A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[MinnieNurse]

The Little Mermaid, that sounds like fun. I am still catching up. Just to page 20 so I am sure I will get to the review soon.

Billy did a great job on the ice cream sculpture. Those are always the gifts I love most. I was looking back at some of the things my DS has given me over the years. I wouldn't take a million dollars for them.

Happy Mother's Day Kathy!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Tornado Warning + no power = no fun! (I hate those sirens!)

Tornados!?!?

Stay safe, please!!

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I was looking back at some of the things my DS has given me over the years. I wouldn't take a million dollars for them.

I agree!

I received another little present from him as I was tucking him into bed...

"What would you like to dream about tonight, Billy?"

"Walt Disney World!!!" was his answer! "Halloween at Walt Disney World!" Then he counted down on his fingers....

"First May, then June, July, August, September, OCTOBER!!"



Kathy

 

[All7OfUs]

Happy Belated Mother's Day, Kathy! Don't you love the gifts we get from our kids that AREN'T on a holiday?? Hugs, "Thanks for dinner Mom, it tasted great!", and "let me do the dishes, you look tired." You're right, most moms would never trade a single moment!

Glad you had a nice day!

Liesa

 

[carissanboys]

Sounds like a lovely mother's day Kathy.

By the way, it's not Broadway, but Sully and I are going to see Alice in Wonderland peformed at a local theater this coming weekend. I'm so excited!

 

[mom2mek]

Awww...I love Billy's homemade ice cream sculpture!!! It's fabulous!

Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day Kathy!

Sara

 

[KathyRN137]

All7OfUs: Thanks, Liesa, you are so right! It really is the little things that mean the most.

carissanboys: Alice in Wonderland sounds like fun! Do a mini TR!

mom2mek: Thanks Sara! I guess its no secret how much I like ice cream!

Kathy

 

[miabellarose]

I'm loving your PTR and so glad you enjoyed LM. I enjoyed your pictures of NYC! By the way, what is “Kiss Goodnight” at the Magic Kingdom? Did I miss something?

 

[KathyRN137]

I'm loving your PTR and so glad you enjoyed LM. I enjoyed your pictures of NYC! By the way, what is “Kiss Goodnight” at the Magic Kingdom? Did I miss something?

Hello and thanks! Welcome to the report!

At the end of the night, when the park is closing, the Castle is lit up in a slowly-changing progression of different colors. It's called the "Kiss Goodnight!"

Kathy

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

Awww...I love Billy's hidden mickey dish of ice cream!

Happy belated mother's day!

 

[KathyRN137]

Awww...I love Billy's hidden mickey dish of ice cream!

Happy belated mother's day!

Thank you, Julie!!

I hope that you'll be posting another chapter soon....


Kathy

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

I hope that you'll be posting another chapter soon....


Kathy

Done! Check it out!

 

[MinnieNurse]

Hello and thanks! Welcome to the report!

At the end of the night, when the park is closing, the Castle is lit up in a slowly-changing progression of different colors. It's called the "Kiss Goodnight!"

Kathy

Aaawww-I never heard that. I like it.

 

[mousescrapper]

Nice ice cream and love the Halloween countdown!

sweet dreams, I agree

 

[KathyRN137]

"Magical Ideas for the ____ Party!"


Today when I went to the mailbox, I was surprised by a little Mickey Mail!

We normally receive the usual DVC stuff after making a ressie, but since we added that first night at All Star Music, we must've been put on a list to receive mailings from Disney Destinations as well.


"Special trip planning information we've put together just for the ___ Party!" the brochure says. Heh Heh Heh. Oh, if they only knew!!


It's interesting that the brochure they designed for our family is geared toward teenagers... the thrill rides, the water parks, Disney Quest, and Sammy Duvall's Watersports. I know the kids are 11, 13, and 13, but I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of having teenagers!!

Examples:

All-Star Music Resort:
"...Teenagers can head off for their own adventures exploring the Resort while you relax and enjoy a delicious drink from Singing Spirits. And it's right next to the huge, guitar-shaped Calypso Pool where everyone can meet up, cool off, and share exciting stories from the day."

Um, not quite yet. I'm still not sure how much freedom I want to give the two girls and Billy sure as heck isn't going off anywhere without us!!

Special Resort Benefits:
"...Conquer more thrill rides with teens with our enhanced Extra Magic Hours benefit."

There's that teen reference again!

"We've picked these "don't miss" attractions just for you:"

Disney's Hollywood Studios: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney's Animal Kingdom: Kali River Rapids (No EE??)
Epcot: Mission: SPACE
Magic Kingdom: Pirates of the Caribbean

Funny... the last brochure we received picked out attractions "just for us" such as Mickey's PhilharMagic and Voyage of the Little Mermaid!! They suggested taking our little princess to the Bibbity-Bobbity Boutique for a princess make-over!


Sigh.

Heavy Sigh.

I'm the mother of a teenager!!!


Kathy

 

[Hedy]

I have never been so aghast as a DISpost in my life as when I was discussing what I'd heard the Easter Bunny was getting the boys, and I referred to Mordie as "the teenager"

 

[preschoolmom]

Oh Kathy!

The years go too fast, don't they?

I'm trying to get my kids back twice this year (October and June), before the girls won't wear princess dresses!

Still, big kids are fun, too! I couldn't dream of doing a late EMH (we're lucky to make it back to a park after dinner!).

I'm excited to not have to bring as many extra outfits into the park each day as last trip!

 

[KathyRN137]

I have never been so aghast as a DISpost in my life as when I was discussing what I'd heard the Easter Bunny was getting the boys, and I referred to Mordie as "the teenager"

It's quite a shock to the system, isn't it?!

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh Kathy!

The years go too fast, don't they?

I'm trying to get my kids back twice this year (October and June), before the girls won't wear princess dresses!

Still, big kids are fun, too! I couldn't dream of doing a late EMH (we're lucky to make it back to a park after dinner!).

I'm excited to not have to bring as many extra outfits into the park each day as last trip!

Enjoy them... I completely missed the princess years at WDW... our first visit wasn't until Tricia was seven. But, at least she enjoyed the characters, getting autographs and the like, so I didn't miss everything!

And I am so glad I never had to do diapers in Disney!!


Kathy

 

[melk]

I'm the mother of a teenager!!!


Kathy

I hear you, just two short months ago I joined the same club. I had to laugh about you trying to take pictures of Tricia at Little Mermaid. On our recent WDW trip it was like pulling teeth to get my oldest to pose with the rest of us for a picture. Ugh!

Anyway, a friend sent me this and I thought you might appreciate it as well:


Congratulations! You are now the proud new owner of a teenaged daughter. Please read this manual carefully, as it describes the maintenance of your new daughter, and answers important questions about your warranty (which does NOT include the right to return the product to the factory for a full refund).

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR TEENAGER IN ERROR: To determine whether you were supposed to receive a teenaged girl, please examine your new daughter carefully. Does she (a) look very similar to your original daughter, only with more makeup and less clothing? (b) refuse to acknowledge your existence on the planet Earth (except when requesting money)? (c) sleep in a burrow of dirty laundry? If any of these are true, you have received the correct item. Nice try, though.

BREAK-IN PERIOD: When you first receive your teenaged daughter, you will initially experience a high level of discomfort. Gradually, this discomfort will subside, and you will merely feel traumatized. This is the "Break-In Period," during which you are becoming accustomed to certain behaviors that will cause you concern, anxiety, and stress. Once you have adapted to these behaviors, your teenager will start acting even worse.

ACTIVATION: To activate your teenaged daughter, simply place her in the vicinity of a telephone. No further programming is required.

SHUTDOWN: Several hours after activation, you may desire to shut down you teenaged daughter. There is no way to do this.

CLEANING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Having a teenaged daughter means learning the difference between the words "clean" and "neat." Teenaged daughters are very clean, because they take frequent showers that last more than an hour. They will scrub themselves with expensive, fragrant soaps which you must purchase for them because like I'm sure I'm going to use like the same kind of soap my mom and dad use. When they have completely drained the hot-water tank, they will step out and wrap themselves in every towel in the bathroom, which they will subsequently strew throughout the house. If you ask them to pick up the towels, you are confusing "clean" with "neat." Teenagers are very busy and do not have time to be neat. They expect others to pick up after them. These others are called "parents."

FEEDING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Your teenaged daughter requires regular meals, which must be purchased for her at restaurants because she detests everything you eat because it is like so disgusting. She does not want you to accompany her to these restaurants, because some people might see you and like I'm sure I want my friends to see me eating dinner with my parents. Either order take-out food or just give her the money, preferably both. If you order pizza, never answer the doorbell because the delivery boy might see you and ohmigod he is so hot. Yes, your daughter's idea of an attractive man is the pizza boy.

CLOTHING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Retailers make millions of dollars a year selling stylish and frankly sensible clothing which will look adorable on your daughter. If you enjoy shopping, you will love the vast selections which are available to you. Unfortunately, your teenaged daughter wants to dress like a lap dancer. You may be able to coerce her into putting on a cute outfit before leaving the house, but by the time she walks in the schoolhouse door, she will be wearing something entirely different.

OTHER MAINTENANCE: Teenaged daughters require one of two levels of maintenance: "High," and "Ultra High." Your daughter is "Ultra High." This means that whatever you do won't be enough and whatever you try won't work.

WARRANTY: This product is not without defect because she has your genes, for heaven's sake. If you think this is not fair, talk to your parents, who think it is hilarious. Your teenaged daughter will remain a teenager for as long as it takes for her to become a woman, which in her opinion has already happened and as far as you are concerned, never really will. If you are dissatisfied with your teenaged daughter, well, what did you expect? In any event, your warranty does not give you your little girl back under any circumstances, except that deep down she's actually still there--you just have to look for her.

copyright 2004 W. Bruce Cameron
Please do not remove the copyright from this essay.