Parents: What to do?

[Nomi]

I've been planning a trip with a few of my friends to DL this august, and we are all very, very excited.

But my parents, less so. My mother to be more exact. Now, she doesn't really want to go. It makes perfect sense, as we will all be 17/18 so we can take care of ourselves for a week. Well, in theory anyway. But I would still feel better if she came with us. (Of course, I'm not going to force her to come.)

I understand why she would not want to come, as all the times she went to disney it was very 'kid-centred', with a trip back when I was 12 and recently with both our family and another, again with smaller kids in tow. It was fun yes, but also very action-packed and a little stressfull. But for this trip she would not need to supervise us, and as I am planning to go for about 8 days, there should not be such a rush. But what I want to know is what I can do, if she came along, to make the trip more enjoyable for her?

 

[audrabolster]

I'm not sure what could help her...

Maybe have her help with the planning a bit? I know when there are kids involved, the parents always just do what the kids want (especially when they are young). I've always found that when people get to help plan things, they feel like they are getting more involved, and might like it more?

Maybe the kids could all pitch in and take her somewhere nice for a meal somewhere that she would like once she is there?

 

[kewlkat]

Wicked! Get her tickets to see Wicked at the Pantages in LA!

 

[bumbershoot]

That is SO sweet that you want her to come along. You sound like me when I was 18, a freshman in college, and bringing friends home for Spring Break. (it did help that my mom had moved to Miami, FL after i started college, LOL) Took a day to play in Ft Lauderdale with my friends, but the rest of the trip we had fun with my fun mom!

I'd just talk to her about why she doesn't want to go. Maybe she doesn't want to cramp your style, or maybe she feels your friends don't want her along. Maybe she thinks you don't really want her with you.

That actually happened with me when I was 26; she had moved up to the DC area and I was going in to the district for 4th of July. She didn't want to go for unknown reasons, so I went alone, and she later told me she was so sad she didn't go with me. I moved away again a few months later, and the next July 4th she sent me a pretty cup with a note of apology for not going with me.

So talk to her about it. Time is fleeting and rotten things happen in life (it was only 4 years after I moved out again that she suddenly passed away), so it's best to find out why she doesn't want to go so no one regrets it later!

Hope she goes and I hope you have fun!

(by the way, have you made sure that you guys can check into a hotel with everyone being 17 and 18?)

 

[Nomi]

Thanks everyone for the input! I'm not sure if she likes planning that much, but I'll ask her. As for dining, thats definatly a must! I know the Blue Bayou is supposed to be nice, and some of the restaraunts in the DTD area seemed very nice. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Wicked!? I love Wicked! I heard about the play after reading the book (Which I loved) and I've wanted to go see it ever since! My sister and I love the soundtrack, which we have. We will just have to look into that.

As for the checking into the hotel thing, that did not occur to me. Up here in sunny Canada we are legaly adults at 18, so I just assumed we could get a hotel. I know the drinking age is higher in the states, 21 I belive? Do you have to be 21 to check in to a hotel?

 

[audrabolster]

All the hotels I've stayed in you had to be 18 to make reservations, I don't know about any of the resort ones? But yes, 21 to drink here.

I agree with what Bumbershoot said, I would first find out what the reason is for her not wanting to go, and work from there!

 

[staley7580]

Thanks everyone for the input! I'm not sure if she likes planning that much, but I'll ask her. As for dining, thats definatly a must! I know the Blue Bayou is supposed to be nice, and some of the restaraunts in the DTD area seemed very nice. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Wicked!? I love Wicked! I heard about the play after reading the book (Which I loved) and I've wanted to go see it ever since! My sister and I love the soundtrack, which we have. We will just have to look into that.

As for the checking into the hotel thing, that did not occur to me. Up here in sunny Canada we are legaly adults at 18, so I just assumed we could get a hotel. I know the drinking age is higher in the states, 21 I belive? Do you have to be 21 to check in to a hotel?

I believe you have to be 21 to check into a hotel in the area. Call your hotel and ask, they will tell you. Does your mom like spa stuff? You can check into the GC Spa, and give her a spa day. Maybe a movie or something. I know that when my mom came with us at Christmas... which she really didnt want to do, but did since that was were we were going to be.. She spent the mornings with us, and the evenings on her own. Shopping, movies, resting... whatever.