Back to Reality: What was the Little Mermaid thinking?

Jacob and Benjy headed back to school today and Chris returned to work. Andrew and I pretended not to care, and we would have successfully pulled off our ruse except for that one time this morning that he sank to the floor in a fit of protest and I joined him momentarily—just to comfort him of course. I swear it wasn’t me that left a slobbery pool of tears on the hardwood floor. After that, we hugged it out and went back to our normal game of “Conquer that Mountain of Laundry.”

Life after vacation kind of sucks.

We spent most of last week at the other “happiest place on earth.” According to The Simpsons, we already live in the happiest place on earth—Tijuana, but we thought maybe, just maybe, we should check out the other one while we were in the greater southern California area. After making our kids suffer through that whole nature/big tree expedition the weekend before, it only seemed fitting to reward them with fairy tales, magic and theme parks. We went to Disneyland, and I’m almost ready to tell you all about it. But not yet. I’m keeping it to myself for just a few more magical hours. Plus, I’m determined to add Laundry Mountain to my list of conquered mountains this week before I bore you all with the details of my magical week with Mickey. For the record, Space Mountain is way more magical than Laundry Mountain.

I will tell you this though. Disneyland certainly does provoke some lively marital debates. The following is a real conversation.

Lisa: So why is it that the little mermaid gives up her world and becomes human? If Prince Eric really loved her, shouldn’t he be willing to leave behind land and become a merman? King Triton is certainly powerful enough to make that happen too.

Chris: But Eric’s a prince. It makes sense for her to join him.

Lisa: He’s only the prince of one tiny little fictitious country. She’s the princess of all the oceans.

Chris: Yes, but she’s the seventh daughter. That hardly leaves her with any real power.

Lisa: I guess that’s true. Still seems a little shady to me. Let’s go ride another ride just like this one except with a different princess.

Chris: Okay. Your wish is my command, my darling.

Alright. He didn’t really say that last part, but that’s what he meant. I’m certain of it. At Disneyland, all your dreams can come true.