Spring Break 2014

Today was the first day of Spring Break 2014

I did something different this year, I took a day off…and you know what I am going to do the last day of Spring Break 2014? I am going to take another day off! We are going to the Zoo!

Today we went to the Andretti Go Karts. My daughter, recently completing her twelvth year of life, was completely against going. "I just want to hang out with my friends," "What friends, honey?" Let me work with you, building a smile on that face…"No one, nevermind."

It seems like, in an effort to try to maintain a shred of a relationship with my children, I have to remember, my ego is nonexistent and how to function around theirs. So, I did only what I could think to do. I stayed positive, tried to ignore the anger. I slowed my step so she could storm out to release her feelings, and we started on our way. Throw a few missing shoes, little boys with no patience into the mix and we were off. 

Unfortunately the ride lasted almost 30 minutes. In that time, I seriously began to start second guessing my decision. The boys seemed as though they were falling asleep in the back seat and my daughter was expressing nothing less that the belief that I hated her and only tried to make her life miserable. (insert my dad here, "sound like anyone else we know")

We got to the venue. My daughter perked up slightly (also because she had just passed Starbucks and imagined herself sipping on a Caramel Flan Frappachino afterwards). "Park there," she lightly ordered, almost as an attempt to see if mommy is going to be in a fighting mode or a forgiving mode. As I headed in the direction she pointed, she said "It's shady here," and her brother chimed in "yeah, let's park in the shade so we don't have to get into a hot car when we are done."

Did that sound like they were getting along? A little?

Out of the car we hopped, and towards the front entrance where, with all ages of excitement, a revolving door awaited. Score. Kids squealing to get in, it was game over. The kids were estatic, and I truly don't know who was having more fun, my 12 yr old, my 9 yr old, or the recently wakened 8 yr old whose birthday is tomorrow.

For 2 hours there was nothing but pure fun. My daughter, typically hiding in her bedroom, with at least one electronic device tucked under her nose, quick to spout out whatever negative thought she has at any given time to anything that does not even remotely resemble electronics or food, was not only laughing and playing with the boys, but treating them to toys in the "store' and sharing her game dollars. What an awesome suprise. I knew, with just the blink of the eye my daughter could make me the proudest mom alive, but heres he was actually showing it. And not just to me either…I even got "your children are so well mannered" while we were there. 

So, Andretti Karting, with a sweet deal from Sweetjack.com, you totally kicked off our Spring Break the right way. From the moment we arrived, with KC in training, patiently learning the steps and making sure she got our information correct, all the way to Jarred and his teasing my daughter as she decided against the actual go kart race (don't worry, she more than made it up with games and tickets) to Brad making sure we were set at the Rock Climbing wall, they made the experience priceless. 
I didn't get the girl's name at the 'store'. The one who was stuck with 3 kids buying 1 piece of candy for 5 tickets at a time, yeah that's the one. She patiently smiled and made suggestions, moving from one child to the next with ease.