Yesterday as I was heading to a friend’s house to pick her up for a breakfast out, I saw a mom walking her toddler through their neighborhood. The toddler was in a jogging stroller with a plastic cover over it and looked bored and lonely. Mom was trucking along quickly pushing the stroller with no real regard to what was in it or all the things that they were walking past, which could have been shared experiences.
It reminded me of last spring when my family took our first trip to Disney World. We have since been back twice and have become those crazy Disney people we used to look at incredulously, but that is a post for another day! My then 2.5 year old son spent pretty much the entire 9 days that we were there in my amazing Ergo baby carrier. I love wearing my baby anywhere. At home, groceries and household chores are made much easier and traveling with him right on my belly was a breeze as we headed to Disney.
It was May and extremely hot. And his sweaty happy little red face is right next to mine in all the pictures. Smiling and laughing together, engaging in conversation about what and who we saw – sharing excited little talks about what Princesses were where and what magical things were around us, even snacking without having to stop or slow down! We went on rides together, soaring over the park in Dumbo! I used the pocket on the Ergo to carry my lipstick, ID, tickets, debit card and cell phone; all easily accessible.
As I easily navigated the crowds, and by-passed the stroller parking lots to get into and out of lines, people constantly stopped me reminding me that they had strollers to rent. I always said “no thank you, we are fine” and continued on our way. Then I started to watch the parents pushing the strollers. I truly believe that strollers have their place. Sometimes, they can be wonderful. But, as I watched the families pushing their children in strollers my reasons for wearing my son were reinforced. The parents were not talking to their children. They were talking to each other, laughing and sharing Disney magic, while their children were left isolated. They couldn’t hear their kids’ comments, or share with them what they were seeing. Not that the kids could see much of a view from inside the strollers equipped with umbrellas. There was no engaging going on, no sharing. Parents had one experience, children had another.
We just returned recently from another trip to Disney. This time my son, who is now almost 3 would only stay in the Ergo for a little while before asking to walk. We had had a wheelchair in the past because my mother was with us and my 5 year old had ridden on her lap for much of the time. This time she requested a stroller, so we got one, and a few days in ended up getting a double and my almost 3 year old rode in that. And I could not hear him, could not tell him things, could not see what he was seeing or easily share the magic. There was one point where he was crying hysterically over something; it was so frustrating for me to not be able to comfort him while we walked from place to place, or even know what was going on.
So, kind strangers who offered me a stroller, I know you were just thinking of me, trying to be helpful, but no thank you, I prefer to wear my baby as we share in the magic of Disney and of life.
Karin- I Love you and your outlook on…..LIFE and your LOVE for your Children.
They are very lucky to have you and Kevin for a Mommy and Daddy. And YOU are very lucky to have such wonderfully strong HIPS and LEGS!
XOXOXOXOX LUV Deb
There is definitely a place for all of it, and while sadly disconnection between parents and children is incredibly common, we can’t really know what any particular parent/child situation is in the moment.
My family are Disney (and babywearing) veterans and you have a great point about the connection of babywearing, particularly in the loud, chaotic, sensory overload experience that is Walt Disney World- it allows so much connection and ultimately is just plain *easier*. My daughter and I did come up with a system for stroller communication when she was bigger and her baby sister entered the picture (and the sling)…..she would put her hand up and signal to me to get my attention- so we’d stop and discuss things as wanted/needed. And sometimes we were just getting somewhere quickly so we could reconnect- strollers CAN be so much quicker at times when we just need to get from one place to another. My family is quite thankful to have left those days behind….though on some days at Disney we’re all wishing for a stroller (um, yeah, we’re also those nutty Disney folks who MOVED to FL…and ya know what? LOVE IT!)
Awesome that you know what works for you! Hooray!
I carried both of my children in slings when they were babies and the reasons why were that we could look into each other’s eyes and I could talk to them, they had a great view of the surroundings and could absorb more information about their world, and they were above the exhaust fumes of the traffic. I don’t understand myself why other parents didn’t see that. I did use a stroller when I had other things to carry beyond the capacity of my arms, but they were absolute pigs to get on and off of buses. When my babies became toddlers, I carried them on my shoulders unless they preferred to walk.
Lovely post! I agree..we should be communicating with our children during these family trips. A great memory to treasure.
Love your bond with your children. They’re surely blessed to have you!
I’m a mom of 5 who was introduced to a sling when my oldest was a baby. It is the most amazing thing to have when you have babies!!! We grew from a 1 sling family to a family of many slings – one in the car, one in the house, one upstairs – they are everywhere. We also have strollers – they are for the stuff!!! My friend Serenity and I carried our babies everywhere and pushed the strollers full of stuff – diaper bags, snack bags, drinks, toys, whatever stuff neeeded to be brought along – but babies are for carrying! We often got comments about the strollers being for the babies, but we just laughed and kept on going.