Kids & Grandparents on Vacation

Sea World Of Texas in San Antonio

I often hear people make the comment “if I had known grandchildren could be so grand, I would have had them first.” But what makes grandchildren different from our own children? Why do we consider them ‘grand’? For those of you with grandchildren, you probably would agree that there is a difference in your everyday expectations of your grandchildren today compared to your children when they were at that age. Our grandchildren usually spend a limited amount of time with us before returning to their parents; therefore, we are not responsible for the day in, day out, daily care and pressure of rearing a child. When our children were young, we were so busy with day to day affairs of a job, family, and home life; there seemed very little time enjoy life together. But with our precious grandchildren, we laugh, play, and explore the world when given the opportunity; because we have finally slowed down in life ourselves.

After spending two days with three of my grandchildren, ages 2 to 8, at Sea World in San Antonio,  I have some of the best memories to last a life time. This destination provides opportunities for all ages to relax and enjoy. Between the shows that were entertaining for the young and the young at heart, the animals, the rides, and all the water features allowing us to stay cool, we stayed busy from the time the park opened until it closed. Sea World provides multiple resting spots throughout the park for grownups to relax while the children play or the two year old to take a nap. The funniest sight I perceived while in the park were strollers of all kinds being used to carry all the belongings instead of the children!!! Following are a few suggestions you might consider if you are planning a trip to Sea World.

While in the park….

Feeding Time With Seals

Make time for feeding times: Meal time is the best time to meet some playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, who you can feed by hand at designated times throughout the day. Stop by in the morning to check the day’s schedule, then give yourself some extra time to get a great spot right at the water’s edge. They are very playful and will come up to your hand.

See what goes on behind-the-scenes: Up-close tours like our Behind the Scenes and Ultimate Seafari Tour times aren’t listed on the park map, so they’re easy to miss. An insider’s tip? Book online ahead of time, or stop by the tour desk just inside the Main Entrance on the right.

Head to Sesame Street Bay of Play:This enclosed area is just for kids and a great place to let them burn off a little energy. Plus, there are plenty of shady spots for parents and a special play area just for toddlers. There are cabannas that can be rented for the day in this central area of the park, which is great if you have toddlers. It serves as the hub for the rest of the park. We went over to the Lazy River to float around I don’t know how many times. But the grandchildren loved it and so did I.

Water Play Park

Beat the heat: Temperatures can get quite high, especially in the middle of the day. Plan to take in these “cool places” when the thermometer rises: Shamu Theater, Penguin Encounter®, Sharks/The Coral Reef, and Nautilus Amphitheater. The new ‘Azul‘ show is awesome. We sat through it twice, because I couldn’t watch everything at one time. Don’t miss this one.

Pay once and dine all day: With the All-Day Dining Deal, purchase your meal tickets at one time and get a wristband that allows you to go through the restaurant lines as many times as you’d like that day. An Adult is $29.95 plus tax and Children 3-9 are $15.95 plus tax. Children under 3 may share with an Adult. Purchase in the park at any Ticket Booth, the Animal Connections Reservation Center, or Guest Services. Also, check into the Dine with Shamu. This is an up close experience with Shamu that children get to ask as many questions of the trainers that they want, while serving up an excellent buffet meal on linen table cloths. I was impressed by all the food that we purchased within the park. It was very good, with some excellent healthy choices, such as turkey croissants, turkey wraps, fruit, taco salads, fajita salads, pizza, pasta, grilled chicken, and barbeque. Large cups of ice water are free just by asking for it.

Dining with Shamu

Remember the kid in you: Don’t be surprised if you find yourself choked up in the presence of Shamu. Or, your arms covered with goose bumps in 85 degree weather as your hand touches a dolphin. There’s an incredible connection between humans and animals, one we celebrate here every day. Take a few deep breaths and drink in when you feel the connection move through you, and you’ll carry the feeling home with you.

Sea World of San Antonio surprised me by the quality of family vacation it provided for a family stretching in age from barely two to over 60. We all enjoyed ourselves without becoming overtired or cranky, making it a very relaxing, enjoyable family vacation.

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Kids and Grandparents: Gifts

 

Grandparents Giving to Their Granddaughter

As a child, some of my fondest memories were those of my grandmother deciding it was time to take me shopping. We would go to my grandmother’s  favorite department store where she would have me try on dress after dress after dress. Of course, back then, we only wore dresses to school. She would then decide which ones she liked, to add to my closet at home. She did not consult with anyone else about whether she should buy the dresses, or whether they were appropriate,  or whether my mother would approve. She liked them, and I liked them; so that was all that mattered. This didn’t happen very often, but when it did, I felt like a princess as I modeled each one for my grandfather later that evening.

Now, as a grandmother, it is my privelege to purchase gifts for my grandchildren of my choosing. But I have discovered, that those gifts are not always received with gratefulness. I have two daughters that gladly accept anything given to their children; whether I decide to buy clothes, toys, furniture for their rooms, or whatever. They are thankful for the financial support I’m able to provide to improve their child’s life. They may frown sometimes, but they allow the child to retain the gifts and enjoy them. On the other hand, I have another daughter that is extremely particular about what her children wear; therefore, I gave up trying to buy clothes for them because they ended up in the garage sale with the tags still on them. For the children’s birthdays and Christmas, we would buy toys, but she kept them put up, so they couldn’t play with them; because she didn’t want the mess. Blocks, Legoes, Thomas the Train…. all still in the box, in the closet. What did the children do all day? Watch TV. Play video games. Anything that required sitting still, no mess, no noise. We gave up trying to buy gifts. When asked what to get the boys, ages 9 and 12, we are told “i tunes Cards”. Now what kind of surprise gift is that? They really never learned how to play, or be creative. When other children come around, they don’t know what to do. Whatever happened to the days of being thankful for what you are given?

Nursery Rhyme Rocker

I’ve come to realize that I am not the only grandparent experiencing the same feelings of rejection over the items I might buy for my grandchildren. As customers are shopping in my store, they will see something that they think their grandchildren would love; then, I hear the statement, “I’ll have to check with my daughter(or daughter-in-law) to see if it is okay. She’s kind of picky about what I can buy and can’t buy.” Here are loving grandparents wanting to buy gifts for their grandchildren. Grandparents shouldn’t have to ask permission first before buying gifts; after all they are the elders of our society that should be honored and respected.

All Star Rocker

The item that most grandparents favor are our Rock a Buddies Rockers. These are our beautifully handcrafted and hand decorated heir-looms-to-be Rocking Chairs. Many of these chairs make sounds from sirens, to animal sounds, to nursery rhymes, while others have built in picture frames for your precious loved one. One rocker has a very unique feature with a cradle on the side of the rocker for her doll.  There is a special understamp beneath the seat that the customer can personalize with the child’s name, the name of the gift-giver and the special occasion when the chair was received. A photo greeting card is included so the child can say “THANK YOU” in a memorable way! The chair is designed for the child ages 3-8 years of age with different theme for each chair such as: All Star Sports Rocker, Barn to Rock Rocker, Our Little Hero Rocker, School House Rocker, Nursery Rhyme Rocker, and many more that you can find on our website www.babyiture.com. We, also, have toddler-size versions of several popular designs, with the same attention to quality and detail! These are solid wood rockers, held together with bolts, to last beyond a lifetime. Fifty years from now, when it comes out of an attic somewhere, the bottom of the rocker will remind them where this Little Rock a Buddy came from along with the generosity and love it was given.

Our Little Hero

Grandparents shouldn’t have to ask for permission to give a gift. Giving is from the heart, out of love. Children should be taught to accept the gift with love and gratitude, always remembering to say “Thank you”, no matter what the gift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Memorial Day Memories

As I look at the United States Flag in the Memorial case given in honor of my father by the honor guard during his funeral service, I think about the true meaning of Memorial Day. He was proud to be a Marine that served at IowaJima. Memorial Day became a federal holiday to honor our war veterans on 1866. Their gravestones are marked with American flags during the three day weekend and American flags are flown at half-staff from morning till noon. Some towns have parades and concerts; the National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the White House west lawn. But the true meaning of Memorial Day has been lost, since it was changed to a Monday to give a three day weekend. Memorial Day is celebrated different ways by families. Many families gather to spend a long weekend together to launch the beginning of summer. My family is no different.

For the past thirty years, we celebrated Memorial Day at the same place with the same people, honoring the family; although, our family structure changed during those years. Thirty years ago, my brother, my parents, my husband and I purchased a home on Lake Cherokee. Every weekend we remodeled another section of the cabin to make it usable for our needs. Gradually, the work leveled off and more lake activities began to take over. As my family size increased, my mother would watch the children while we played on the lake. When dinner time came, all the women would gather in the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the meal that my mother had usually cooked. My brother married after a few years, and then everything just tripled, with my parents the hub cap of the wheel. Every Memorial Day we opened the lake house for the summer season with the family spending the long weekend together.

Now, thirty years later, a few things are different. Instead of my parents being the hubcap for the spokes, my husband and I maintain the center of the wheel. Our three daughters and their families showed up for this three day weekend full of excitement for the new season. Who keeps the children while their parents are on the lake tubing?  Our daughters assume that we, Grammy and Grampy, will keep the kids. My role has followed that of my mother’s, watching the children and preparing the meals. Today for lunch, not only were the women in the kitchen, but the men were there, also.  They were washing dishes, preparing the meat, cooking the meat, discussing which rubs to put on the meats. The role of the male in the kitchen has changed drastically since the onset of our lake experiences. The interaction of all the daughters, spouses, and their father in the kitchen cooking together created an image of the meaning of family not to be forgotten. Even after thirty years, some things haven’t changed, my brother and his family, and my mother still came for lunch, giving thanks for another year together with an ever growing and changing family.  Tradition is still there this Memorial Day, with the focus still on the family,  just the size and center of the family has changed.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

 
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