Water Theme Parks as Parents

Winter has been very harsh on the Northeast and like many other New Yorkers, I am feeling a bit cooped up. So I decided to take a mini day trip to a water theme park with my boys.  We packed up FOUR bags worth of swim trunks, change of clothes, extra diapers, towels, floaties, etc.  Pretty much the works because you never know how it is with a toddler and an infant at an indoor water theme park during the winter.  At one point I thought maybe we should pack a suitcase.  I stopped myself because this a day trip not overnight trip.  Yes, I suffer from over packing and over prepping but in the end I always think it is worth it.

So after a couple of hours driving we arrived at the Coco Key Water Park in New Jersey.  It was packed! We bought our tickets and went straight to the locker room to change.  Min had Ethan and I was with Dex. Ethan looked so excited when he came out and Dex, well, he could care less.  It was not the balmy 84 degrees as the website promised but we made it into the water.

So here is how I will highlight the big difference between being a parent and not.  I remember when I went to the water park “sans” kids. I would run up and down the slides, went to every attraction, and splash in the wave pool.  I would always skip the lazy river unless it was a crazy, wave river that propelled you all the way through.  I would come home tired and hungry.

This time the lazy river was the first attraction we hit.  It was tame enough for both kids and Ethan loved the waterfalls.  Dex was sitting on the tube looking calmly around as we floated. No waves just nice and calm.  Then we headed to the kiddie pool and slide.  Sadly adults can’t slide down with their kids so we would walk up to the slide then walk back down after Ethan would slide.  We hung out in the kiddie pool splashing and then more lazy river.  And I came home tired and hungry.

It’s funny because although we did not go for us and it was definitely for the kids, I was so happy at the end of the trip. We went and got Tex Mex for dinner.  Ethan was all smiles and every time his eyes lit up during the trip my heart swelled up.  I didn’t need the super fast and steep slides; I just needed to get out and have fun with my boys.  My husband felt the same way.  Our family time is so precious to me.  Life changes with kids in ways you never expect. I end with a quote: “Being a parent is dirty and scary and beautiful and hard and miraculous and exhausting and thankless and joyful and frustrating all at once. It’s everything.” —Jill Smokler

NB. We, my husband and I, did get to check out the slides. Min went first while I watched the boys then I sneaked after.  It was snack time for Ethan and nap time for Dex.  In the end, we got a little excitement too.

One Reply to “Water Theme Parks as Parents”

  1. Mom love you,n your family.Mom want you always be happy with your beautiful family,your smart husband,cutes Ethan n Dexter,Mom enjoy your writing a lots too.

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