Overly worrisome parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is not parents going on a vacation without the kids, the problem is the entire family except one child going to arguably the number one desired destination of kids.

I 100% agree with this. If at all possible I would make this a trip for the ENTIRE family. If there was no way to make that happen I would take the girls and let the boy and mom stay home. But Mom should make some special fun plans for just the two of them. And I like the idea the previous poster mentioned, instruct the girls not to use the word Disney too much when you return. I do though, feel bad for the son if he isn't able to go. I can't imagine not being really hurt by that. I have no problem taking a special trip with your girls, but can you plan something else for that? Something more teen girl oriented, like maybe a weekend in NYC to see a Broadway musical, dinner and dinner in times square. Something that's not so appealing to a 7 year old boy.

OP, please update us and let us know what you decide.

[Anonymous]

As the mom of a child with ADHD that has at times been difficult to control, I can understand how that child's presence affects the time you spend with your children. It is hard, if not impossible, to make time with your kids special for the non-SN kids because the focus is always on the needs of your SN child. Your activities are dictated by what your SN child can handle. The time you spend doing things is dictated by your SN child. Whether you can finish the activities you start is dictated by the needs of your SN child. To have time that revolves around your other kids, you may not have an option other than "exclude" your SN child. I think this is perfectly acceptable and I also think it's particularly wonderful that this father recognizes that he needs time alone with his older girls in order to make their time together about them. I hope he takes this opportunity.

I've got a SN kid as well and can well relate to the need to tailor activities to the SN kid. It's hard for everyone else. We periodically do things without our SN kids but would never think of excluding him from a trip to Disney. As a PP noted, it's the number one kid place in the world. A weekend in NY, a theater show, a spa visit - no big deal. Disney would be a huge deal.