Before you wag your finger, pause for a second. Try to open your heart and mind up to the possibility of experiencing Disney WITHOUT your children. This was my first time ever going to the “happiest place on earth.” My children go every summer with their grandma. Walking in the gates I felt an immediate sense of joy and endless possibility. People were smiling, and there was this feeling of unity … like we were all in this together. I honestly felt like someone was pumping happiness juice in the air.
As I walked around taking in the sights and sounds of this magical kingdom, I couldn’t help but notice the parents there with their children. Some of them seemed genuinely happy, and others, well let’s just say they looked a little overwhelmed. I began to compare the experience I was having to the one they appeared to be having. I was carefree, and able to do whatever I wanted or imagined. I could ride all the rides and only needed a bathroom break when I wanted one. There was no one screaming my name or asking me to carry their bags and belongings. I also had the privilege of indulging in all of the wonderfully overpriced snacks without breaking the bank because I only had to buy for myself. I would not have been as quick to pay ten bucks for ice cream were I buying for my three little people. While I could get through the day pleasing my every whim, a family of five could easily spend $500 in one day at the parks alone.
I know Disney is a top destination for families, but I believe it can also be an amazing getaway for moms. Give yourself a chance to be a kid again. You may find yourself revisiting dreams once forgotten and riding rides that make you feel like you can fly. There may even be a Disney princess or two there to give you a big hug and help you remember the princess inside. Take the time to let the nostalgia and innocence of your youth overwhelm your thoughts. We spend our days and nights nurturing and caring for our littles, and we do it with pride, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a kid inside of us just waiting for a chance to be free! Going with my best friend rather than my children was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I smiled big, laughed hard, danced in the street with Mickey and ate until my tummy hurt a little. It was truly magical, and when I returned home I felt rejuvenated and ready to be an even better mom for my kids.
