By Alicia Harper
Last year, I took Aiden on a trip to Disney World. It was five days of fun in Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. Just us two. I had our entire itinerary planned down to the letter. I’m meticulous like that. The plan was to go on certain rides at certain times in order to avoid the crazy long Disney lines. We’d have lunch at a certain time and at a certain restaurant. And we’d be in a certain spot at a certain time in order to see all the action in the magical parades. When I looked over my list, I was so proud of myself. It was perfection because it allowed us to fit everything in. And it would ensure that Aiden and I would have a great time.
Little did I know Mr. Aiden had a few plans of his own. (Doesn’t he always?) At Magic Kingdom, after we rode “Dumbo,” the Carousel, and then “It’s A Small World,” according to my handy dandy list, we were supposed to hit up “Mickey’s Philharmagic.” As we were walking over there, Aiden turned to me and said, “Mommy, let’s go on the race car ride!” Thinking that the “Tomorrowland Indy Speedway” ride was not next on our list, I responded, “Ummm…. Why don’t we go to ‘Mickey’s Philharmagic’ instead?” (Clearly I was trying to convince him to do things my way.) Aiden’s response? “But Mommy, race cars will be so much fun!” (Clearly he was not trying to hear me.)
Hmmm. I guess I never took into account what the little kid would want to do and when he would want to do it. I ditched my list and allowed Aiden to choose which rides he wanted to go on for the rest of our trip. (It wasn’t easy though. I worked hard on that list and I ditched it kicking and screaming.) But you know what? He had a great time. And I had a great time too. And I learned my lesson: it’s totally okay to take it easy and go with the flow sometimes.
That wasn’t the last time that little man taught me to be less rigid and just go with the flow either. Some mornings, as I’m trying to get him fed, dressed and out the door in time for school, he seems to think it’s a perfect time to play hide-and-seek. So he hides and challenges me to find him.
And all I could think is, you want to play hide-and-seek now? But, we have to get ready to go to school… but, we’re going to be late if we don’t get dressed now… but, I need to finish making breakfast and packing our lunches… but, but, but….
I could go on and on. And on. And on. But, really, what’s the point? A quick game of hide-and-seek in the morning proves to be good for the both of us. It let’s Aiden know that I’m never too busy to actually play with him and it’s a great way to start our day off – in love and in laughter.
Of course there will be times when I won’t be able to give the kid my undivided attention. And of course there will be times when we won’t be able to go with his flow or play hide-and-seek in the morning. But day after day, and even when I have a lot of things on my agenda, he teaches me to stop, smell the roses, and enjoy his presence.
And that’s a lesson that I’m learning to embrace. Over and over. And over again.