"Theme parks are synonymous with planning and timelines and overpacking (yet still somehow never packing enough?), and you know who's always in charge of all that? Yep, it's us. The moms. And while there's a deep joy in watching your kids experience Disney or Universal, especially for the first time, I'm not afraid to just come right out and say this: Moms deserve to have joy of their own."
"For a long time, I felt guilty at the idea of going to the parks without my family. Then I hit my 40s and decided it was OK for me to enjoy things just for me sometimes, and that some places are fun in a completely different way when you go without your kids- and theme parks are a prime example."
"You get to be the main character. I harbor no illusions: When I'm at home, my kids are the main characters. I'm more like the stage manager or director. Still important but behind the scenes, waiting in the wings. On my first moms' trip last year, it took me a minute to realize that my needs and wants had shifted to center stage. The only crap I was carrying? My own. The only nap schedule I was worried about? Mine (mid-day resort naps are life)."
Moms often handle complex logistics for theme-park trips, including planning, timelines, and overpacking, which makes visits feel like operational chores. Many mothers feel guilty about taking solo park trips but can find permission to prioritize themselves later in life. Solo trips allow mothers to choose rides freely, move at their own pace, and follow personal nap schedules. Such trips shift attention from organizing children's experiences to focusing on personal enjoyment. Mothers can alternate intense park days with restful days without guilt and rediscover nostalgic aspects of parks while reclaiming agency and joy.
Read at Scary Mommy
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