just wondering about bags for kids...

[disneyjunkie]

Thanks Disney Junkie...I try not to let people saying hateful things bother me. I think mommiepoppins was annoyed because I corrected her spelling...

As I've said before, I love these kids, they love me. If I require them to live up to certain standards it is because I love them and want them to see that they are not helpless. Divorce can take that away from children...especially when parents begin giving in to every demand out of guilt. That only handicaps them.

I'm GLAD I'm their step mom...so is THEIR mom.

I don't see how anyone can have a problem with what you're trying to teach the kids.

I think what Mommiepoppins and others are saying is that your tone/joke was hurtful to some of us.

 

[CampbellScot]

I do realize that people bring their own baggage to messageboards...my intent was not to hurt anyone of course...I just wanted to know what other people's kids were carrying in the parks...that's all...

I can understand people being hurt if I said "I hate my stepkids. I hate their mother too...I can't believe I have to plan this whole stupid Disney trip for them..." But I didn't say any of those things. If my tongue in cheek comments about whining and being a pack mule were hurtful, they must have touched a nerve that personally has something to do with your own life. I'm sorry to those of you who are divorced and have to deal with step parents. I'm sorry if your kids are unhappy or if their step mom isn't nice to them. That is not the case in my life or with my step kids. I am an active participant in their lives. I set limits and follow through on consequences. I tuck them in at night with a song and hugs and kisses and I sit with them in the ER if they hurt themselves, I get up at night with them if they are sick...I mother them, I PARENT them. It's no different than any other kind of parenting and I have EARNED the right to be annoyed with them if they whine or if they are acting helpless, which they are NOT. So give a girl a break...you haven't walked in my shoes so you have no idea.

At the very least I know which bags the kids will be carrying! Thanks to all for the ideas and suggestions and the positive comments, which outnumbered the negative ones!

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Love the title of this topic lol. You can get the kids a small backpask. They are usually 1/4 the size of a normal one. You can get them with bottle holders on them too so they can keep a bottle of water with them. Each of us will have our own backpacks. One thing you might want to bring is a small towel to whip off the seats on some of the rides as some kids whin with wet pants. Each of us have our own digital camera too. This way we all can see each others trip on film. Kids have a way of making the trip worth it. Love seeing them happy.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Campbellscot, I hope you figured out which bags you were buying for your stepkids. I agree with another poster, there have been so many posts about which bag to let your child carry, and why did yours turn ugly, because they are your stepkids, and people just think you're being mean. I don't get it.
I have a stepson too, we also have a very good relationship, his mother and I talk alot, we even go out with our kids together. Some people just must have had an issue with either themselves as a stepchild or their own children as stepchildren.
Well have a nice vacation

 

[Disneydreaming6]

Wow... I thought the op was very funny. Not for one min did I think you were being mean. I have 2 step children and my children have a step mother and a step father. Just thought I would add and sorry if it has already been posted, I didn't read all the reponses. If you were truly evil, you wouldn't be taking them to disney. they would be staying home. There is nothing wrong with making them carry their own stuff. I make my children carry their own bags.

 

[CampbellScot]

Disneydreaming6 and 3princesses+aprince--THANKS! Of course those of you who are step parents understand the tongue in cheek...you probably also understand that as a step parent you have to be able to laugh...acknowledge that kids...ANY KIDS can drive you nuts. I think the people who made snarky comments have their own issues either with their own kids having step parents or they had bad step parents themselves...although one poster said that his step mom MOVED OUT when he and his siblings would come for the summer...now THAT is bad, and their comment was very supportive. And it's true, if I was so wicked I would not have planned this trip for them...their dad wanted to go to Key West!

I also think that there is an antiquated notion that step mothers MUST be the reason that a marriage with kids broke up and how DARE we even show our EVIL faces in public, let alone speak ill of the poor children exposed to our wicked ways... OR our husband is the one who left his poor wife with young children and so again, we are bad for even loving such a horrible man...well hate to break it ladies, but that is not the case for either one of us...you can take your Scarlet Letters and pin them elsewhere! It's also the notion that children belong with their mother at all times...which again, just is NOT the case and it's not the reality in today's society.

a friend reminded me that just a few short years ago, children were not even ALLOWED to spend the night at the FATHER's house if he had a live in girlfriend. That is the way the law read...b/c only father's break up marriages...right?

how society has changed.

obviously this post touched a nerve and I believe a bit of prejudice as well. Fascinating subject all around eh?

and all I wanted to know was what bag to get for the kiddies!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Disneydreaming6 and 3princesses+aprince--THANKS! Of course those of you who are step parents understand the tongue in cheek...you probably also understand that as a step parent you have to be able to laugh...acknowledge that kids...ANY KIDS can drive you nuts. I think the people who made snarky comments have their own issues either with their own kids having step parents or they had bad step parents themselves...although one poster said that his step mom MOVED OUT when he and his siblings would come for the summer...now THAT is bad, and their comment was very supportive. And it's true, if I was so wicked I would not have planned this trip for them...their dad wanted to go to Key West!

I also think that there is an antiquated notion that step mothers MUST be the reason that a marriage with kids broke up and how DARE we even show our EVIL faces in public, let alone speak ill of the poor children exposed to our wicked ways... OR our husband is the one who left his poor wife with young children and so again, we are bad for even loving such a horrible man...well hate to break it ladies, but that is not the case for either one of us...you can take your Scarlet Letters and pin them elsewhere! It's also the notion that children belong with their mother at all times...which again, just is NOT the case and it's not the reality in today's society.

a friend reminded me that just a few short years ago, children were not even ALLOWED to spend the night at the FATHER's house if he had a live in girlfriend. That is the way the law read...b/c only father's break up marriages...right?

how society has changed.

obviously this post touched a nerve and I believe a bit of prejudice as well. Fascinating subject all around eh?

and all I wanted to know was what bag to get for the kiddies!

Couldn't you have just asked this question without including the information about the children being over indulged, lack of responsibility...?

You have done the very thing in many of your post that you have accused some of us of doing; posting snarky replies.

Posters on both sides have posted nasty comments that did not address the main issue.

 

[Andy B]

Well hasn't this been entertaining. I have a few comments. By all means make then carry stuff but if you do then do not yell at them if the stuff goes missing as it is on your judgement that it was a good idea.

I have no porblems with trying to get them to carry, we do the same but our DD will then later want to pass it on despite agreeing to carry it. Be prepared to give in and carry or have a principled argument in the middle of MK.

I find it strange that you seem to make a stand about carrying stuff but will be renting a double stroller for children at 5 & 8! what message does that send them. Our have walked at the earliest opportunity. A plea for the rest of us at the parks if they do not need it do not rent it. It adds to congestion and is a b****r when it is pushed into ankles.

PS. Turning socks is part of what comes with being a parent, step or otherwise. Frankly I have had worse to do!

 

[CampbellScot]

First of all I didn't make the comment about the dirty socks and I had no intention of ramming my double stroller into anyone's ankles...not quite sure what that has to do with bags...anyhow...

thanks to everyone for their kind words and suggestions. Truly. There IS an actual person typing these words and I appreciate knowing there are people out there who get the whole step parenting thing.

I need to take my own advice and quit coming back to this post. It's gotten destructive and has nothing to do with anything but other's issues in their own lives. This isn't therapy it's the Dis boards. So let's put down the torches of self righteousness shall we?

peace love and mickey mouse

 

[disneymomof6]

These boards are fun for a lot of reasons.... BUT they really get nasty when people arent allowed to let their hair down and express themselves on their own thread that they post....

I never thought for a moment that this OP was being hateful.... if they were her kids and said it this wouldnt be an issue.... it was because she added the "STEP" into the equation.

There are a lot of on these threads....

It must be terrible to have a stepmother that would take you to disney and even consider buying them a specific bag to carry things in that im sure she will be spending some of her $$s on the items that will go in. (sarcasm)

 

[bevtoy]

No one took us to WDW when we were children.

I would have been happy to go there at all, and happier yet to have an autograph book and belly bag to carry it in.

 

[kileybeth]

Didn't have time to read all the replys but had to chime in and say thank you so much for the chuckles!

what a hoot! laughter is such a good soother in less than perfect times!

my line is "because I'm the Mom and I must give you stories to tell when you are grown!"

I have often said, I do not believe I will ever be able to go to Disney without a stroller to hold our junk! perhaps that had something to do with spreading 6 kids over a quarter of a century. . . .hehe

anywho, what works for us is one small backback dumped in stroller most of time and just having to fish out and keep track of one "needs to go in with us" important bag, most stuff can be left on stroller and no one will bother it.

says she who has never had her stroller stolen. . .oh boy!

even a fanny pack gets bothersome after several hours to me and my kids have had them and even handed them off for wet rides, fast rides, etc.??

have a magical trip!