Even though my fiancee just got laid off, we already had a trip to Disney/Universal booked and paid for, and we figured the trip could help take his mind off of everything.

We had a "family meeting" with SD15 and SD12 over the weekend about expectations for Disney. They know SO is laid off, and we explained we had to be careful with money on the trip. For example, we would be getting breakfast foods, lunch meat, etc. to keep in the room and would pack our lunch in a cooler for the parks, and only go out to dinner. SDs were to bring their own spending money for souvenirs.

The real reason for the family meeting was to set attitude expectations. SO, thankfully, is not a Disney Dad. SD12 is hitting the teen years and getting very moody. She gets mopey and just wants to lay around, and either doesn't answer questions or answers them in a whispered almost baby voice. It is driving SO and I crazy. SO wants to be really hard on her about it, but I (as a former pre-teen girl) am trying to give him some perspective. While I agree she needs an attitude adjustment, she is overall a good kid. She is really struggling in middle school. She has good grades, but is socially immature. She is one of the youngest in her grade due to the age cutoffs. She has said to me a number of times how much she wishes she could go back to elementary school and doesn't like middle school. She just turned 12 and keeps saying how she doesn't want to be 12 or to become a teenager, she wants to stay a kid. I feel like she is "mourning" her childhood. I feel what she really needs is some one on one time and positive reinforcement and help with self esteem. Who would have thought....the SM on the skids side, haha. She is a really good kid....thoughtful, thankful, never calls names or yells, helps around the house (especially with cooking) without me asking; just very childlike.

SO made it clear in our family meeting that he does NOT want any attitude at Disney. This was an expensive trip and he wants everyone to enjoy it, him included. He doesn't want any baby talk or complaining. He doesn't want any sleeping in until noon....we are getting our moneys worth at the park, etc. He did all the talking. I finished up with a little bit about how we are all going to have a great time and how I can't wait for us all to ride the rides and have fun together. Then I showed the skids the hotels on the computer and maps of the parks and they were SO excited!

SO is already down there at a conference networking. I am flying in on Wednesday with SD15 and SD12. We are sharing a hotel room (the 4 of us) for 4 nights, so this should be interesting!! SD15 is a Type 1 Diabetic, so we have to keep an eye on her levels with all the walking and sweating. SD12 gets hangry and loses energy (like me haha) so I packed some granola and protein bars as snacks. I already talked to BM about helping them pack...otherwise they would bring flip flops and complain about blisters the whole time.

I hope it is a fun trip and that we all survive sanity intact! This is my first trip with the SDs where we all have one regular hotel room.