When you're small you don't so much go to theme parks with your parents, as get whisked away to another universe. Everything's magic, enchanting, and larger than life. At this stage of course you still believe magic is everywhere and your parents are heros for knowing where to find some.
That's me hogging the popcorn at Disney World at about 6 yrs old. Even the rental wheelchair was larger than life. Big enough to share with my sister for sure. The picture on the right is of me "driving" the boat after I got glasses, so I was maybe 7yrs old. I only had to wear those for a year, unlike those clunky full leg braces. Not that any of that slowed me down. So much magic, so little time.
The next phase of life is when you start going to theme parks with your friends as a teenager. It's something to do. It's all about thrill rides and cramming as much as you can in before someone's mom picks you all up. The magic is now the few hours of freedom and your temporary feeling of independence. It's also all the adrenaline from the crazy roller coasters. Who wants a group photo?
My personal favorite came next, being an adult in a wonderland. Unfettered to anyone, but completely self-reliant. The magic is now a warm fuzzy shower of childhood memories. The kind that make you laugh out loud at the Grinch's antics or tear up standing next to your favorite princess. There is still a wonderful freedom, but it's from the mundane or repetitious, the day to day grind.
Look at all those happy smiling pictures of me in my 20's. It was a whole other ball game back then. Walking without mobility devices, only using my wheelchair long distance and never once worrying whether it was safe to ride anything in the park. It was fun, I guess each phase was fun for its own reasons.
Suddenly, I find myself in the "parent-bringing-kids-to-a-theme-park" phase. Holy, when-did-I-get-old, Batman?!? Now it's about watching them be amazed, conquer fears and literally jump with excitement. I understand my childhood memories from a different perspective now. I'm the one sitting out and taking pictures on the sidelines. I'm the one who wants a break in a shady spot or leave before the park closes. Wow.
It was enlightening to be on the other side of the experience. It also made me so grateful for the teamwork and childlike enthuiasium my husband and I managed so easily. I was grateful that there was a parent who had no problem taking the 9yr old on the scary roller coasters and one happy to join little Miss on the kiddie rides. It was nice to play as a family. It was nice to go somewhere new and just be away for a few hours.
I'm also super excited for the future bringing-my-grandkids-to-theme-parks phase. It's going to be awesome.
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