I think it’s easy to assume when a kid gets older that they will have it more together when you vacation later. I could not be more wrong.
12 is an odd age, somewhere between childhood and the teens, the 12 year old brain is a confusing landscape of hormones, angst, and forgetfulness. I was definitely more of the first two than the later, and when I am out and about with my step-daughter I find that FORGETFULNESS is the name of the game.
Lesson learned, when we were at Universal Studios, our second day of play, my stepdaughter had her wand (chosen at Olivander’s and a gift from my sister and brother-in-law)from the day before, we were having an AWESOME girls day before meeting my cousins, and then things went crazy. We could blame the Hogwarts Express, and the unassuming shelves and comfortable seats, and in which my stepdaughter left her wand. I blame not making her take a bigger backpack so she could fit her said wand in it. I also blame the own chaos of my day in which my credit card FELL OUT OF MY WALLET when we were at Universal, which lead to the day feeling disjointed and mad.
Tweens, in their hormonal state, tend to fall into tears. Which is exactly what happened when we discovered the wand was missing and no one had turned it into lost and found. While Lily freaked out, some magic was found in a way only dedicated Universal Studios staff can, by helping us replace the wand. An extremely kind “conductor” at the Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade took us to the wand shop in Hogsmeade to replace Lily’s misplaced fun.
While the gesture was undoubtedly kind, it was that the company’s dedication to making sure that guests were taken care of and happy with all the elements of their vacation that really hit home. It left its influence on my stepdaughter too, as since she lost her wand, and went through the embarrassment of needing someone to save the day, she has been much more conscious of her existence.
It hasn’t made all of 12 better and we are still buckled in for the ride of the next few years (ok 6+), it made a positive influence on miss Lily. However, Lily is more aware of where her phone, and coat, and backpack are. She hasn’t lost valuable items, and her hoodies make it home. While homework is the next frontier, I see changes every week, for the better.
At the end of the day, the hiccups in life make us stronger, wiser, and better and travel often make us face it. Sometimes there are tears, and embarrassment, and hard lessons, but we ultimately learn some big lessons. For my stepdaughter, it has been that things work out, and kindness and manners go a long way (giving and receiving). It is also a lesson in responsibility and organization, and being able to let go of stresses and still have a fun vacation. All of which I am so happy she is learning while seeing the world.
Happy TRAVELS!
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