What you will do for your children
I've always been afraid of heights. Well, not always, I think I might have developed it after a weird series of falling dreams I had in my 20's, mostly involving bridges. I don't have any problem being on a cliff and looking down, hell, I used to jump off rocks that were almost 20-30 feet in the air when I was a kid into lakes and the ocean. I think it's the possibility of a bridge or a tower just collapsing that's screwed me around these things.
this coming from a guy who has to go over the Tappan Zee Bridge to work every single day.
So, we went to Dorney Park in PA this weekend, and let me tell you, I was psyched. Not only that, but it was EMPTY!!! Think it was a combo of the cold weather and the jewish holiday. Anyway, the kids and I were running right onto several of the better rides, at least the one that Gilli could ride - she's only 49 inches and some of them are 52 & 56 inches minimum. There was a cool one that Aidan and his friend wanted to go on, that we realized was too tall for Gillian, so I told her we could go ride anything she wanted to go while the boys went on the ride they ran onto.
She chose the Dominator. A 200 foot tower that brings you all the way up to the top, slowly of course, and has this huge release of pressure once you're there, FREAKING you out that something just broke. I am trying not to let it get to me, but every atom of my being is about this >< close to ripping off the harness and jumping because that'll be safer. On the outside, I'm talking to Gillian, asking her how exciting she thinks this is, how much fun it's going to be when it drooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops.
Dude.
Thank god that's over. This ride is one of the things that freaks me to no end. And you know what? My daughter will never know, nor could she tell because I'm a big fat faker and told her how much I loved it. I went on a ride that absolutely petrifies me because my daughter wanted to.
Again...Thank god that's over. Man, the things we do for our kids.
September 21st, 2009 - 10:57
Good thing she doesn’t read your blog, I guess.
On the same token, it’s good for our kids to see that we too have fears, make mistakes, and are just as human.
You’re a good Daddy.
.-= hsoi´s last blog ..MUC applied =-.
September 21st, 2009 - 12:18
You’re braver than I am. I could feel my anxiety level rising just reading your description. I love my kids, but sometimes you gotta draw the line.
.-= terri´s last blog ..Church =-.
September 21st, 2009 - 12:41
That’s something I sure wouldn’t do for my kids! I’m deathly afraid of heights too.
I do have to say that just taking them to Chuckie Cheese when they were little was pretty big of me though!
.-= Cocotte´s last blog ..That’s Pat! =-.
September 21st, 2009 - 13:03
John – She sees it way too often. Nice to be a hero every once in a while:)
Terri – I couldn’t especially when she couldn’t go on the other ride and I told her any ride she wanted. Oye.
Cocette – Chuckie Cheese is an exercise in bravery all to itself:)
September 21st, 2009 - 16:16
I was tempted to go on a similar ride at Disneyland’s California Adventure park. Then, I noticed the clear acrylic vomit shields that were located securely in front of every seat. Nevermind!
.-= Michael´s last blog ..DD’s – what’s the big deal? =-.
September 21st, 2009 - 19:34
I rode one of those and got whiplash! Never again.
But I did take my kids to several death metal battles of the bands events. That’s true love.
.-= secret agent woman´s last blog ..Adventures on the Web. =-.
September 21st, 2009 - 20:48
there’s something inherently wrong with something called vomit shields
Thanks for stopping by Michael.
September 24th, 2009 - 01:05
I personally love heights and would be happy to go on any freefall ride 100 times. We use to have an amusement park (Astroworld, as I am sure you recall) and that ride was called Dungeon Drop. I peer pressured a friend into getting on and she was crying by the time we got to the bottom … and of course I felt like an a**. So, I applaud your bravery and willingness to face your fears for the sake of the kiddo!
.-= Rhonda´s last blog ..The last two weeks … a pictorial =-.
September 24th, 2009 - 09:14
Dungeon Drop is the reason I hate those rides. Is that the one that is one big pillar, you’re on the outside and there are four different sets of riders, and they all drop at different times?