A Daily Lesson in Parenting and Manners: A TR by a real life Wicked Stepmom!

[TarzansKat]

It's not anti-social, it's just socialization of a different kind! Glad to hear you had your very own Easter egg hunt. This year was the first time DS3 really got into finding them all. He got 21 by himself, the last three we had to help. So much fun. I'm anxiously awaiting your next chapter, I love reading them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks everyone for reading.

It's so nice to see such positive comments. They are much appreciated.

Sally just called me on my cell, she was crying b/c *somebody* told her that Disney is SUCH a waste of time for kids as old as Sally and wasn't she EMBARRASSED that we would be taking her there AGAIN.

Tell Sally that lots of other somebodys think that Disney is the cat's meow. The bomb. The bees knees. Almost as good as chocolate, which is the very best substance known to man.

I really believe that God put you in Sally's life so that she would see how a true lady behaves. It is awesome that she can experience being a family with you, and know how family is supposed to treat each other.

But *somebody* needs to have a meteor fall on them.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

It's not anti-social, it's just socialization of a different kind!

I agree with TarzansKat. She's a smart lady.

Disney is the cat's meow.

I just consulted with my cats. They concur.

The bees knees.

Do bees HAVE knees? I hated the insect-y part of biology.

I really believe that God put you in Sally's life so that she would see how a true lady behaves. It is awesome that she can experience being a family with you, and know how family is supposed to treat each other.

There hath never been a truer statement. Well said.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I check every day to see if there is an update..

LOL I know you are busy, j/k!

Did the kiddies get the baskets the bunny left yet? How did they like them?

 

[hklatt]

I check every day to see if there is an update..

I do the same thing too!!! I don't want to miss a single update. I'm glad that the kiddos had a good time skiing. Hope they get their bunny baskets soon though.

 

[Artist]

Misscammie,
I laughed my way through your TR so far because you remind me so much of my own "wicked stepmother" who pretty much raised me from the time I was 10...and taught me important things like table manners...I count her as a mother and my kids think I am so lucky to have "2 moms"- my step mom and my "regular" mom...keep up the good work- and post another update soon!
Thanks!

 

[Sacha_L]

I just wanted to say thanks! I just read all your posts (took me almost 5 hrs!) & I can't wait for the next one! Having been on the receiving end of 1 parent talking bad about the other (I was the kid) I just wanted to let you know that with kids as smart as yours they will catch on. By age 14 I no longer respected my father (he loved to degrade my mother). So just keep up what you are doing and in the end the kids will figure it out!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

That somebody sure is a jealous meanie. What a horrible way to treat your own daughter. Ick.

 

[Enchanted]

Sally just called me on my cell, she was crying b/c *somebody* told her that Disney is SUCH a waste of time for kids as old as Sally and wasn't she EMBARRASSED that we would be taking her there AGAIN.

She was crying b/c she ISN'T embarrassed but feels upset that someone is telling her that Disney is WRONG. Made me want to throw something at somebody's HEAD.



*somebody* is a big mean jerk.

*Somebody* is about to cause my head to explode. I would tell you my true feelings on the matter, but, in the words of everyone's favorite toy sheriff: "The word I'm searching for, I can't say, because there's preschool toys all around me."

Hee.

Seriously, though, what a meanie! Tell Sally that she's not alone. I'm a twenty year old college student and I'd rather be in Disney than anywhere else in the world. *Somebody* just doesn't know how to have fun and wouldn't know a good time if it bit her in the pootsnorkel.

So THERE, *somebody*.

(...The E. Bunny left Enchanted for Sally and Snowbuddies for Teddy! )

*gasps* The E. Bunny was supposed to leave me in Sally's Easter basket? Why didn't anyone tell me?!?!?! Don't worry! I'll be right over!!!

.......

Oh, wait, you're probably talking about a copy of that absolutely delightful movie with Princess Giselle that Disney just so happened to name after me. Never mind.





Can't wait for the next update!

 

[PrincessMomto2]

Thanks everyone for reading.

It's so nice to see such positive comments. They are much appreciated.

Sally just called me on my cell, she was crying b/c *somebody* told her that Disney is SUCH a waste of time for kids as old as Sally and wasn't she EMBARRASSED that we would be taking her there AGAIN.

She was crying b/c she ISN'T embarrassed but feels upset that someone is telling her that Disney is WRONG. Made me want to throw something at somebody's HEAD.



*somebody* is a big mean jerk.

Ok now I am really ticked! What a jerk this "someone" is being. How can you say that to a child. A child of any age? My 11 year old begs me to take her back weekly! My brother and sister-in-law are in WDW right now with their 3 "kids". My neice is a Junior in College, my nephew is a senior in high school and my younger neice is 13 in the 7th grade. I think it is absolutely wonderful that they got to go again as a family. They were all so very excited to go. You tell Sally that if a Junior in College and a High School senior can still go to WDW with their families it is not a bad thing for a sweet little girl like her. WDW is never embarrassing for anyone even grownups that still love to be a kid at heart.

Sending you all hugs from a fellow NJersian.

 

[tink25]

I have not posted yet, but read this whole TR last week and am hooked! You are the kind of mother that I hope to be one day. I am constantly thinking about how I would raise my kids with manners in a world of ill-mannered children (and adults, thankyouverymuch!) Can you tell I work with the public?
Anyway, your kids and husband are delightful! You're not so bad yourself, you're a wonderful writer and have definitely been holding my interest.
And as far as that *somebody* goes, she sounds horrible and I hate that these kids have to deal with that every day! YUCK!
Keep up the great work!

 

[Shannie]

for then next part of your trip report!!! I know, I know...you are busy with work, the kiddos, the hubby......but we want the next part!!!! Just kidding!!! Cant wait to read the next part, and hope everyone is doing fine!!

 

[eh24fan]

I check every day, sometimes more than once, for an update! I'm dying here!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

PLEASE, PLEASE MISS CAMMIE.... CAN WE PLEASE HAVE AN UPDATE? Your loyal readers await you as patiently as we can... but it is becoming very difficult!

 

[CampbellScot]

Sorry this took so long everyone!! It's been one of those weeks...and a half!
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We had FINALLY made it to the Animal Kingdom!! We were stoked. We were ready to trek and explore and be ONE with the WILDS of Africa!! Well...and Asia a little bit too...

Teddy had SO been looking forward to this day. He is SUCH an animal lover.

He was skip walking all the way to the gates.

I wasn't so much skip walking...it was HOT...hot...hot...and I was already "glistening"...ick.

Sally commented that air felt "fuzzy".

AND since Animal Kingdom is 84,000 times hotter than any other location at Disney...we were fixin to ROAST today!

Teddy didn't care.

He wanted SEE a wild animal!

First thing we had to do was get ourselves a kid transporter.

Teddy was THRILLED with the "CURTAIN" print!

The kiddies climbed in...after I assured Miss Germophobe that OF COURSE Animal Kingdom used the same disinfecting Kid Transporter wash system that the other parks use...

and I wiped it down with a lysol wipe...cuz after the bare bum incident this morning, I was acutely aware that one NEVER knows what's been sitting on one of these things before you got to it!

so, with our ride disinfected we were ready to head off into the wilderness!

smiling their BEST Disney smiles! How darling...and long legged...and tan...

Our first stop was the gift shop right smack at the gate, cuz I needed me some batteries!!

Then Jay and Sally took off in search of something or nuther...

Teddy patted the kid trasporter and said "Have a sit down MissCammie. It's nice and comfy in here!"

So I sat.

Teddy and I people watched.

And we talked about if Mickey and Goofy ever went camping any more in their camper...and if Donald Duck ever got time outs for talking fresh to his mom...we both figured that YES Donald probably had some issues with having a fresh mouth and getting time outs for it.

(I had never heard the term "fresh" in regards to being a smart mouth until I moved to New Jersey...it always makes me laugh...which isn't helpful when you are trying to appear stern! My mom always said "Don't be ugly..." or "Don't you SASS me!" which people over here don't really get...and my grandmother in Ireland always sent her kids to stand on "the bold mat" for being...well bold...my granddad told his kids that he was going to send them to the "Bold children's Island"... isn't it fascinating how many different ways there are to describe talking back to adults?!)

woops...digressed...sorry. A bit of a meandering river is my mind this evening!

Anyhow...Teddy and I chitty chatted and people watched...and got sweaty.

it was fun!!

Rather out of the blue the Kid Transporter began moving!

Which was odd b/c I was IN it and not pushing it.

I could hear very familiar giggling floating down towards me.

Sally appeared next to me with a frosty Diet Coke in hand!

How I love that child!

The Kid Transporter kept moving...not letting me out.

It seems my husband found this funny.

As did the kids.

Teddy was full of giggles as we went along.

"MissCammie, you're in the Kid Transporter with a KID but except you are a grown up even though you don't look like a grown up because you aren't as tall as daddy and you have a kid smile..."



whatever you say Teddy. The child has insisted since he met me that I have a "kid smile"...I do not know what this means and he can't explain it, but he's CERTAIN of it.

I found being at this level a little disconcerting. Basically you are eye level with everyone's SHORTS...

I also find that I do NOT like having someone else be the boss of where my body goes.

Nope, kid transporter riding is NOT for MissCammie!

Finally as we were heading over the bridge that leads to Discovery Island, Jay stopped!

I got out in a most lady like fashion...

The photopass lady found my exit from the kid transporter VERY funny. She took a picture of it...and kept laughing...LOUDLY...



It wasn't THAT funny.

*ahem*

She was nice enough though and took several pictures of us and gave some very helpful information about Character find-age!

WooHOO!!!

Sally took my place in the kid transporter and we headed out.

I really don't know this park all that well...so we were sort of meandering with no real destination in mind. Okay, well I didn't have a destination in mind...Mr. Type A, however knew EXACTLY where he was going! Jay has a very good sense of direction, and even though he'd only been to Animal Kingdom ONCE...he remembered where things generally were.

We found ourselves in front of It's Tough to Be a Bug!

Jay figured we'd start out with the movie first and then go from there.

That was okay with me!

We had both thought this was pretty cute last year. I KNEW that Sally was going to be offended by the "stink bug"...but I figured she'd get on over it...or she'd hold a grudge against the offending bug for the rest of her life.

But she'd live.

She fussed a bit as to the name of the movie...

"MissCammie...I don't like bugs."

"Well, maybe you'll like these bugs...they're DISNEY bugs..."

"I don't think so MissCammie. I think bugs are disgusting. I wish there was no such thing as bugs...except Lady Bugs...because they EAT bad bugs. But I wish there was no such thing as mosquitoes because I HATE mosquitoes. They bite and make me itch to death all summer and I really hate that and..."

"Um Sally...how do you REALLY feel about bugs?"



*WARNING--It's Tough to be a Bug SPOILER* If you haven't seen it, don't read this part! I'll let y'all know when the spoiler is over!!!

I was a little worried about Teddy and the Stinger in the back thing. Last year this had scared the peawaddin out of ME. I screeched for all I was worth as I don't tend to do real well with "BOO!" situations. I need to know something is coming...this could be b/c my older sister used to delight in "Boo-ing" me when I was young...hiding under beds, behind doors...anywhere she could jump out and scream BOOOOO! in my face.

which is why I think SHE should be the one paying my therapist...

*ahem*

Point being, Teddy has issues with things that go bump...in the dark...or the light. He went through a phase of being terrified of curtains that were ruffled by a breeze. He was convinced that a ghost was doing it. I found him once, kneeling in a corner on the floor in his room with his head in his hands sobbing "I just can't take it anymore!" Absolutely BROKE my heart! He'd been sent to his room for a timeout for I don't even remember...when I went up three minutes later the poor child was being terrorized by the air conditioning as it ruffled his bedroom curtain!

I certainly didn't want him to be terrorized by the stinger thingie.

Jay and I decided we'd avoid it all together and just have him sit on one of our laps.

I warned Sally about it before hand and told her she just had to sit forward if she didn't want "play that part of the game".

She seemed okay with that. As long as there is an option for her to opt out if she wants to, she's okay.

I did NOT tell her about the Stinkbug though...

because i'm wicked.



*END OF SPOILER*

We headed down into the Tree of Life.

Teddy was THRILLED to see all the animals carved into the tree.

"MISSCAMMIE LOOKIT!!! TREE CARVINGS!!! COOL!!!"

freaks of nature!

It was nice and cool in the base of the tree. The kids were lovin their BUG EYES!!

Where's Teddy?

The waiting area got pretty full before they let everyone inside.

finally though, the doors opened and we all herded in!

Sally IMMEDIATELY noticed that there was a "drip" on the seat.

"MissCammie, why is this seat wet? Is this a wet movie? Do we get wet in here?"

I batted my eyelashes at her and sweetly reminded her that she was, in fact, DRESSED to get wet.

because I'm mean.

"MissCammie...this is a MOVIE and not a pool. I don't want to get wet in a movie b/c then I would be WET..."

well...I suppose you can't argue with that logic.

So I slapped her with half and eyebrow arch that CLEARLY told to her quit fussing and park it.

she did.

good girl.

*ahem*

Overall the kids really liked the movie. Teddy sat on Jay's lap and was therefore protected from bug harassment!

He laughed and squealed through the whole thing. The stinkbug part had him belly laughing.

Sally was not nearly as amused. BUT she realized what was happening before she was hit full force and was able to cover her mouth and nose. I'd say she handled it MUCH better than the Stitch ride!

She also chose to sit forward in her chair and put her HAND on the back of her seat instead of her body. I was actually surprised that she even did that! She wanted to know "what it FELT like"...

Baby steps into bravery!!

She announced that she wasn't scared...and that she was now 100% positive that she did NOT like bugs.

BIG surprise!

After the movie we sort of aimlessly wandered about...just looking and walking and not rushing over much.

One of the great things about this park is that there are lots of "nature" things to look at...little creeks running here and there...trees...forest-y...stuff.

So there was a lot of "LOOK AT THAT!!!"

these kids LOVE to watch water...don't know why...but they love it!

The park wasn't too crowded at the moment, so the kids were enjoying the freedom of running ahead of us...a little...Sally being Sally would always look back to make sure we weren't too far behind.

It seemed a rather sudden thing that we went from "not too crowded" to "WALL OF HUMANITY"...I realized it was because were near Expedition Everest!

Jay and I LOVED Expedition Everest last year! LOVED IT!! Especially b/c we'd been allowed the FIRST ride of the day last year. We were in line to get fastpasses when a CM noticed our "Just Married" buttons. He asked us to please come with him. So we followed him into a "SECRET" CM's only area and we were lead to the very front of the queue, to the very first car and the very front seats!!! It was pretty exciting!! We'd had lots of pixie dust on our honeymoon!!!

BUT...Jay and I had decided that EE would be a BIT much for Sally and Teddy this year. They had both done SO well...especially the Worry Wart Sally...and we didn't want to take advantage of their willingness to follow us on to any ride...

Plus we figured that going VERY fast...in the dark...backwards...along with a monster BOO! situation...was paving the way for future therapy visits...

And since their little "issue bags" were pert near full as it was, we didn't need to add to that!

*Stay Tuned for my NEXT trip report...in which BOTH children WILL be tall enough to ride every ride at Disney...and will be doing so...as my goodwill can only last so long before the wickedness wins out!!*

Anyhow...we looked...and we marveled and listened to the screams of the riders on Expedition Everest...and headed towards the much more kid friendly Dinoland USA!!

As I'd figured, Sally and Teddy were THRILLED by the whole "carnival mid way" theme of Dinoland...

I sort of think it's a wee bit tacky.

And I don't know what on EARTH Dinoland has to do with the Animal Kingdom theme...I don't get it. We've got exotic theming right down to the nth degree all over the park...and then there's Dinoland USA...not that it's not fun, but it doesn't seem to fit.



ANYHOW...

We wanted to ride Primeval Whirl first! It looked like FUN to me!!

Sally wasn't so sure...of course.

Unfortunately Teddy was not tall enough to ride it!



Sheesh, you have to be taller to ride Primeval Whirl than you do to ride Expedition Everest...

Not sure why that is...but it makes me wonder what sort of hidden dangers lurk within the whirling screeching fun of this ride...

hmmmm...

Sally was secretly THRILLED...but she tried to appear bummed for Teddy, while trying to resist her urge to shout "WOOHOO!!!"

She patted Teddy's shoulder and said,

"Awww, poor you. Let's go do something else!"



Luckily TriceraTop Spin was close, so we headed that way.

check out the lady working both front and back controls!

When it was our turn, Teddy grabbed my hand and said

"Let's find the BEST one MissCammie!!!"

I'm not sure what his criteria was for the "best", but he found it quickly and we hopped in to our Triceratop...for a spin!

I was rather surprised when Sally and Jay joined us in the backseat of our dinosaur. Sally thought we should all ride together!

Teddy gave me his best smile and said,

"Isn't this the best day MissCammie?! Because we're all together. We're a family all together!"

This child has a picture in his mind of what a family looks like and it seems we'd stepped into the picture frame again!

good grief crying already and it wasn't even noon yet!

seriously just made myself cry again remembering that.

"Yes buddy...this IS the best day!"

Sally and Jay were cuddled up behind us. Normally Sally likes to be IN FRONT of whatever she is riding. I don't really know why she wanted to ride with Teddy and me, but when I looked behind me she had her arms around her daddy as tight as she could and she was smiling.

goodness gracious, these moments kill me. When your world gets turned upside down, sometimes it seems like you have to hang on tight...just to really get the feel of that person you miss so much. To really know they are right beside you. It's hard for Sally. She and Jay are so close. They spent a lot of time together when she was small. There is a tether between her heart and Jay's and I know that Sally worries that her "new" life will break that bond.

but it won't. we won't let it.

We took off into the air, twirling around in our dinosaur...the breeze was lovely!

who's that?!

We were having a BLAST so far!!!

Up Next: More Animal Kingdom!!

 

[Hedy]

So glad ITTBAB went smoothly. And I love the water-safe outfits.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Wow great update! I love "It's tough to be a bug"

Glad you guys enjoyed it too.

 

[Crystal824]

still loving your trip report.
To respond quickly to your observation that Dinoland doesn't fit...well...when the concept of Animal Kingdom was designed, the theme was to be for animals that are, animals that were, and animals that never were....ie Africa, Asia, Dinosuars, and mythical animals such as unicorns. Of course, the unicorn/mythical part has not yet materialized...maybe one day. Without it, Dinoland does seem out of place. I think if all three were there it would not seem quite so odd.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I wish there was no such thing as bugs...except Lady Bugs...because they EAT bad bugs. But I wish there was no such thing as mosquitoes because I HATE mosquitoes. They bite and make me itch to death all summer and I really hate that and..."

Tell Sally I'm so on board with her.

It's hard for Sally. She and Jay are so close. They spent a lot of time together when she was small. There is a tether between her heart and Jay's and I know that Sally worries that her "new" life will break that bond.

but it won't. we won't let it.

Good LORD this had me all teary and looking for the Kleenex.

Great update. Can't wait for more.

 

[Shannie]

Another great part of your trip!!! I'm glad the kids loved ITTBAB!! That was one of my favorites!! Teddy seems to be just a bundle of laughs!! You are really doing a great job with them!! Cant wait to read more!!