Creative moms....need an idea!!

[samano]

My DD10 has had an extremely tough year this year in school, she has truly struggled through most of it. However, this year, she passed her End-of-Grade tests on the first try! (took a few tearful, stressful tries last year). I am extremely proud of her, but it is no match for how proud she is of herself. The A's she earned this year through blood, sweat and tears are worth a thousand A's that some other kids earned in their sleep!

Our WDW vacation next month is partly a celebration of the end of a long, tough school year. I need help thinking of an idea of something special I can do for her while we are there, to let her know how proud I am of her! Anyone done something really cool for their kids to celebrate something special? I would love to hear about it.

 

[o2bacelt]

Is there maybe a special tour she'd like to take? Or a place she'd like to eat that you don't usually go to?

What about a special afternoon tea at The Grand Floridian?

 

[Angela&Kayla]

What about just going out to a special lunch to celebrate her accomplishment...or let her chose the first rides of the day...or something special that doesn't cost any money but just lets her know that you are also proud (even though it's so much more important that she is proud of herself-that is great)!

Otherwise, my daughter and I will be going to Disney on a girls only trip, and these are some of the things we've planned:

La Nouba - Cirque du Soleil show (sorry if I misspelled, but I am not motivated enough to look up the correct spelling right now).
Wonderland Tea Party - Only $30 for 1 hour, but parents are not invited.
Illuminations & Wishes fireworks cruise - kind of expensive, but hopefully worth it.
Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - letting her get a costume and everything (even though she will only wear it at home, when none of her friends know that is what she is doing).

I was going to do the full blown tea party with Sleeping Beauty, but am afraid my daughter is too old.

Another idea I had, but I decided to wait until my husband goes on vacation with us to do this one, is to swim with the dolphins. I don't know what Disney's program is RE this (age, etc) but I know that Discovery Cove (across the street from sea world) offers a full day program at there location that includes breakfast and lunch, unlimited use of their snorkeling reefs and lazy river and bird aviary, and also a 30 minute dolphin encounter that includes a kiss from the dolphin and swimming with the dolphin by holding onto it...for a price around $280 per person. It's pretty expensive, but it does include a 7 day pass to sea world and again, I'm not doing it this year, but it just gives you another idea just in case.

Good luck, and Woo-hoo for your daughter!

 

[samano]

Some great ideas....thanks! I like the Afternoon tea at GF, she'd like that. I also like letting her pick the rides of the day...that made me think we could declare our first day there HER DAY, and DS5 and I have to do whatever she says. Thanks for the congratulations, and you're right, being proud of herself is worth everything. I made her this big banner on the last day of EOG tests that said - Good Luck, You Can Do It! After she passed, she turned the sign over and wrote - I Did It, I Can Do Anything!! She has it up on the wall over her bed. My pride runneth over.....

On my way to work this morning, I was thinking about the one character meal we have planned....Garden Grill at Epcot on Day 2. What kinds of things do they do for kids celebrating birthdays? Could I get one of the characters to present her with a special award or cake or something? Surely, they do something like this for birthdays??? Is that something I need to arrange in advance?

 

[vanreg]

I would order her a cake to be brought out at a restaurant....maybe with You did it! or Congratulations written on it.

Another suggestion would be to order a basket of goodies delivered to your room. Peggy's Sweets & more has a ton of stuff you can pick from....plus you get to decide (individually) what you want in it. She will even look for some things that may not be on the list if you check ahead of time.

We will be taking our first trip in January I will be ordering a basket as a surprise for my 3 girls.

 

[mommyceratops]

WOW! I am very proud of her!!

What about a dinner at California Grill for the fire works? That would be special. The tea party, What about going to get a spa treatment nails and pedicure with mom? That could be fun?

Make it HER DAY!! I am sure if you go somewhere special to eat and inform them this is a celebration they will make it special for her!!



Tell her she is AWESOME!!!!

 

[prplcrzy]

Does she like horses? You could take her horseback riding at Fort Wilderness. My dd did this a few years ago and loved it.

Congrats and have a great trip!

Nancy

 

[keekeeb]

I know how it feels to be proud of your child's grades! My DS11 made all A+'s this last semester and we're partly going in celebration of that and my DD's 8th birthday in August.

What about buying her a charm necklace or bracelet to let her know that her hard work and strength has "charmed" you or that she's becoming a "charming young lady"? You can wrap it and have a waitress/waiter or Disney Character deliver it to her while you're eating dinner.

We surprised our kids last year with a Disneyland vacation by having a waitress deliver a card to our dinner table. You should have seen the looks on their faces when the waitress addressed them by name. After they read the card aloud that said we were proud of them and that we're taking them to Disneyland that very next day, my DD, who was 6 at the time, said, "Yeah right" and kept on eating!

 

[samano]

More great ideas....my mind is now wandering in a thousand directions with all the surprises I could do for her (when I really should be doing is...Working!!) LOL!!!

 

[mjmcca]

What about an appointment at bippity boppity boutique? They do the princess stuff but they also will do funky hairstyles for older girls. She can get her nails and hair done Disney style.


Do the Family Magic tour.

Send both kids on pirate cruise.

 

[scouthawkk]

Does she like any of the princesses? Why not have one of them "call" to congratulate her just before you leave on your trip...or call a cell phone one day while on your trip? https://secure.uvoxnetworks.com/whap?-C@PGM=5917&@10=1&@9=0&@19=66

 

[katlas&kids]

They were taking about picking a oyster in Japan and keeping the pearl inside. You can have it mounted there or somewhere at home!

I think they said they did it in Japn, DTD, And at one of the resorts, but I am not sure which one. I think it was on the theme park threads, but you can search it.

Have a great time and congradulations! I know she is proud!!

 

[samano]

Thanks for all of the ideas, you guys are great.....I'm thinking about a cake brought to our table , gift basket delivered to the room, or tea @ GF, all of those sound right up her alley!! I went to the site with the calls from the characters.....how cute!

 

[taximomfor4]

Maybe I have a much different outlook, but I would do something very low-key, not so tangible. I believe that the best way to ensure long-term perseverence and pride in self is to encourage a system of intrinsic rewards. A person needs the best reward to feel good inside. This must come from within. If another person (parent) does anything BETTER than the good feeling inside, that is EXTRINSIC reward. A lot shorter term.

I would perhaps let her pick the first ride of the day, or order a congrats cake in advance for one of your ADRs. Obviously, you have told her how proud you are of her and that means a lot. I wouldn't "give" her a lot more, because she already feels great, which is how it should be.

Congrats to her, btw. I know what schoolwork struggles can be like, we go through many, for different reasons.

 

[samano]

Maybe I have a much different outlook, but I would do something very low-key, not so tangible. I believe that the best way to ensure long-term perseverence and pride in self is to encourage a system of intrinsic rewards. A person needs the best reward to feel good inside. This must come from within. If another person (parent) does anything BETTER than the good feeling inside, that is EXTRINSIC reward. A lot shorter term.

That is an excellent point, I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[the Fidge]

God bless I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement! Too often I find my self correcting my son and giveing out consequences so in turn I must be eager to give double attention to his achievements! SOmetimes it is not the price but time and his pick of an activity or a place or even dinner sometimes silly as that sounds!

It is great to hear other Moms realizing their child's hard efforts. I think so many Mom's have given some great suggestions, but by all means get a photo of her and her report card and the event that you are planning for her to view. Anytime she may feel discouraged their on her desk or dresser will be the reminder that hard work does pay off!

God Bless you and your daughter am holding my breathe DS 10 will get his next Friday, and yes I have some great rewards in mind for a JOB WELL DONE!!!!