decision--even if it wouldnt be his choice--its your special day. Just like for his birthday he gets to decide how to celebrate. There is plenty to do. I am sure he will find something he likes to do once he is on the ship.
 
I guess I come at this from a different style of parenting. If I wanted to do this for my 40th birthday, I wanted primarily a family vacation where we would spend most of our time together, and my husband was agreeable, my kid would be going no matter what. Even if he just hangs at the pool, watches movies and hangs out with you guys he will have a great time. If you are looking for him to get all involved in the kid's club and pretty much leave you guys alone though, then I'd probably just pick another cruise line or vacation because not every kid enjoys them (most seem to though). Good luck with whatever you decide to do for your birthday! :)

I am with you, I think the parents should decide on the family vacation, and then either take the child(ren) along or make arrangements to leave them home.

I never had this problem with my kids and I am wondering if the 10 year old is used to having input on such decisions?
 
My dad is not excited at all about our upcoming Disney Cruise. I told him if he ruined my birthday by not going he's be kicked out of the family lol! Last year we took my two nephews to WDW (5 and 10) and my oldest nephew acted like he was wayyyy too cool for all things Disney! I'm hoping he's gotten past that phase he can enjoy the cruise.

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My husband and I have been discussing taking a cruise Spring Break for my 40th birthday. I am sitting here looking at the videos and my ds (10 years) comes in and says, "I am not eating there" When I told him we were probably taking a Disney Cruise he said, Oh no!
I know he is 10 and at that, "I am too cool for that" phase, but I am hoping he changes his mind! Have any of you experienced this? Did you make your son go and did they have a great time? Should I be concerned or should I just say, "Its my 40th birthday and this is what we are doing?

i would say, "okay- we'll find a babysitter for you and your father and i will go on the cruise by ourselves"....say it tongue in cheek and see how soon he shifts direction...
 
I agree with the several posters who have suggested giving him the option of staying home. We have been working very hard lately with our almost 10 yo on the concepts of 1) understanding that while we spend a great deal of time catering to his specific preferences, that sometimes he will have to allow others to make the choices of what to do and where to go, and 2) gratitude. You know once he's onboard, he'll have a great time because there's something for everyone on a Disney cruise. As a middle school teacher, I deal with children in his age group daily, and I've never heard one react with anything other than enthusiasm or envy when I've discussed my Disney cruises with them. He should understand how lucky he is to have parents who are willing and able to take him on such a special and luxurious vacation. Good luck!
I know it's been a long, long time since I was a kid, but I would never have questioned my parents' choice of a family vacation. We would take at least 2 trips a year, one big one & one small one, and Dad & Mom would set up the big trip, and the kids would have input on the smaller one. And I never didn't enjoy one of my parents' big trips. We loved traveling as a family, and took some wonderful trips.

Now how much input Mom had vs. Dad is a whole different discussion! I'm afraid Dad chose the trips way more often than Mom did. A week and a half in the Suburban with a 5th wheel trailer hooked behind was not a great vacation for Mom... She still had to cook, clean and referee. :sad2:

Sayhello
 
My husband and I have been discussing taking a cruise Spring Break for my 40th birthday. I am sitting here looking at the videos and my ds (10 years) comes in and says, "I am not eating there" When I told him we were probably taking a Disney Cruise he said, Oh no!
I know he is 10 and at that, "I am too cool for that" phase, but I am hoping he changes his mind! Have any of you experienced this? Did you make your son go and did they have a great time? Should I be concerned or should I just say, "Its my 40th birthday and this is what we are doing?

I would say "its my 40th birthday and this is what we are doing":thumbsup2

Really this is a great opportunity for a teaching moment and a chance for your DS to learn that the world doesn't revolve around him.

Dad needs to sit down with him and explain that just like his birthday is important to him that Mom's birthday is also important and an opportunity to show Mom how much you all love her by doing something she really wants to do.

Also, there is an old DCL commercial that shows this young teen girl pouting because her family is making her go on a DCL cruise ...and then all these video shots of her having a great time during the cruise and trying to hide her enjoyment from her parents. Pretty funny. And I would not be surprised at all if your DS winds up having a great time as well;)
 
I say its your birthday tell him it is what you have chosen to celebrate and help him understand that he needs to accept your decision--even if it wouldnt be his choice--its your special day. Just like for his birthday he gets to decide how to celebrate. There is plenty to do. I am sure he will find something he likes to do once he is on the ship.

:thumbsup2
 

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