New Experiences

Little kids get a big kick out of a trip to a hotel

Last weekend was full of new experiences for the three “Littles.” The leader of the pack, “The Captain,” switched back into caretaker mode in light of all the changes. While this is helpful in some ways, I do keep reminding him that I’m the mommy and it is my job to make sure everyone is okay and safe!

My 13-year-old daughter had a tournament in San Antonio, 1-1/2 hours away. That’s just too far to transport a family of 7 in time for a 7:40 a.m. warm-up. So we booked a hotel, the first time for the “Littles.” Now that we are such a big group, we need a suite instead of a room. The Captain was really thrilled about getting to sleep in Mommy’s room. They loved the elevator. They loved the river right behind the hotel. We didn’t need the TV because we were on the 16th floor, and the window provided tons of entertainment. They thought going through the buffet line for breakfast was a hoot. The valet intrigued them. We swam, of course. The pool was half the size of our neighborhood one, but it was the thrill of swimming at the hotel that made it shine. The tournament, they tolerated.

Finally we arrived home Sunday tanned, well fed, and tired. The Captain must have been exhausted from all of his shepherding around of his siblings. We walked in the house and sat our bags down. He looked around and said, “Mama, we live here?” I was thrilled. I thought, “He finally gets it. This is home. It’s his home. We’re his, he’s ours.”

“Yes, love,” I said jubilantly, “We’re home. This is my home, your home, everyone’s home.”

“Oh,” he said dejectedly. “I want to live at the hotel!”

Don’t we all?

Photo Credit: Dreena