Need Something Fun for My Kids: How Does This Sound????

Updated on November 03, 2012
A.B. asks from Albuquerque, NM
21 answers

Hi moms!!

I have 5 kids, ages 12, 11, 8, 5, and 5 months, and I am pregnant with twins who are due in a month. (My 5 month year old is adopted) and because of my husbands job, we are moving across the country, in December. My kids are very upset, because we are always moving, and we have only been living here for 13 months. In december, it will be a very crazy time for us, with the move and the twins due any day. Me and my husband want to do something fun with them, around the holidays. We decided we are going to take them to Disney World, right before the move.

I was wondering if other moms think this is a good idea. We are hoping to get down there and back before the twins are born, (they are due dec. 16th) and we were thinking of leaving shortly after thanksgiving.

Also, do you have any ideas on what kinds of clothes we should pack to wear to disney in floridia in late november, early december.

Thanks!!! Also, if you have any other suggestions on something fun we could to with our kids to help them not be so sad during the move, I would LOVE to hear them!
Thanks again!!

-A.

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So What Happened?

Moms,
I do realize that I cannot travel when I am so close to the twins arrival. I talked to my husband, and we decided that they are going to go with my sister, and her 5 kids. I am sure they are gonna have a blast!!! We would take them for february or spring vacation, but we already have flights booked for other trips. Thanks for all the great answers, moms!!!! I read every single one of them! If you see this and have not answered yet, I would still love to hear your answer. I will still be checking. Thanks!!!!!

Featured Answers

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

ATwins are often due 2-4 weeks early. As there are 2 babies in there i wouldn't chance going to anammusment park bc youll be walking around the whole time and probably will go into labor

1 mom found this helpful

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M.R.

answers from Seattle on

A., If I did not know any better I thought this was a troll question.

First, I don't think you should be traveling anywhere more than an hour away from home after the 7month of gestation, especially carrying twins. I'll repeat myself, meaning, you should not be going anywhere outside your local city after about the 7 month of pregnancy. Please consult your OB doctor. They will recommend the same.

I understand that there is a lot of transition going on and the kids are unhappy about another move, especially before the holiday's. And that is a lot of disappointment to contend with, with you being so outnumbered.

What about going after the twins are born, say around the time they are at least 2 months old? You will have recovered significantly. They will be sleeping a bunch and you can push them and nurse them and follow your brood around?

And if you go against everyone's well intended advice, then God bless you woman. You are stronger than I.

7 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Your doctor is going to have a royal fit.
Do you want to risk your life and your twins lives?
You have 5 kids who need their mother.
Plan your move, pack, send the older 4 to Disney with their grand parents if you feel they need to go.
The airlines will not let you fly.
Driving long distance is hard because you are going to have to stop to pee and walk often else your legs will swell.
Frankly I would not want to risk giving birth on an interstate.
Please talk this over with your doctor.
You need to plan something fun near home till the babies come.
After the move - do something fun for spring break in your new location.

4 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

If you planned on flying (you didn't say) airlines won't let you, and I"d be shocked if your Dr. would. Have you asked your doctor about this trip? I really don't think they'd sign off on it. Twins typically come early, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere but near my Dr. the last few weeks of being pregnant with twins. Sorry, I think for YOU it's a terrible idea. Really, you need to speak with your Dr.

4 moms found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I'm a mom of triplets. Triplets automatically come around 7-9 weeks early. You're having twins. Twins generally come 2-4 weeks early. Have you taken this into consideration? I don't think this is a good idea for yours and your babies' sake. You're going to want to be home and near your doctor and hospital just in case. I wouldn't want you to take the risk of delivering early... with a pack of kids... on vacation... away from your doc... away from your hospital.... away from family... away from friends... away from support. To be honest, I'd let Dad go (if you feel the trip is truly necessary for the kids) with the kids alone and you stay home with the baby with family or friends staying with you. It doesn't matter how great you feel. It doesn't matter how many births you've had before. You can even send someone else instead of you and Dad with the older kids. I can understand how your kids feel as we are a military family. My triplets are now in their 3rd elementary school and they're only in 2nd grade. My 17 year old is a junior and he is living in his 14th home. Hubs retired from the Corps almost 2 years ago and we finally bought a house in January. It's not easy but things have to be hadled appropriately concerning your pregnancy. Trust me, if you pop too early we're talking NICU time and that's not fun!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

4 moms found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Personally, I think you're taking on too much. A cross-country move, 5 kids working through their own issues about the move, the arrival of twins...while I am sure you could handle it, I doubt your OB or midwife would approve. Based on the experience of a few friends who had twins, they usually come early and the moms were not very mobile (or comfortable on their feet!) for the last month.

What about focusing on the fun things you like to do as a family this December? Have each child come up with a family activity you could do together...and then help make that happen, as you settle into your new home. Game night? Pizza, popcorn and a movie? Sledding wouldn't work for you, but you could be the "photographer" if the twins aren't born, yet. Choosing and decorating the tree (if you celebrate Christmas) etc... Taking the time to settle in and celebrate the season, the twins AND the new home may be more than enough this year. If you're set on Disney, give them the trip as a Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) gift - and go in the spring.

Good luck - and congrats on your expanding family!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

This is a terrible idea! Please reconsider for everyone sake. A due date is an approximate date of when you will deliver. 2 weeks in either direction is not considered early or late. Timing the trip after Thanksgiving means you will be going to Disney when you are due to have the babies. Twins also typically come earlier than singletons. I can not imagine your doctor would be ok ith this at all.

3 moms found this helpful
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E.W.

answers from Columbus on

Ha ha ha ha ha! I LOVE your optimism and ability to think like superwoman. Your kids are truly lucky to have you as their mother. :) That being said, a trip of that magnitude three weeks before being due with twins, would really not be a good idea. Think on a smaller, close to home scale when coming up with fun things to do as a family and good luck on the move. :)

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I've got to agree with the others, this doesn't sound like a good idea.
I know that you want to do something fun with your kids, I get it, but please at least ask your doctor what s/he thinks.
Imagine how disappointed your kids will be if and/or when you plan the trip and then you can't go because of the pregnancy or the babies :(
Shoot for spring break instead!

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

lol you must be rich!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I really don't think you can fly this close to giving birth and I think that blood clots would be a risk if you plan on driving. Just tell them you will be going in the future. That should be gift enough, for now!

2 moms found this helpful
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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Sounds like fun for everyone BUT you! LOL
You'll either have two very new babies or be very pregnant--too pregnant to fly safely and probably too uncomfortable to drive...with 5 kids...from NH to FL...which does not sound fun to me!
Talk to your OB!

2 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I honestly would not travel that far so close to your due date. Especially with twins. They are apt to come early anyways. I would find something closer to home that you can do so if something happens you will be near your dr.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

Wow. Traveling like that when you are imminently due with twins sounds a bit irresponsible. Even if you were able to adequately research hospitals in Florida that would be able to accommodate you, what if you went into labor on the airplane? I don't want to be harsh, but I can't imagine your OB endorsing that trip.

Is there any way your husband and maybe some grandparental units could take them? It does sound as if they deserve some fun.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I have twins and my twins were born at 37 weeks. Full term for twins is usually 38 weeks and twins are frequently born earlier than that. In addition, you never know with twins if or when you may be put on bed rest.

I had no medical complications and was off work at 28 weeks. I wasn't put on bed rest, but I was told to take it easy. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I couldn't even walk the mall without getting tired. Disney World would have been out of the question.

I would be surprised if your doctor would be supportive of such a trip so close to your due date. Plus it would be a lot of walking which could be a hardship in itself.

Could your husband take the 4 older kids by himself or with another friend or relative before the move? The 5 month old really isn't going to remember any of it anyway.

Could you do a trip after you move? Maybe to Disneyland instead of Disney World? It will be a whirlwind when the twins are first born, but you could either wait a few months until things settle down or have the husband go with the older kids and you stay home with the twins and the 5 month old.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.T.

answers from New York on

They're going to let you fly with your due date being so close.....with twins????

Sounds like a good idea, but be careful on the fun things offered when life's demands are what they are. You are constantly moving and if that is what your life is, they need to learn to adapt and cope, versus getting a fun trip in order for them to be ok with the move.....you know what I mean. Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.A.

answers from Dallas on

Find a hotel close to home with an indoor pool or water park and take them there for a couple of nights. To help them transition, go around town and take pictures of all of their friends,favorite places, school,etc and make a scrapbook. Get addresses (home and email) of friends so they can write or email or skype to keep in touch. Research your new home and make a list of fun things to do when they get there.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

Aren't twins often born early? Travelling that close to a due date sounds uncomfortable at best and, well, tempting fate that the babies might be born in Fantasyland.

It's a great idea to have something fun to look forward to around the time of the move. Is there a special place near your new home that you can plan to visit once you are settled in? You can get brochures and use it to create anticipation for your location. Good luck with the new babies and the move.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Miami on

it gets really crowded around Christmas time in Disney. Disney has a special winter wonderland. It can be beautiful 70/60s but sometimes it can be a cold snap and I've seen it get down to 50/40. Bring sweaters and jackets for night time for sure.If you are going please make sure you book ahead of time. You might want to stay on site especially with all the kids makes it easier at night. Expect to wait on line for the buses back to the park. That being said I do have to agree its a bit much for someone getting ready to deliver.Kids under a certain age eat for free and stay for free so you might want to wait until the new babies are 3 months old.

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Sounds fun! but how are YOU going to be that far along in a pregnancy with twins???

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Okay, I'm seeing this after you have responded that YOU are not traveling that close to the twins' birth. So my answer is based on that!

For clothes, do layers/layers/layers! Fewer things can be piled on top of each other for warmth. So don't do coats - do sweatshirts in a couple of sizes. Send a travel clothesline unless you check with the hotel and they have a clothesline in the shower - may places do. Otherwise pack a clothesline that is like an upside-down umbrella with the spokes (attach to shower head) or a clothesline with attached clips that can be strung from bureau drawer handle to desk drawer, or whatever. Send little packets of single-use detergent - great for rinsing out underwear, socks, bathing suits. (Florida people don't swim this time of year, but northerners do, plus there are indoor pools.)

Disney has a phenomenal babysitting service - sitters are bonded and thoroughly screened. It's fine to use them to split the kids up so that older kids can do their thing and younger ones can nap or hang around the hotel play area. We had a wonderful sitter and continued to request her in subsequent years - she was unflappable and totally unfazed when our little one cried for the first 10 minutes. She went one way with him in the stroller, and we took the older kids to their rides and activities. You can rent strollers there, either from the hotel or from a rental company. Totally worth it. You can rent at the parks too but I think you have to turn them in when you leave. So get a sitter for the 5 month old, who will have no memory or appreciation of everything. This has nothing to do with the child being adopted! I'm not even sure why you brought it up, except to explain why you have twins due right after a 5 month old. The 12 and 11 can do the same things (and are tall enough for certain rides). The 8 year old can go with them sometimes, and other times with the 5 year old. A few things are good for all ages. Work it all out beforehand with a guide book - and that's a good airplane activity for the oldest kids. (None of that "I can do this and you can't" business - it has to be cooperative!)

Also ask for a small fridge in the hotel room - so helpful with little kids, as well as hungry preteens who will use up the whole budget if you let them loose in a hotel restaurant. We had yogurt and string cheese and other perishables on top of our regular food. Much easier for hauling kids around the park and feeding the little ones while the older ones are waiting in line at the food courts. Not sure where you are having them stay, but a villa with a kitchen and 2 bathrooms might make more sense than a bunch of typical hotel rooms.

I understand that you want something spectacular to take the edge off the move, and there's nothing more other-worldly than Disney. People need to be willing to split up so that all the kids can go to age-appropriate rides. Get one of the guide books that tell you all kinds of helpful things - what's worth the wait, what's not, and even whether to wait in the left line or the right line (there's a whole psychological component to that, and it's true!). One of the great hints I remember was to enter the park and head to the far end (the back)! EVERYONE stops at the first few attractions, so if you bypass them (with kids complaining) and go to the least-attended rides, you don't wait. Then while everyone else is working their way toward the back, you work your way to the front. When everyone's pooped and ready to crash, you're at the exit and near the transportation to head back.

Take a small cooler (soft side) to hang on the stroller handle or stick in the storage rack - have some yogurt, snack size bags of goodies, plastic utensils and so on. Take a few water bottles to share/refill and DO NOT pay for bottled water at the park or anywhere else. Stainless steel bottles can be taken empty thru airport security, then filled on the other end. They are great for enjoying while waiting in line. Kids can share. Don't pack pre-packaged snacks - too expensive. Take a few things for the plane, then have your husband stop between airport and hotel to buy regular stuff at a market, plus some ziploc bags. Older kids can be in charge of packing snacks in the morning before heading out for the day.

Use this adventure, and the fact that they will meet kids at Disney that they happily play with, to make them confident about meeting new friends and having something cool to talk about in their new location.

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