There is a golden period of opportunity for visiting zoos, theme parks, and any other large attraction. It needs to be timed perfectly: after the children have gone back to school after summer, but before their teachers have had opportunity to organise any school trips. This is the most wonderful time of the year. The weather is still reasonable, the attractions are all still open, and there is not a queue or a crowd to be found anywhere. Bliss.
Kerry and I made the most of this Indian summer by taking the kids to Flamingo Land, our current theme park of choice. The actual journey there started a little negatively. There were a variety of reasons for this, most of which can be boiled down to the fact that I am a grumpy curmudgeon. However once we actually arrived my mood improved markedly, and the day transformed into one of those perfect emotionally nourishing days that wouldn’t look out of place in a Frank Capra film.
There was one ride in particular that Amy had been talking about wanting to go on since our last visit, a sort of dodgems but without the dodging. The only problem was it had an age restriction of 4 and up. It’s only a couple of months until Amy’s next birthday and the ride looked pretty safe, so Kerry and I had no particular concerns when Amy told us she wanted to “play pretending I’m fourâ€.
All went well until it got to her turn to get in once of the cars. The attendant asked her how old she was and she collapsed to the floor in floods of tears, seeing her chance to play on the cars disappear before her eyes. She just couldn’t bring herself to lie.
I picked her up and carried her away from the ride, Kerry comforting her as we walked by telling her how proud we were of her.
“Maybe I could come back in a little while when I am four.†She said.
“You can sweetheart.†I told her, my already swollen heart bursting with love for my beautiful daughter.
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Awwwww, you’ve got one honest little girl there.
At Disneyland they had a height restriction on one rollercoaster. We told our daughter to stand on tippy-toes when the attendant came around to measure her. She had no trouble doing that!
I guess we have to be careful about what we teach our children in situations like that.
That’s sweet.
In the states we have height requirements on rides. Atticus was half an inch away from a ride forever. We finally let him wear thicker shoes to go on it. He had a blast.
That is adorable that she wouldn’t lie. That actually happened to us last weekend. I tried to Edan to play a trick on my mom by giving her something with a bug in it (long story), but — despite my efforts to make it seem like no bid deal — she was on to me, and refused to deceive her grandmother. FIE! (But it’s great that our kids are so honest, right?)
I predict your daughter does not have a future in politics.
Or marketing or advertising for that matter.
I resent that remark about marketers. Laphroaig.
I once went to Flamingo land. All I saw were pelicans. Now there’s an obscure movie reference for you.
Oh man, most impressive! 10 points for her house.
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Well, makes a change from personal comments about one’s anatomy.
Dudelet won’t tell a lie either. Well, not on behalf of one of us (“Mummy, daddy said to…”) He’s getting uncomfortably good at dissimulation on his own behalf. Maybe women are just naturally honest?