Another single mom question

[stego]

who take their children to WDW. That was me in 1998. It was the first week in March, right before my son's 3rd birthday. What was a single dad doing in MCO at 1145 at night with a sleeping child on his shoulder, 2 backpacks, and not a clue? I was looking for my best friend! That's right, for the next 4 years, my son and I made our annual pilgrimage to WDW. This included being hauled around in my best friend's trusty volvo. Not once did I think about "other" families. That one week was special. I left all my problems back in Texas. Oh sure, I was lucky to have $20 to buy a t-shirt, and that was it. But I made sure to bring plenty of film and borrowed my brother's camcorder. We created many happy and special memories. Every day I make it a point to glance at those photos-and we sit down once a week to watch for 15 minutes or so. It was our special time-two grown men, and a little boy. I did meet a wonderful lady, and wouldn't you know, that following year she became a part of that "special family". I couldn't care less of people looking at a child, a woman, and two grown men touring WDW together. I realized that there weren't too many men out there who would take the time off and chaperone his best friend and toddler for a week in WDW. We were indeed, fortunate to have one another. My son will be 9yo in March, and in May we will make our last trip to WDW for awhile. The time has flown by.
There are many other places that I want to take my "family"; just this past May we all went to Oahu; he still remembers his visit to Pearl harbor-and can even tell me what happened there.

To the OP: I can sure understand where you're coming from. I felt for quite some time that our family wasn't complete. In time, though, I began to accept that being on my own was A-OK. I can appreciate you sharing your feelings. It is great to have a place to come where you can share-and receive encouragement-and hopefully, some guidance.

Just the other day, my best friend sent my son a letter. He read it all the way through, and in it he stated: "I remember all the wonderful memories we have created and look forward to so many more." Indeed, we are fortunate.

Once again, thank you for sharing.

 

[bigsis1970]

just a little background - I have been to disney a number of times and told my ex that is where we should honeymoon in 1992 as he had never been - UGH we stayed off site - had horrible leg cramps 5 of the 7 days and he had walking pneonumia (sp?) .. so then try again in 1997 ( just in time to see the horrible castle cake! ) and my son who is 5 months old at the time is admitted to the Arnold Palmer Women's & Children's Hospital with RSV which was really new at that time and we almost couldn't fly home with the rest of our party and my then 3 yr old DD jumped into the deep end of the pool w/out her lifejacket and we had to jump in and rescue her AGAIN off site !! so he left us 5 years ago and I saved and saved - which he thought was all his hard earned child support money !! it was my taxes and my second job - anyhoo in Dec 2001 we took a 2 week trip and I started our obsession with Disney . We had such fun that trip my mom and sister joined us for the first week off site at HIFS and then the second week just the 3 of us moved to CBR !! it was sunny and warm for 15 days and we had such fun !! we went for 8 days after Thanksgiving in 2002 and this year we combined a trip to Kentucky with our Disney trip in June 2003 ( with another family - not as fun as us going solo but hey ! we were there !! ) our next trip is scheduled for Oct 29 2004 for 9 nights with my mom . my sister and her girlfriend can only stay for the weekend but we will have so much fun again I am sure.. I truely think my Ex has BAD DISNEY KARMA
and I have made that our special thing.. ( their dad is very involved in their lives - I am very lucky for that - and he takes them camping 4-5 times a summer -- I take them on a yearly trip to Disney -- so I think we each make our time special with them )

To the OP.. my son is 7 he always manages to find the little boys who are playing with their dad.. so far all the little boys we have met - with their dad's and mom's have been very nice and given him a throw or two - I ususally explain that we are traveling by ourselves and make sure to limit him it 15 or so minutes by explaining that those little boys need time with their daddy's alone without him .. He cried once ( he was 5 then ) and I felt like such a heel, he climbed out sat on my lap had his cry and then we ( me , my dd and him ) went to get Ice Cream and watched the Fireworks. That was the end of it.

I think as I watch some family that they are made for disney ( one parent , two parents 5 parents for that matter ) and some just are not .. My family of 3 is ( that is one adult and 2 kids and proud of it ) Just my opnion not meant to offend..

Michelle (ps sorry its a novel)