Here's the deal. I will be going to WDW with my partner and his two boys, 7 & 10. The boys have never been before, and they've never been away from their mother for more than a few days at a time. We told her about a month ago that we were going to take them, and she said at the time that it was something she never got to do as a kid, and she was glad they would be able to experience it.
Now, however, things have changed somewhat.
Last night I arrived home to find the 7 year old on the verge of tears. He did not want to go to WDW any more, and this is the reason why:
His mother, over the past five days, had convinced him that if he went to Disney World, one or more of the following would happen:
* We would drive off the road and would all die
* He would get kidnapped by a stranger
* He would get kidnapped by his own FATHER
* He would be forced to ride things he was afraid of
* He would be left outside a ride he was afraid of, by himself, while the rest of us rode without him
* He would be sucked into the ocean and swept out to sea
* He would be attacked by sharks and would die
After calmly reassuring him that none of the above would happen, and after telling him that if he really doesn't want to go he doesn't have to (but that his brother would still go, because it wasn't fair to him to cancel outright), he decided he did want to go.
My partner talked to the boys' mother and calmed her (for now) on each of her own fears, knocking them down with the truth of the matter in each case (e.g. we'll use Baby Swap, so he won't ever be left alone, etc.)
So for now she's fine..... But we have 30 days to go.
They are going through a divorce that will not be final until much later this year. So technically he is married to her still, and has every right to take the boys to Florida by law, as long as he notifies her first.
I am wondering if any of you have gone through anything like this. If so, what did you do? What was the result?
Also, do any of you have any advice for me on how to get through the next 30 days and still pull off this trip for the boys? (their dad and I have been already, so this trip is really for them).
Thanks in advance!
Jon
Now, however, things have changed somewhat.
Last night I arrived home to find the 7 year old on the verge of tears. He did not want to go to WDW any more, and this is the reason why:
His mother, over the past five days, had convinced him that if he went to Disney World, one or more of the following would happen:
* We would drive off the road and would all die
* He would get kidnapped by a stranger
* He would get kidnapped by his own FATHER
* He would be forced to ride things he was afraid of
* He would be left outside a ride he was afraid of, by himself, while the rest of us rode without him
* He would be sucked into the ocean and swept out to sea
* He would be attacked by sharks and would die
After calmly reassuring him that none of the above would happen, and after telling him that if he really doesn't want to go he doesn't have to (but that his brother would still go, because it wasn't fair to him to cancel outright), he decided he did want to go.
My partner talked to the boys' mother and calmed her (for now) on each of her own fears, knocking them down with the truth of the matter in each case (e.g. we'll use Baby Swap, so he won't ever be left alone, etc.)
So for now she's fine..... But we have 30 days to go.
They are going through a divorce that will not be final until much later this year. So technically he is married to her still, and has every right to take the boys to Florida by law, as long as he notifies her first.
I am wondering if any of you have gone through anything like this. If so, what did you do? What was the result?
Also, do any of you have any advice for me on how to get through the next 30 days and still pull off this trip for the boys? (their dad and I have been already, so this trip is really for them).
Thanks in advance!
Jon