Parents of Children Read Please

[MazdaUK]

I have a little sister and I know what is like so yha

Er....actually you don't! You know what it is like to have a little sister, and I would guess at your age your parents are happy to give you a bit of space to do your own thing if your sis needs a rest.

Well, try balancing the needs of two kids, neither of whom are old enough to be left on their own, on a holiday which really is once in a lifetime - or once in a very long time indeed, ours was 15 years in the saving! Its not as easy as you think.

I agree with the poster who suggested keeping this thread - I still cringe when I remember that I thought I could work from home two days a week without needing childcare for those two days because "babies sleep all the time". And I was a positively geriatric 28!

Its good your concerned people aren't looking after their kids properly - there's lots of those about, but I would suspect that most of them don't bother to trek to WDW to treat their kids badly, they do it at home. Is your concern really for the kids (in which case join a charity to help them), or was the sreaming getting on your nerves?

 

[crisi]

Not to mention you know what your sister is like. To the best of my knowledge you've never met either my daughter or my son. This will surprise you, but children and teens and grown ups are individuals. I don't know you at all, but I have a friend with a 16 year old son who is an excellent violinist and composes symphonies. He absolutely loves that. Based on that, you and all teens spend four hours a day practicing the violin - which you truly enjoy. -- see, it doesn't work that way.

 

[flipturngirl]

Not to mention you know what your sister is like. To the best of my knowledge you've never met either my daughter or my son. This will surprise you, but children and teens and grown ups are individuals. I don't know you at all, but I have a friend with a 16 year old son who is an excellent violinist and composes symphonies. He absolutely loves that. Based on that, you and all teens spend four hours a day practicing the violin - which you truly enjoy. -- see, it doesn't work that way.

Um. That does not make sense.

 

[Nancyg56]

Um. That does not make sense.

She means that you have generalized all family vacation planning based on the family that you know...your own. If she based all of her views regarding 16 year olds based on her knowledge of the boy that she knows, all 16 year olds would spend 4 hours a day practicing the violin. She doubts that that is indeed the case.

 

[CleveRocks]

Um. That does not make sense.

OK, let me try. Maybe I'll type s-l-o-w-l-y so you can understand better.
In your original post and others, you base your opinions on your own childhood and on your little sister. Crisi was telling you that you can't look at only one or two examples and then make a general rule about everyone. Her example was she knows a 16 year old who practices violin 4 hours a day. If she reasoned like you do, she would assume that because that teenager practices violin 4 hours a day that EVERY teenager likes to practice violin 4 hours a day. She'd be dead wrong, of course.

It's the same with you. You look at yourself and your sister and reason that all kids/families are like yours. You're dead wrong, of course.

-- Eric

 

[VSL]

To the OP:

I'm sure you had good intentions, but you've got to remember that while it is vacation, a small child/toddler isn't going to care about that and is still going to have meltdowns, regardless.

Also, while you believe that daily schedules should be left at home, many kids find it easier to stick to a schedule to keep something familiar to them throughout the holiday (this especially applies to some special needs children).

I know I was never a napper when I was little.
Many kids may simply be being a little spoilt (ie, normal kids!) and want to have every toy they say and have sweeties for lunch and are crying because their parents have said 'no'.

Not to mention that many children have certain disorders (ADHD, for example) that may be a factor in the type of behaviour you witnessed.

(BTW, I'm only 20yrs old, so I'm not much older than you and don't have kids - you may have a little sister but you most certainly do not know what it is like to be a parent.)

 

[Embel]

Every individual child within each family has it's own set of wants, needs and special cirucumstances. Part of Motherhood is learning to balance all of these, at home and on vacation. It's a neverending job, and one that humbles me everyday. It looked so easy before I tried it.

 

[SnowWitch]

To each his own so to speak. Only parents know their childrens limits and only they can determine what is best for their child/children. We were fortunate both of our boys would take naps on Disney vacations from the time they were toddling until they were pushing 12. Heck they still might catnap. We now have a 4 month old daughter who will be taking three trips next year. We will let her determine our schedule. God knows I hope she will take naps because I know I will need one- if not we will leave the parks early to accomodate her needs.

Parents know their children best and no one regardless of experience should critic their choices. My boys napped and stayed in the parks until they closed- my daughter may need to be back at the room by 8pm. Who knows, but we'll enjoy our family time regardless.

 

[ReneeA]

Ok, here goes...

My kids are 2 & 3, and we just got back from WDW a month ago. They are early risers, so we were in the parks early every day. My DS3 doesn't take a nap at home anymore but did while we there due to the heat and the running around. DD2 always takes a nap, will only nap in a bed, and took 3 hour naps everyday while we were there.

That being said...they still were worn out by their regular bedtime (about 8:00). We stayed a couple nights for the fireworks, but for the most part we were back in the room by 9:00 for bedtime and missed the fireworks. Trust me, the rest of the population thanks us...DD2 has a screech that would deafen you when she is tired. NOBODY would have enjoyed the show had we stayed...DD2 included.

We don't anticipate that this is our last ever family vacation so we didn't overdo things either.

ReneeA

 

[kc10family]

DD #1 is 3 1/2, DD #2 is 22mths. When we went this past month, we got up when they did, got naps about 1:30 (same time as home) and went back in the park around 4-5 for a few hours. I must tell you.... I do think that they just couldn't take the lines, waiting for what ever it was we waited for and anything else in the evening. We did our best to let them ride on what they asked to ride, then we took our cues from them as to when to leave. We did try to stay for the fireworks one night, but it didn't go so well. Also we noticed that after 3-4 nights, they just couldn't take much at night no matter how long of a nap they had. I must say sorry to those who had to hear my DD's break down, but I will say we tried to follow what they needed. Also it's not great to have a break down on one end of the park and have to walk ALL the way out or wait for then ride the train, but it happens and it's not something you can fix in a few minutes (I know it happend). So I guess I agree with most that you should take your cues from the kids, but sometimes you don't get cues until it a bit late and you end up with a BIG breakdown. I say.. Do your best and hope for the best.

 

[owtrbnks]

What other kind of parents are there?
What the heck is a "scedual?" I haven't seen that before.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well it is just my thoughts. I have a little sister and I know what is like so yha.

What is YHA?

And your little sister isn't your child. Your parents call the shots with her..not you, right?

My children haven't napped in years.

I have a nap--and I am a worst beast than what I was before I went down for the nap. When I go to sleep--it is for the night.

Not everyone has the same definition of fun.

I'd prefer to go to bed "early" than to break up the fun by leaving it.

I'm not a night person--never ever have been.

 

[flipturngirl]

What is YHA?

And your little sister isn't your child. Your parents call the shots with her..not you, right?

My children haven't napped in years.

I have a nap--and I am a worst beast than what I was before I went down for the nap. When I go to sleep--it is for the night.

Not everyone has the same definition of fun.

I'd prefer to go to bed "early" than to break up the fun by leaving it.

I'm not a night person--never ever have been.

Okay I am sorry it was a typo. I messed up. Also they would let me call the shots sometimes. Because I am the oldest.

 

[flipturngirl]

I am sorry if this offended anyone. I am just stating my opinion you do not need to be so angry with what I said. IT was just my .5 cent into the whole thing. I am sorry.

 

[SnowWhite]

Okay, since you asked... I don't really care what you or ANYONE thinks about my vacation style. I laugh when I see the line about a 2 hour nap and then being able to stay up until 11. Yeah, right! Certainly not my kids. Oh, and how should I vacation on our AK day when it closes at 5?

I'm not sure what age children you were directing your advice to, but I will respectfully disregard it. To each his own and thank goodness. If every guest was at the parks at opening, why bother? I do think you were being sincere, but I guess I don't get people w/o little kids trying to give parenting advice. If you were giving advice about teen issues, perhaps I'd be more willing to listen.

I have a two year old that usually has an afternoon nap but we will play it by ear when we are at Disney. I AM on vacation and I deserve to enjoy every last minute of it because "next time" might not be anytime soon. If he is obviously exhausted and isn't willing to snooze in the stroller then we will rethink our plans that day but to plan everyday to go back to the hotel to nap is just dumb. With all the excitement around him I'm sure the last thing he will want to do is sleep!!!! We know that he is always at his best in the mornings so we have planned character breakfasts and no dinners because even with a nap he is cranky in the evenings. I think each family knows their own children and will plan THEIR OWN vacations accordingly.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay I am sorry it was a typo. I messed up. Also they would let me call the shots sometimes. Because I am the oldest.

So they ask you when your sister's bedtime should be, when she should do her homework, whether or not she should take a nap?




(I was talking parenting--not placing you in authority as a "babysitter" role).

 

[flipturngirl]

I have a two year old that usually has an afternoon nap but we will play it by ear when we are at Disney. I AM on vacation and I deserve to enjoy every last minute of it because "next time" might not be anytime soon. If he is obviously exhausted and isn't willing to snooze in the stroller then we will rethink our plans that day but to plan everyday to go back to the hotel to nap is just dumb. With all the excitement around him I'm sure the last thing he will want to do is sleep!!!! We know that he is always at his best in the mornings so we have planned character breakfasts and no dinners because even with a nap he is cranky in the evenings. I think each family knows their own children and will plan THEIR OWN vacations accordingly.

I agree with you! I was just giving my suggestions to people. And know one has to take my word. I can not believe that I can't just give a opinion

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

This is so ridiculous to be arguing back and forth with a 16 year old.
Why she even felt the need to post on here about parenting issues is beyond me.......

 

[madge]

This is so ridiculous to be arguing back and forth with a 16 year old.

I've already done that once this morning with my own 16 year old, LOLOL

 

[ButterflyJen]

I agree with you! I was just giving my suggestions to people. And know one has to take my word. I can not believe that I can't just give a opinion

That's not what you asked in your first post, though - you asked for our thoughts. Just clarifying for you.