Friday, July 30, 2010

My First Mickey Mouse Tears

Being a Mom means I get to experience a lot of “Firsts”. First words, first steps, first tooth; you get the picture. And recently, I got to experience another first with my two kids, our “First Vacation”.

Last year, we put in to works, the plans to take our now 15 month old daughter and our 3 year old son to Disney World. We weighed the pro's and con's of attempting a trip like this with our kids being so young, and wondered exactly how much of it they would actually remember and/or enjoy. But we came to the conclusion that the memories we would be creating, all the way around, would be memorable (not to mention the pictures and videos we would take to show the kids as they got older would help them remember too) to them AND us. We weren't traveling alone, we planned this trip with my husband's parents and his brother and his wife too. So we knew we would have ample help keeping an eye on the kids and making sure everyone got as much as possible out of the trip.

The kids were great on the plane, and the anticipation of getting to “Mickey's House” was insurmountable for our son. I just knew that he “got it” and that he knew what was happening. It was awesome.

Now, I am not generally a big softie. It takes a lot for a mushy movie to make me cry or for a sweet card to bring me to tears. I am able to hold on to my tough exterior most of the time. BUT....when it comes to just about anything with my kids, particularly those magical “firsts”, I am an emotional wreck. A lot. All of the time. Some find it comical, but most find it sweet.

I cried the first time my son saw Barney. I almost smacked MYSELF for being such a dorky Mom.

But seeing Mickey Mouse, THE Mickey Mouse that we have been talking about for months and months and months; THE Mickey Mouse that can be found on many items that decorate my son's big boy bedroom; yeah, I cried. Right there in front of Cinderella's Castle during the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party. There we were, dancing a mere 5 feet from THE Mickey Mouse. And that moment that my son saw him for the first time, was a moment that is now embedded in my heart for the rest of my life. His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, and shortly there after, he began to dance to the music. It sounds cliché, but it was simply magical. It wasn't the 'first' time I cried at a moment like this during this very vacation, but it was the first time my heart sparkled and shined, and it kept on sparkling and shining the rest of the trip. There is something about moments like those, when your child is so completely and utterly vulnerable to be able to experience a moment with such joy, and the fact that as a mother, there is nothing more amazing than being able to experience it right along with them, that makes it (you guessed it) magical.

We will visit Disney World again some day, and the kids will be older, and the impressions they will receive on THAT trip will vary quite vastly from the impressions they received on this trip. THE Mickey Mouse most likely will not fascinate them like he does now. Rides like “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” and “It's a Small World” may make them feel tortured instead of tender-hearted. So this “First” was a very special “First”. And it is a “First” of many “Firsts” that made me shed happy tears. Magical, Mickey Mouse tears.

Originally posted to the Chicago Moms Blog on May 31, 2010.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Awww, I teared up a bit just reading your post. Can't wait to take my grands to Disney and experience the magic all over again.