The Mickey Mob

I didn’t mean to do it. It just came out. As the words left my mouth my husband shot me over the look that I normally give him when he says something that will possibly upset the kids. I let it slip that the business trip I was taking was going to be at a hotel at Disney World.

Max was the first one to protest, “You’re going to Disneyland without us? No fair!” He’s right. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that for two years in a row I’ve gone to a place that the kids dream of going (OK, so I’m not a complete monster. Max and Natalie have been to Disneyland but more than 3 years ago). What they don’t understand is that other than a few hours at the park when I’m actually working, it’s not like I’m enjoying a 3-day passport complete with funnel cake consumption, roller coasters and lots of fun animatronic eye candy.

I was in the passenger seat of the van when this all erupted and for a few miles, I could feel the heat of my children’s eyes burning into me from behind. There was no way to fix it. I was going to Mickey’s house, they were staying home and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Even though Aidan didn’t exactly know what was going on, I turned to give him a wink and found him pouting, bottom lip turned up so far out that it was practically hitting his nose. He was being pulled into an angry mob and his 3 year-old brain didn’t even know it.

Paul even got in on the act. “You didn’t tell me the hotel was a Disney property. You were even there last year? You didn’t tell me that.” Way to have my back. The thing about my kid’s disappointment is that I would feel the same way. If say, I was 6 going on 7, and I found out my mom was going on a trip to Disneyworld, I would have led the angry mob.

Before I left, I promised that I would take them when mommy wasn’t working. They all nodded but I could tell they were still a little skeptical. As I walked out the door Paulina yelled, “Don’t forget to buy me a present!”