Family Development

Yesterday we took a family trip to Six Flags.

“How fun! The kids must have loved that!” 

Nothing is simple with a family. Even joyful days of amusement. My friend once said there are no family vacations. There is family development. It’s true. 

It starts with an idea. Let's do something fun with the kids! Ziggy hates crowds and is a militant vegan. Charlie hates waiting in line and needs a gift shop.

You see our conundrum.

When we were kids, you did whatever your parents said you were doing that day.

“We are going to a movie. Get in the car.”

“Yay!”

“We are going out to eat. Get in the car.”

“Yay!”

Of course there was whining in our day as well. I might accidentally lean onto Heather's side of the car or she might be frustrated by my existence. But then dad would bark at us and it was done. Or else.

Those days are gone. It’s my fault really. I raised my kids relatively free range. Trying to communicate openly with them and give them a voice. 

That has come back to bite me in the ass.

My dad’s favorite saying, besides, “School is your job,” was “This is not a democracy.”

There must be some happy medium. A middle ground where siblings compromise easily and feel heard but still smile and say thank you. 

Ziggy gave into compromise and after a little fuss we went to Six Flags. Charlie waited in line and rode Thunder Mountain. A huge step for her. Ziggy even won his sister a stuffie. Then we all piled into the car and went to a fancy vegan dinner. Charlie had cake.

So maybe we are actually doing all right. We just have to keep compromising, and our sense of humor.