Day Two - Abby's Make A Wish Trip

From Brent - Day two is part of history now, and wow, am I tired.

We woke up and went to meet a bunch of Disney characters who came to visit at the Village (Give Kids the World). Then we went to Disney all day where even though it was "only" ninety degrees, the 99.99999999% humidity made it pretty miserably hot. But, neither sun, nor heat, nor dehydration, nor 3rd degree sunburn, nor scorched and parched skin, swollen tongues, sweltering misery or a slow painful death by solar rays can deter kids who are in total awe of the Magic Kingdom and all it's glories.

After 8-9 hours at Disney, we came back to the Village for dinner, and a huge Christmas celebration with Santa and parade.

Christmas? Yep, every week. Why? you might ask. It doesn't dawn on everyone that many of the kids here will never see another Christmas, so every week Santa comes bringing mountains of gifts, and a big parade with dancing, snow cones, cotton candy, all sorts of Disney characters and SNOW (even in the summer)... bringing Christmas alive for all the kids.

I'm telling you folks, it would melt the heart of the coldest Grinch to see these kids... some can hardly walk, many are in wheelchairs, others have tubes, wires and medical devices attached in every way imaginable... a fair amount of them are bald and funny looking (in the sweetest ways)... and yet, no one here is uncomfortable or shy away from them. These kids are so loving, soaking up the attention and affection.

One little boy who couldn't talk and didn't seem to really "know" what was going on would just walk up to you, put his head against your leg or arm and accept a big hug from you. Then he would give a little crooked smile and move on to the next person for another hug. I watched him go from family to family just getting hugs and wished my own life could be so simple some times.

We finally got back to our cottage about 9pm just in time to have "the Mayor" come and tuck the kids into bed which was a THRILL for them. We laughed because the Mayor is a giant mouse (of course) and just that morning, Landis had been TERRIFIED of him. The first few Disney characters, especially Pluto, had Landis knocking his knees in fear. I finally had to take him aside and share "the secret" with him: they were just pretend characters, people inside of costumes.

So all day long, Landis would remind me and Michelle that he knew "the secret". That cured him and for the rest of the day he couldn't wait to snuggle up and take pics with any character that dared venture near him. He wanted The Mayor to stay and spend the night with him! A giant mouse doing a sleep over with him... when earlier that day he had just about wet his pants at the prospect of having to take a picture with him! Kids!

A Teaching Moment

One "teaching moment" before I get to the pics... sorry, couldn't resist. All day long I was continually dismayed at how impotent parents have become these days. Demanding, bratty, whining, spoiled kids throwing fits because they wanted more ice cream, or screaming at Mom because they want soda not water. Kids having tantrums and back talking parents because they are getting their every whim catered to showing no manners, no courtesy and no gratefulness for all the abundance they enjoy.

And parents... oh, the parents... wringing their hands, pleading with their little monsters and ultimately solving each little individual war with their over indulged combatants using the same ineffective and counter productive solution: GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT. After all, isn't appeasement the quickest way to temporary peace? Yes. But temporary indeed.

Parents, helpless, some embarrassed, some too "parenting ignorant" to even be embarrassed (and I don't say that with condemnation, unless that condemnation is pointed at the past several generations who have FAILED to pass on and teach good parenting skills exchanging it instead for "modern" parenting theory which has failed miserably [and predictably]).

And Dads? When did you drop off your backbone down at the landfill? Dads looking on in impotent silence - derelict in his duty to be FATHER AND LEADER of his family - leaving a frazzled Mom to deal with the little heathens. What a shameful sight to see a father stand by playing the weakling while leaving his dear wife to "handle the kids".

It's a cultural tragedy that parents have become weak-kneed and clueless victims of their own children. The only thing worse was the parents who do the "just ignore them" trick while their kids stomped, screamed, whined and threw tantrums because they wanted chocolate, not vanilla. How's that working for you?

Now, I don't say ANY of that to criticize or make ANY parent reading this feel bad or embarrassed. PROMISE. I'm the first one in line to help any Mom or Dad reading this become an effective and confident parent. Send me your questions, I'll answer, promise. I describe all that to offer you dear parents this ENCOURAGEMENT:

• You are in charge of your family and kids.
  
• You are not helpless.
  
• You do not have to feel guilty about exercising authority over your kids.
  
• They do not have to be spoiled (and most kids are simply because of the fact of how much abundance we have in this country)
  
• You CAN deny them things to teach them to be grateful and thankful.
  
• Ignoring their tantrums and fits does not work. They only grow up to be BIG KIDS who throw WORSE fits and tantrums.
• And finally, if you remember only one thing from this little soapbox session, remember this: every time you GIVE IN and give your kids what they want just to get them to settle down, quit throwing a fit, quit hitting you, quit running away from you, quit telling you "NO", "NOW!" or "I WANT!"... you are only REINFORCING their behavior. The behavior with only get WORSE as they grow up. Every time you give in, appease and ultimately cater to their selfishness just to make peace, you are strengthening their resolve to get their way next time.

Beloved parents, don't be weak and cowardly with your children. You are in charge. You're the boss. Yes, YOU have POWER over them (oh, the humanity... God forbid we exercise power over our little self-esteem-bloated miscreants). Don't count to ten. Don't even count to three. Demand and expect obedience from your children. Consequences for transgression, rewards for good behavior.

Teach your kids manners. Teach them "no" means NO, the first time. Teach them gratefulness. Require, DEMAND gratefulness. Teach them that YOU are in authority and control of your family life, not them. Teach them that LIFE DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND THEIR EVERY SELFISH DESIRE. Your children (even the 2 yr olds and teens) can be polite, respectful, obedient, patient and well behaved IF YOU REQUIRE IT AND ENFORCE IT. Now there's a fresh concept...

Now, Some Pics From Yesterday

Well, you didn't come here to listen to me blabber on (and I'm sure some very creative comments will be coming my way) but it's hard for me to pass up a teaching opportunity. Enough said, here's some pics:


Abby and Landis with the first characters of the day.
Landis was scared spitless of the giant mice at first.


All the kids with Mickey and Minnie.

Abby gets a hug from Goofy.

Can you tell Landis is still terrified of the giant animals?
Shortly after this, I told him "the secret" and then he was fine
the rest of the day.


Hangin' out with Pluto...


Abby loved Donald... she couldn't quit smiling.


Once Landis figured it out "the truth",
he was huggin' and kissin' the characters.


At Disney finally...

Abby gets her wish... a private
meet and greet with Princess Jasmine.


Landis wasn't going to miss out on talking to Jasmine.

Jasmine was very sweet, talking with Abby and asking her
questions, and telling stories.



Landis gets a smooch from Jasmine.
He left grinning ear to ear


Sami (Hannah... I can't quit calling her Sami) with Jasmine.

Abby gets a final hug from Jasmine.

Landis hides behind Sami-Hannah as a giant
python looks into our safari river boat.


Mom and Hannah are in the front rocket,
with Garrett and Landis hot on their heels.


Abby sat in front of me in our rocket
as she flies over Disney World. She said "higher Daddy!"


All the kids with Santa.... Christmas in September!

The kids all got great presents and hugs from Santa.
They were very excited and thankful for all the wonderful things
the Village does for the kids.


SpideyLandis looked up and what do you know....
Spiderman was up in the ceiling looking down on him.
Landis jumped up and down and said,
"Dad! What's Spiderman doing up there??? Tell him to come down!"


Landis finishes off a snow cone. Guess what flavor?

Abby with Patches and his buddy.

Abby and Anna, another Make A Wish Kid who is
here at the Village with us. They are a great family.
We were so happy to get to see them in person
(rather than just on the blogs).


Abby and Landis get a tuck-in visit from The Mayor.

Sami had just as much fun as the little kids!

And finally, good night. The kids are all tucked in by The Mayor
of Give Kids the World.