When I was fourteen years old, I was five feet, three quarters of an inch. After a whopping inch and a quarter of growth, I reached my full adult height, which already appears to be on the downslide.
When Gwen was fourteen, she was five feet four inches tall, and has topped out at a respectable five foot five. James is a tad over five feet five, less than four months shy of his fourteenth birthday.
All of these fives and fours and fourteens mean that when my family strolled into Busch Gardens last week, we passed right by the Ride Height measuring area. If I’m tall enough to get on every ride, we are all good to go. I’ve been the shortest member of our family for some time now, but it still surprises me when I look at photographs or glimpse one of the kids and me in the mirror. Or in a selfie.
As we breezed past the cluster of kids being measured and braceleted for ride admission, my teenagers headed to the nearest roller coaster. After dozens of rides, we took a break and rode the train around the park. A young father and his toddler settled in the row in front of me, and I smiled as I watched the little boy’s chubby hands grasp his daddy’s shirt while he reached out to point to a sign with Elmo on it. I remembered my little boy at that age, and how I could not have imagined that he would be bigger than me one day.
I felt a slight pang of nostalgia, although it was really more like a twitch. As hard as it is to watch my babies grow up, I have no desire to go back. I like where my kids are now, and where we are as a family. And if I had any doubts, a day at an amusement park confirmed it for me. Our ten hour day at Busch Gardens was fun, relaxing, stress-free, and thoroughly enjoyable.
1. You will only go on the thrill rides. Busch Gardens has five roller coasters, and we went on every one of them. Multiple times. Actually, the kids went multiple times. Matt and I love a good coaster, but our bodies aren’t as enthusiastic as they used to be. Three minutes of gravity defying, stomach flipping, bladder leaking excitement is enough for me.
2. You can people-watch while they ride over and over. Oh, the people you’ll see in amusement parks. It’s a cross section of America, really – frazzled young parents, indulgent grandparents, and those annoying couples who walk with their hands in one another’s back pockets. It’s truly fascinating, and the respite gives my stomach a chance to settle back into its rightful place.
3. You can eat like a glutton. It’s easy to cover six miles or more during a day at the park, so I feel completely justified in getting dessert. Since we are four adult-sized people, that means we must order TWO four-scoop waffle bowl sundaes from the Creamery de Chocolat in France. But you have to wait until after you’ve ridden The Griffin:
4. You can easily avoid buying souvenirs. My kids would much rather have another soft pretzel than a t-shirt emblazoned with “Busch Gardens.” They are at the age where they don’t want a souvenir just because it is there, especially if they have to pay for it with their own money.
5. You will see glimpses of the carefree little children they used to be. While the roller coaster plummeted towards the ground, I heard Gwen’s unrestrained laughter and screams of joy over my own. It made the subsequent twenty minutes of nausea completely worth it.
Superb Photos 🙂
I never go on roller coasters! I hope that is NOT a metaphor for my life!
I continually get a kick when I click over here, Dana. xx
Awww, hey, at least they still want to do things with their parents as teenagers, including selfies;) Awesome! xo
Oh, they’ll never turn down the chance to take a selfie!
Well, I;m not much of a roller coaster gal, but I totally get this. Mine aren’t quite as old as yours, but I wouldn’t want to go back to the baby/toddler days. I like it where we are right now.
Me too!
I am slightly over 5’9″ and my DH is 6’4″……so needless to say, we have tall offspring. Two who are 6′ and one who is 5’7″. We have never had trouble getting on rides. But, I have always wanted to be short!! I’m glad you had fun and could see your kids be kids! Our next amusement park trip will be with our granddaughter. And yes, she’s almost 4′ tall at age 6.
Wow! My daughter was always the tallest of her friends, but it evened out once they hit puberty. It’s funny – my mom is 5’7″ and she always wanted to be short, too. The grass is always greener!
Busch Gardens is such a blast!! I have so many great memories of visiting there (both the Virginia and Florida locations) with my kids. And the people watching…amazing!!!
Amusement parks are the best for people watching, and Disney is the best of all the parks. I could sit and watch people walk by all day…
heh.. only 20 minutes of nausea?? I wonder if I’ll have to take Dramamine before going with my kids. Scarlet is already fearless, but just not tall enough for every ride.
I had my annual ob/gyn exam two weeks ago and they told me I was 5′ 5″ and 115 pounds. Ok, whatever. I had my annual GP exam a week later and they told me I was 5′ 6″ and 110 pounds. So I got taller and thinner in a week!!
Excellent! I like to weigh myself at the gym after a hard workout. 😉
Oh, how fun! It’s been so long since I’ve been to an amusement park, but roller coasters were a favorite 🙂
You need to go again, before you’re too old to stomach it!
I hate amusement parks, ever since I threw up on a roller coaster around the age of… yep, 14! But you are making an appealing case for them now that the kids are getting older! Loved this, Dana, and especially the idea of all that ice cream! No 3 made me smile BIG 🙂
I would avoid the coasters if I were you too, Nicki. But you could sit on a bench and eat an ice cream cone while the kids ride. That sounds lovely to me.
This is so nice! I imagine this stage of parenthood would be a lot of fun because you can relate more to your kids, talk to them more on your level, and do fun things like go to amusement parks together 🙂 I went to Six Flags New England with 12 friends for my 29th birthday and it was one of the most fun celebrations I’ve had in a long time.
That sounds like a blast! Going as an adult without kids, before your body won’t let you enjoy it – that’s awesome.
My son will be a giant. I’ve decided. He’s six and he gets mistaken as being an older kid. Last night at hockey practice (it was their first day) they separated the kids and he was put with the 9 and up kids – because he was just as tall. Standing next to me he is (and this is according to him) “As tall as my mom’s boobs”…
Plus my nephew is 17 years old and is 6’8.
I would love to ride roller coasters with him. I really would but my spine is held together with more metal than the rollercoaster itself. One quick turn *snap, crackle, pop*. But he’s got awesome uncles and an Aunt – my husband is a 6’4 wussy.
I love hearing about your relationship with your son. My bond with mine is strong but I often wonder how that will change when he’s older.
Six foot eight? Jeez. Your son may very well be a giant.
I bet your relationship with him will stay strong – it’s bound to change, but the closeness will still be there. I’ve noticed that my formerly very affectionate and touchy-feely kid does not like to cuddle when I say goodnight to him (which I admit would be creepy anyway at some point). But he’ll come over to me and give me a hug, and you bet your ass I hold on as long as he’ll let me.
I’m almost there with my two older girls (10 and almost 13). The older one will probably be about my height (5’7″) but the middle one will be about 5’9″ or taller. Same with the youngest, but she’s only three and still sufficiently little. It’s a bit weird having my big girls only a few inches shorter than me. They’re 5-feet and 5’1″ now. I loved #5. That means no matter how tall they get, they’ll still be my “little girls.” Great post!
Thanks, Lisa. Yes – sitting next to Gwen hearing her scream with glee on the roller coaster was fabulous. You’ve got some height in your family – my daughter would love to be taller than 5’5″. I’m just happy she made it there.
I’m still on the “taking babies to an amusement park” stage.. which is pretty much, “Go to all the shows and avoid all the rides you can’t go on for another half decade” lol! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
I remember that stage! Enjoy it. 🙂
Dana, I’m only 5’3″, and my husband is 6’4″. I have a feeling in the not too distant future, my children will tower over me. I have to tell you. I always think about when they are teenagers, and it scares me, but when I read your posts, you make it sound like so much fun. I really need to print these posts out and put them in a “how to” book for when I get there. You’re quite inspirational. Or a rotoscope – ask Beth.
I will. You’re sweet to say that, Mandi. It’s not all unicorns and rainbows, but it’s definitely more good than bad. I just really like my kids – they are great people.
I do love the ages my kids are now!! It makes doing all day things so much easier:)
It does! I am so glad to be rid of strollers, and I love that I don’t have to accompany my kids to the restrooms. 🙂
This brings back so many memories! I forgot about the people who walk with their hands in each other’s back pockets. So annoying. You really make me look forward to having teenagers. Hopefully my kids will grow up to be as awesome at teenager-dom as yours!
I’m sure they will. Granted, my kids are far from awesome all the time, but the amusement park brings out their best selves.
I love amusement parks!! My kids are too little for me to enjoy them personally, but I know that someday we will. I’m not going to wish away their childhoods, but I am looking forward to some things as they get older!
I think it helps to focus on the great things about the age they are now – makes me miss the younger ages less.
We go to Busch Gardens all the time (my parents live about 10 minutes away). I am looking forward when going to the park gets easier!
Kerri – it was lovely to sit on a bench with Matt while the kids got on a coaster again and again. We didn’t even glance at the Sesame Street play area!
I’m glad neither of my kids is a roller coaster junkie, because I’m not! I look forward to that day when they stop wanting souvenirs. We just recently ended our long-term relationship with Happy Meals and those throw away toys, so onward towards lots of amusement park snacks!
Ah, that was a happy day – no more happy meals! When we go on vacation, we give our kids a souvenir budget, and then they figure out what to buy and when. Sometimes they don’t get one (like in Busch Gardens), and what do you know? They don’t buy anything.
AW! That selfie is precious!! And I love that you now have such freedom with your kids to enjoy the amusement parks and LIFE in a totally different way…
I wouldn’t go near those coasters… I would however eat myself silly and people watch all day. I’m good with that. 😉
Aw, this was sweet. I get the pang you feel, about not wanting to go back. I’m finally there. For so long, I wanted another baby, it hurt. But I have reached a point where I know I couldn’t do it again, and no longer want to. But I do miss my babies. And I’m well on my way to being the shortest in the family. And what is it about gravity and your 40s? Lordy, I get motion sick on elevators these days.
I don’t know what it is. I want to ride the coasters over and over, I just can’t. I even got a bit nauseous on the swings, which were always my favorite.
I love that they don’t want souvenirs anymore! Looking forward to that part. Can I admit I also love that my kids are not adrenaline junkies?! Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom is about as fast and wild as we’ll get.
We love that ride too! Btw, both your comments went to spam – I assume that’s why you left another because the first one disappeared. That happens to a few commenters…I always un-spam you. I have no idea why that happens.
You know, I found this amazingly reassuring to read. I got teary-eyed when I read the section about the toddler because it makes me sad to think about Eve growing up, though with each passing month she becomes more and more fun. I worry sometimes about her becoming a teenager and how our relationship with each other will be, but this made me worry a little less. I’m still going to relish in her being tiny, but it’s nice to know about all the fun you can have with teenagers as well! (And I’ll admit, I do look forward to taking her on rides when she’s older. Just not the ones with that go straight down. I can’t handle that!)
I can’t do those either, Bev. I’m glad you found this reassuring. I felt that way when I saw that toddler – the pang was momentary, and then I realized that I am perfectly content to be here and now with my kids. They are just fun to be with, and I love that I enjoy their company in a way that’s so different than when they were little.
oh, that’s so nice 🙂
Thanks, Maja!
That made me smile last year we took the kids to disney it was fun Going on rides with them and having fun…my kids are 12 and 14 both are taller than me yup I’m a tiny one… i knew it would happen sooner or later
Me too! I always knew that I’d be the shortest in my family one day.
Tucker is already a roller coaster junkie. Not as much as his best friend but a total junkie. I mean seriously the last time we went to Kings Dominion, he wanted to go on the one that’s like 125 stories tall. Both his dad and I said no way! I mean, he will love it but not so much me. I love that you did this as a reflective post about the then and the now and the sweetness.
Oh, you’re in trouble…a roller coaster junkie with a mom who doesn’t like them? You may have to suck it up and get on with him. And Tucker is tall, so he’ll be ready to go sooner than you’d like! Maybe you need to go with another friend or family who likes coasters and can stand in for you.
You’re tall! At least from my vantage point of 5’2″. Both of my kids are waaaaay taller than me. My daughter is 5’6 and my son is over 6 feet. Do they ever let me forget it? Absolutely not. I’m getting used to hugging my son’s belt … well okay it is still pretty odd but it’s getting easier.
Oh no, I’m 5’2″ also, Kelly! It is odd to hug a kid whose bigger than you. James still rests his head on my shoulder, but he probably won’t be able to do that for much longer.
I hope Christopher and I get to experience roller coasters together. Last time we went, he got on something he didn’t like and even though it was nothing comparable to a roller coaster he said he was never getting on one. He was not happy with me that I did. It does still make me scream and laugh but after one ride I had a ginormous headache for the rest of the day. I fear that when Christopher is ready for roller coasters I’ll be “too old” to handle it. I read my full height in middle school. So back then I was a tall 5’4 ½. I’ve rounded myself up to 5’5 since then.
You’re still taller than me! I hope you can still handle the coasters when Christopher is a teen – at least for one ride each. Start with the most tame ones and work your way up, and then bail whenever your body screams “I give!”
You just gave me a glimpse into the future with my own girls and definitely hope through it all to still see and hear a bit of excitement from them that brings me back to their younger days, as well at this point, too.
I hope so too, Janine!