The Happiest, Most Stressful and Exhausting Place on Earth

I often have moments during the day, when I think that this parenting gig is really too hard, and I am just not cut out for it.  Of course, there is really no turning back now and, at the end of each day when the cherubs are asleep and I have a moment of quiet, I realize how lucky I am to have two beautiful children, who for the most part - at least in public - well behaved.

We just took our first family vacation to "The Happiest Place on Earth", that's right Disney World.  If you ever feel you are inadequate as a parent, you too should go to Disney World.  It is filled with reminders that children are not so different nor are their parents.  No matter what time of day or where we were, there was always some child in the midst of a complete meltdown and a parent, hot and tired, trying to deal with it.  Often with the empty threat, "Then I guess we will just have to leave the park." Or some version thereof.  We were not above saying this same thing to Natalie at least once a day.  

The beauty of this vacation was the reminder that it isn't just me or my kids.  It is all part of the game.  Of course, if Disney is going to continue to lead people to believe that it is, in fact, "The Happiest Place" they need to find a way to create outside air conditioning and less waiting.