Amusing Parenting Column

[GoofyforDisney3]

We have this parenting column, by John Rosemond, in our local paper that at times can be kind of amusing and this week it is ROTFL amusing. It is about taking children as young as ages 2 and 3 to disney world and how it is not recommended. Here is a link if anyone is interested.

http://www.rosemond.com/action.lass... Column&-Response=1sectionbody.lasso&-nothing

I looked on the web site (www.rosemond.com) and it has a poll asking if you agree, which of course I do not, but most of the people who answered so far (like 90 + percent) agree. I sure he would just be appaled that I took my 18 month DD last year and are going again this year.

 

[*Susan*]

Uh-oh, I guess he would disapprove of us taking our 6 month old in May!

He didn't take his kids until they were 8 and 13??? Keeping kids away from DW that long is akin to child abuse

 

[tommygirl79]

That is blasphemy!!! I couldn't even read the whole thing. We just took our almost 4 years old and 18 month old in February and I could go back already!!!! They are not perfect angels all of the time - normal kids - and they did awesome at Disney!!! I wouldn't trade that vacation for the world!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robyn323]

He calls himself a expert? Yeah right. First he says from his experience to never take a child under the age of six. But then goes on to say he took his 8 year old there for the first time. Well now how did he get such wonderful experience earlier if he didn't take them until they were 8? Yeah well sorry don't think I would be listening to him. Besides that we took our son at 2 and 1/2 and he STILL remembers quite a bit.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

He calls himself a expert? Yeah right. First he says from his experience to never take a child under the age of six. But then goes on to say he took his 8 year old there for the first time. Well now how did he get such wonderful experience earlier if he didn't take them until they were 8? Yeah well sorry don't think I would be listening to him. Besides that we took our son at 2 and 1/2 and he STILL remembers quite a bit.

So true. I gave the article to my DH to read and he said it was a joke. No one would listen to him, but the sad part is there are people out there that will listen to him and will be missing out on some great years taking there kids to the parks. I know when we went last year with DD at 18 months we had friends that thought we were crazy. They kept saying they wouldn't go until their kids were at least 5 or 6, and that is the youngest being 5 or 6 which would make the oldest like 12 or 13. It is sad that people believe this type of stuff.

Our trip last year was absolutely priceless and I can not wait until this year. Our DD is already looking forward to our trip. Oh well, I guess that just means less people to take up our fast passes and wait in line with.

 

[mar915]

I agree, I took my 3 year old and he is now going to be 7 in June when we go back and he still remembers the things we did. Yes it is harder and you can't expect to do the same as with older kids but it is fun and great memories. Infact this year I am taking my 2 year old(he will be 3 the week we are there) and he still talks about last year when we went to Universal on the 4th of July after a cruise and got wet on 1 Fish 2 Fish and he was only just 2. So yes it is different but it is all worth it.

I will go back then in a few more years for even more memories which will be easier but still fun.

 

[Limmer]

The part about leaving the zoo if the child gets too excited is what bugs me. Aren't they supposed to get excited about new things? Isn't that the point? Wonder what he would say about me because I am 28 and STILL get "too excited".

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I have never been a John Rosemond fan. In fact DH recomended I quit reading him because I almost never agree with him and I get pretty hyped up over some of his stuff. Well I guess what I always knew was true, he really is a little off!!

Jordan's mom

 

[copper68]

hmmm.. so i guess it was wrong of me to take my 4 month old.. and then take her again when she was 1yr old.. how silly of me..

 

[moinab]

hmmm, we took DD to WDW 17 times, between her first and second birthday. Our 4 1/2 year old DS knows the parks better than a tour guide. I guess we'd get one of Rosemond's stupid parents of the year awards, too.

 

[LegoMom3]

Good heavens, WHAT was I thinking bringing my DS4 and DS2 last fall?!? I have wonderful photos, priceless memories, and the boys STILL talk about the trip and "When are we going back?!!"...Yep, I must be nuts for sure.

 

[MrsPete]

I think John Rosemond's columns make a great deal of sense. He gives old-fashioned, no-nonsense parenting advice. In this case, if you overlook the age recommendations, there's excellent advice here: basically he's saying work up to a Disney trip. Start with smaller attractions close to home that can be handled as day-trips; use these smaller trips to teach your children how to behave at Disney. Several days of Disney can be tough on kids; they need their down time (which is why I'm a big fan of buying fewer hopper days and spending plenty of time at the pool).

I suspect the "demon possessed children" described in the letter weren't prepared for what they saw in Disney World; they hadn't been coached on the rules of "stay next to mommy" and "we'll have to wait in line". Also, people tend to do stupid stuff that they'd never do at home such as allow children to have unlimited caffeine-filled sodas, then expect them to go to sleep at their regular bedtime.

 

[crusin'minnie]

Some really wise person summed it up for me on these very boards. I wish now I had noted the poster's name to give them credit. I have used this many times with family, friends and even strangers.

If you believe that you cannot take a child under the age of four to WDW because they cannot remember the trip and therefore it would be a waste of time and money, then why bother having a first birthday or picnic, or Christmas with presents from Santa, or Halloween with costumes?? We do all of these things partly for ourselves and partly for our children to see their little faces light up and to enjoy their reactions.

Some of my most precious memories are of my girls as toddlers meeting Pooh and Mickey for the first time and seeing the castle, the fireworks etc... Perhaps they don't exactly remember their early trips but they look at the pictures and her the sweet stories and it makes them really happy. We all like to hear stories about when we were little ones.

 

[newtowdw1]

I have to agree with Mrs. Pete, and Rosemund to a degree. We've worked hard over the last two years to prepare our kids for the sensory overload we expect at Disney. Our kids have been to amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, etc. Not just so THEY know what to expect, but so we know what to watch for.

I worked at Darien Lake, NY (amusement park) before it was a 6 flags. I saw parents doing it 'right' and 'wrong'. Wrong is what we all try to avoid...staying too late, threatening them to "have fun or else!" and refusing to give the kids time to be kids. DH and I want to do it right. We are going this year and next year with APs. Then we probably won't be back for 10 or more years. We do want this to be memorable. I think a lot of parents with little kids do go commando, and don't allow kids time to play.

I don't think Rosemund is a complete idiot. Just a semi-idiot

 

[pezpam]

. Several days of Disney can be tough on kids; they need their down time (which is why I'm a big fan of buying fewer hopper days and spending plenty of time at the pool).

I suspect the "demon possessed children" described in the letter weren't prepared for what they saw in Disney World; they hadn't been coached on the rules of "stay next to mommy" and "we'll have to wait in line". Also, people tend to do stupid stuff that they'd never do at home such as allow children to have unlimited caffeine-filled sodas, then expect them to go to sleep at their regular bedtime.

That's the key to me. It's the parents who needed to stop and remember to take the days only as far as the kids could handle. Kids need down time and don't need to be pushed past their limits. We know our kids' limits at home, why leave them in the dust on vacation? I took my daughter when she was 6 and I made sure to keep an eye on her and her moods and to stop for pool or playground time. We didn't make a single fireworks show last year since she just couldn't stay up that late and be happy about it. We'll see if we make it this year and if not, then next time. You can't do everything at WDW in a few days even if you try, so why fool yourself into thinking you not only can, but have to, and make the kids miserable along the way?

Bringing very small kids to WDW can be an amazing experience. Even with infants, parents who enjoy WDW will have priceless memories and photos, so why not offer advice on how to do the Big Trip instead of advising not to do it at all?

 

[mmiller711]

It sounds like I am in good company here on these boards. I took my girls for the first time at the ages of 5 and 18 months and almost every year after that. I am going back this June with my grandson for his 3rd trip in as many years! I will admit that I have slowed down with my grandson and I find things even more enjoyable with him, but that is because of the way I handle things not because he is better or worse than my girls were. I think parents need to learn how to do Disney....Kids already know!

 

[savs]

Some really wise person summed it up for me on these very boards. I wish now I had noted the poster's name to give them credit. I have used this many times with family, friends and even strangers.

If you believe that you cannot take a child under the age of four to WDW because they cannot remember the trip and therefore it would be a waste of time and money, then why bother having a first birthday or picnic, or Christmas with presents from Santa, or Halloween with costumes?? We do all of these things partly for ourselves and partly for our children to see their little faces light up and to enjoy their reactions.

Some of my most precious memories are of my girls as toddlers meeting Pooh and Mickey for the first time and seeing the castle, the fireworks etc... Perhaps they don't exactly remember their early trips but they look at the pictures and her the sweet stories and it makes them really happy. We all like to hear stories about when we were little ones.

Thanks!!! I have said that so many times to poeple when they give the Stupid comment of "They won't remember anything". Who says that they have to remember it to have fun in the moment. We have gone every year, ever since we have had kids. I'm not about to stop now, just because they won't remember it.

I read that article in our paper last weekend and I just laughed and thought "Thank goodness, he wasn't my father".

I hear it alot from poeple about us taking our 9 mon old this May and I say "So you think we should make our 2 older kids suffer, just because their little brother is too young!!!"

Just think of John's poor older child.....not going until he was 13 yrs old. Think of all the things that the 13 yr old missed out on and was too old to enjoy once he did get to go.

 

[Stitch Inside]

So true. I gave the article to my DH to read and he said it was a joke. No one would listen to him, but the sad part is there are people out there that will listen to him and will be missing out on some great years taking there kids to the parks. I know when we went last year with DD at 18 months we had friends that thought we were crazy. They kept saying they wouldn't go until their kids were at least 5 or 6, and that is the youngest being 5 or 6 which would make the oldest like 12 or 13. It is sad that people believe this type of stuff.

Our trip last year was absolutely priceless and I can not wait until this year. Our DD is already looking forward to our trip. Oh well, I guess that just means less people to take up our fast passes and wait in line with.

I'm surprised we haven't received this article from my MIL, yet. She has sent us his articles before. But, then I think it's a great idea to keep your kids away from Disney World. That way there will be a little more room for my two DSs (6yo and 18mo.s). This will be their third trip, well almost, the baby was still swimming around in the dark during their first visit.

 

[Deesknee]

I couldn't even finish reading it, so perhaps I shouldn't comment. I will however say this, we took our triplets when they were 3 1/2, 4 1/2, 6 1/2 8 1/2, 9 1/2, 11 1/2 and when they were 13 their baby sister joined us (at the age of 11months), and are planning one for this June and this November. Needless to say, we don't believe you have to wait until they are 6. BTW, we got numerous comments every trip how well behaved & well mannered our children where. (granted these people did not see their behavior in our hotel rooms. lol)

 

[kakiegirl]

We took our dd when she was three and then four and had a blast. She still remembers things from the trips. We will be back this June and she will be six. Kids grow up so fast these days as a mommy I am so glad I got to see her meet the characters when she still thought they were real and not just people in constumes. There is nothing like seeing the look on your child's face when they meet a princess, or Mickey, Pooh so forth and give them a hug. I have told DH I want to do disney as much as possible while she still young enough to really get caught up in the magic (of course I am thirty something and I still get caught up in the magic).