The Best-Laid Plans of Moms and Men
We were going to go to Idlewild while Uncle Jordie was in town visiting. I had it all planned out!
I managed to get myself to the grocery store to buy food for our house AND pick up the tickets at the service desk while Uncle Jordie and Miles played at the Toy Library. The night before we were going to go, we sent Jordie out for sandwich supplies and he made us a picnic lunch while I packed all the things we’d need for a day at an amusement park with a toddler and a baby. We even had the stroller all ready to go–the real stroller that we have used maybe 15 times in Miles’ life, as opposed to the umbrella stroller I started using when I was super pregnant.
People told me I was insane to even consider taking an infant to Idlewild. But it seemed like a fine idea to me. He sleeps all day in the carrier and wakes up to poop and eat here at home. No reason he couldn’t poop and eat on a nice bench in the shade at Idlewild! Or even on the Mr. Rogers trolley.
Last time we tried to go, we made the mistake of leaving during naptime assuming Miles would sleep on the car on the way there. That didn’t happen and he was overly tired and miserable waiting in line for things. It was also INSANELY hot, and that made for more misery at the park. So this time, we planned to go for opening at 10:30 and push through nap time, hoping he’d sleep in the car en route home or just miss nap today. It happens now and then and we put him to bed earlier.
So, of course, Miles woke up at 5:30 this morning. He doesn’t have a “medium” switch. Just on and off. He was totally on at 5:30. Poor Corey was trying to convince him it was still night time, but as the sunlight streamed in through our bedroom windows, Miles looked extremely confused at this suggestion. To Corey’s credit, the moon was still up at least.
We began to imagine an overly tired Miles around noon, having been awake nearly 7 hours, having to wait in line for the teacups or ball pit. It started to seem like a terrible, awful, horrendous idea.
Then we looked at the forecast and it was due to reach the 90′s. Not fun for waiting in line and not a great idea for a baby. I was so disappointed to cancel our trip! I loved the idea of having a spare grownup to help us with the kids and we want to try to do Idlewild at least twice before Miles turns 3 and is no longer free.
But, this is what we did instead:
It’s not every kid who’s in the pool swimming by 7am! We all took long naps today in the air conditioning, and that was pretty fantastic. We’re trying to make another plan for Idlewild…
June 13th, 2012 at 10:10 am
For what it’s worth we’ve not taken our kids to Idlewild or Kennywood yet. Now, the Etna Fire Fighter’s Fair that’s currently happening? That’s our scene. Low pressure, 5 minute drive, and cheap comparatively!
We are planning on doing Kennywood for the first time this summer and it will definitely be for the benefit of the big kids — our goal is not to loose Charlie on this excursion.