Mom and Daughter Disney World Vacation

Sometimes you just need to take a break for what is truly important. Last month, I was overbooked and overwhelmed. Finishing staging clients, two design projects, sponsored posts, and well, work and home life. At the same time, I took my daughter to a follow-up hearing appointment and still not getting good news. I’ll explain more below. So, I packed a suitcase and jumped on a plane with my little girl for our first girls trip getaway. A mom and daughter Disney World vacation. Yup, just the two of us and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Also, why I think every mom and daughter, starting at a young age, should take time alone is below too. 😉

Mom and Daughter Disney World Vacation

I was nervous, at first, as I NEVER been a part from my boys (hubby included) for a week. My husband travels (a lot), but I am home with my kids. It was the first time, since being a mom, that I was going to travel alone with only one of my kids. I knew that it would be special, she could have had her own room, (it was a 2 bedroom suite) but we shared a king bed every night. I heard her nightmares (which I ignore at home) but on vacation, I would touch her arm or hug her to let her know I was there. She woke up each morning, rolled over to give me big hugs, and a hundred “I love you’s” Every morning we woke up, had our coffee (cocoa for her), got dressed and headed out by 8:00am. An adventure a day.

Day One: Disney Hollywood Studios

Day Two: Epcot

Day Three: Sea World

Day Four: Magic Kingdom

Day Five: Pool Day

Every every minute was special. Having 100% of my undivided attention, she behaved amazingly. No tears, no complaints, we even waited in line for 60 minutes, multiple times, and she would just hang out next to me. Sometimes we hugged and reminded each other how much we love one another, other times we talked about rides and princesses. Sometimes, we just held hands and people watched.

Why I decided to take this trip with her for a couple reasons:

1. She Deserved It

She has had two surgeries in the last year to help her hearing. Still a work in progress. We have a follow up this Monday. She has been through a lot, I can’t imagine hearing as if under water since the day you are born. Yup, she didn’t even pass those newborn hearing test.

2. It’s The Perfect Age

She is at that magical age (4.5) that believes in the magic of Disney. Princesses, castles, Mickey and Goofy. IT’s all REAL to her.

3. Special Alone Time is a Must

She has never been alone with her momma. My oldest seems to get a lot of one on one time with each parent. Heck, he even got us all to himself for first two years of his life. Also, with the two boys we travel constantly with them for tournaments and leave Little Lucy behind with a grandma. I know, so unfair but those tournaments are just too much for little ones.

4. Building a Strong Woman!

The day I found out I was having a girl I promised myself I would try to raise a strong, independent, KIND woman! Strong be make it on her own if needed BUT KIND as not to be part of cliques or mean girls.

But with her hearing loss, and consequently speech delay, she shows herself to be shy, humble, quiet, nervous, and very much attached to what and who she knows. I wanted to do something about it! Showing her that us girls don’t need anyone to take an adventure, that we can live, laugh, survive on our own. We love daddy and our brothers, but, we are okay being alone in new places. The moment we walked into Disney Studios it hit me we were alone, because I wanted to take a picture and we had no daddy or brother to help us. We had to ask a stranger EVERY SINGLE TIME. But that’s okay, we had to ask for directions, we had to figure it out alone, us girls, and we did. We would get on a ride and she would say, “ I’m scared.” I always replied, “NO you are strong, NOT scared.” By the last day, she was in the Haunted House, Splash Mountain and all, conquering her fears. She said, on the last ride to me, “I’m scared, uh, I no, strong.”

5. Every Girls Needs a Yearly Girl Trip (No Boys Allowed)

Because every girl needs a girls weekend (week) away! As women we take on a lot. It’s our nature. And I truly believe we need to disconnect, read a self help book, re-empower ourselves, pamper ourselves, and come back to life ready to rock it.