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We took a trip last week to the Northeast to visit R's good friends and to enjoy a couple of days at Great Wolf Lodge with them while their oldest was on mid-winter break.
My "Wednesday Love" this week is one thing - coming home! I have never been as relieved/happy to be back home as I was late Sunday evening when the plane's wheels (or wheedles, as G would call them) touched down on the runway in Austin.
I don't want to sound like a Negative Nancy. It was fun to experience NYC through the eyes of my little man, but the city was hard with a two year old.
We quickly nixed FAO Schwartz the first night we were there because it was crowded, and after traveling all morning in either a plane or a taxi, little dude just wanted to run. I couldn't blame him, so we quickly walked back outside and headed across the street to Central Park. It was perfect. He could run ahead of us without concern and stomp in the snowbanks. He was in heaven!
We ate at an overpriced and mediocre café for lunch and ordered Thai take out for dinner after deciding that the $25 burger on the room service menu probably wasn't worth it. :)
The next morning we headed to the children's museum in Manhattan, and let's just say that G was very much acting like a two year old. Their exhibits were great and he thoroughly enjoyed himself, but it was extremely exhausting having to constantly discipline him.
After the museum, we headed back to our hotel to grab our bags and head to the train station. R's friends are a thirty-eight minute train ride from the city, and fortunately, it was not a hassle to get tickets and grab seats at Grand Central Station. I was happy to be sitting in one place.
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Once we were at his friends' house, the real challenges began. G and their three year old son did not get along as I had envisioned, but things were great once we arrived at the water park. G loved the water, especially the "ocean" (wave pool) and the orange and yellow "coasters" (water slides). Other big hits included getting "cream" (ice cream) from the sweets shop downstairs, going to play games (at the arcade), and going up and down the "gator" (elevator).
Amidst the highs and lows of the trip, I had to remind myself that this too shall pass, and that he is after all, only two and a half. There were definitely moments where I felt like a failure as a parent and wondered why on earth he was acting a certain way?!?
While not going into great detail about specifics from the trip, I hope that I am not casting G in a negative light. He is, more often than not, kind, good natured, funny, and loving. I also know that there were many factors that I am sure did not help his behavior (staying in different places and not having a "routine," not getting a nap most days, etc.).
Parenting is definitely an adventure, and I feel blessed that I get to experience all aspects with this little dude.
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