How Did I Become “Mom”?

First it was “Mama”. I remember anxiously awaiting my son’s first word and being thrilled when I heard Mama. As silly as it may seem now, it was some form of validation that I was doing things right – that my son recognized and loved me. For months, my heart would fill with joy when I heard his adorable voice calling me. Just the word Mama had me running to see what he needed and how I could help (can you tell this was my first child). Mama was the name of choice for the longest time. Then, it became Mommy. I’m not sure how this happened. I always referred to myself in the third person as Mama. He didn’t watch much t.v. So where did he hear Mommy? It doesn’t really matter as it was equally as loving and endearing.

A few weeks ago, it became just Mom. Mom. It seems so grown-up. Did he learn this in preschool? Just this single word seems to symbolize the end of his “babyhood” and as much as I celebrate his accomplishments and his growing up, hearing Mom saddens me a bit. It seems as if it is the beginning of the end of kisses and hugs in front of his friends, of snuggles on the couch, of Mommy being the center of his world.

How Much is Enough?

A couple of years ago, my husband and I bought into the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Oh, how smart we thought we were. We thoughtfully calculated how many points we would need based on our many years of vacationing experience at Walt Disney World. We researched. We ignored the advice of others who said to buy more than you think you’ll need. After all, we didn’t want to be wasteful. We bought. We vacationed. We loved the DVC experience.

With the recession, the price of the DVC resales seems be dropping. We’re watching the available resales and dreaming of adding on more points. After all, we didn’t anticipate taking Grandma every year to enjoy Disney with the kids. We think we’ll only need a few more points. But, now I ask myself, will we ever have enough Disney DVC points or will we always dream of buying more and staying an extra week or planning a large family reunion? I ask you, do you ever have enough DVC points?

From Four Seasons to Two?

Mid to High 80’s with clear blue skies. That’s been the unseasonably warm weather here on the Jersey coast the past few days. As a Jersey native who grew up spending my summers on the beach, I love summer. In fact, in the dead of winter you would have heard me lamenting the bone-chilling temperatures and wishing for summer to come. There’s nothing like that first funnel cake on the boardwalk or opening all the car windows and blasting Springsteen on the radio. The traffic I was stuck in this weekend re-iterated that I was not the only one who felt this way.

As much as I love summer, I also love that the Northeast offers four distinct seasons. Well, if I remember my seventh grade Social Studies correctly, I believe New Jersey is actually a mid-Atlantic state. But, I digress. The point is that it seems that we no longer have four distinct seasons. Summer fades to winter and winter quiickly becomes summer. I miss the crisp, cool autumn mornings and the comfortable Spring temperatures with its light breezes. This past weekend made me realize that I might not be quite ready for the dog days of summer just yet.

Great Disney Pressed Coins Site

I recently stumbled across a great site, “Presscoins.com – The Unofficial Walt Disney World Pressed Coin Guide.” You can find it at www.presscoins.com. If you’re a coin collector or if pressed coins is on your family’s “must-do” Disney World list, this site is for you! Even if you’re not a coin buff, the site is fascinating and definitely worth a look.

This very comprehensive site contains a wealth of information that presumably is powered by it’s database with over a thousand coin designs. Wondering what designs are offered by a particular location in each theme park? Presscoins.com is the place to find out. Have a favorite character and looking for a pressed coin machine that features it? Presscoins.com is the place to find out. Want to read about the latest changes regarding Disney World pressed coins? Presscoins.com is the place to find out.

Admittedly, I am not a coin collector but after finding this site, my interest is piqued. Check it out and maybe your inner coin enthusiast will be unleased.

Something for the Boys at Disney World

The Pirates League – the boys’ answer to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will soon be coming to Disney’s Magic Kingdom.  No longer the exclusive domain of girls, dress-up has become swashbuckling good fun with this new experience. Instead of a Fairy Godmother-In-Training, an experienced pirate turns your little one into a matey. The transformation includes accessories such as a bandana, earrings, gold teeth, a beard and scars along with a photo. Various packages will be offered for this makeover which is not restricted to boys.

Genius. Pure genius. Disney has an incredible ability to separate parents and their cash by providing amazing experiences for little ones. While under the influence of the Disney magic, parents are very willing to do so and even clamor to make appointments for their little girls; For many, money is no object when trying to create an unforgettable trip. Whereas the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique caters primarily to little girls, Disney has just expanded it’s “customer base” with this new pirate experience aimed at boys.

Advances in Diaper Technology

There have been amazing new discoveries and innovention in the last century.  I dare say that the rate of scientific discovery continues to accelerate.   Advances have been made in noble areas such as health care, renewable energy and space.  Some have even questioned whether these new discoveries truly make the world a better place than it had been prior;  there may be some validity to this argument as some scientific advances bring a high price in the form of unintended side effects or moral and ethical questions.

In the harried world of a mother of a young family that has just welcomed a newborn, I can definitively say that research and development is a wonderful and welcome thing!  I have only to point to the new Pampers Sensitive diapers.  My husband and I were almost giddy when the hospital sent us home with a sample package of diapers that had a thin yellow stripe on the front.  When the diaper was wet, the stripe turned blue; thus making it trivial for sleep-deprived parents to know when a diaper change was in order.  Then, disappointment set in as I couldn’t find this “hospital” brand of Pampers based on the packaging.  In comes my Mom to the rescue!  With a little research, she found Pampers Sensitive diapers that contain the new stripe indicating when the diaper was wet.  My husband and I celebrate this new product that we didn’t have a few short years ago for our first child.

The Silver Lining

I admit it.  I’ve had a bad day.  I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop since I haven’t reached my quota of three negative things yet for the day.

Then I thought about it.  I have a lot of positive things to be proud of today.  I finished another group of updates to the 2010 edition of “Beyond the Attractions:  A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers.”  I’m excited about the 25 pages of new information that I’ve added.   I love the packing list that’s in progress along with the new hidden activities and the list of things to do in the rain.  Did you know that Animal Kingdom has Kids Discovery Clubs?

 Now it’s time to begin another cycle of research and what’s more fun than to read, plan and think about Walt Disney World?  That’s my silver lining for today.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

It’s another wet and dreary day here in New Jersey!  Yes, I know that April showers bring May flowers but I think we’re beginning to border on the extreme here.  Granted, I haven’t kept statistics but it certainly feels that it’s been raining for weeks on end. 

Perhaps my perception of the weather has been soured by the fact that I have an active preschooler at home who desperately needs some time outside at the park or nearest playground. 

I have become my mother with the incessent “Stop jumping onthe couch!”  “Stop or you’ll hurt yourself!”  “Stop banging!”  How did that happen?

Finally!

It’s been a long time coming but I’m proud to introduce my new blog, “Beyond the Attractions”!  Here I’ll be sharing my love of Disney World and also the trials and tribulations of a young family with kids.  Oh… and anything else that’s on my mind!

Welcome to “Beyond the Attractions”