Ok, it is summer time. I feel like a party pooper because this is the time of year that all of the fairs, carnivals and amusement parks are filling up with those looking to have a good time. Many of these people are looking for family friendly entertainment. I can’t help myself..amusement park type of environments don’t amuse me. They are often loud, distracting and way too busy for me…it is after all, only my opinion.
I just can’t seem to get into the mind set of paying a large amount of money, per person mind you (I have a big family) only to be crowded, charged more than I can afford for food and drinks, and jostled around by those hustling to and fro from one entertaining event or ride to another. Some of these places also have waterparks attached to them.
Safety is a big issue…not only physical safety…but, a personal awareness of those who are around your family members. Remember, you don’t know each of the other people surrounding you…you don’t have a clue who has a criminal background or boundary issues. Keeping an eye on those who are vulnerable such as the elderly, young children or teens who are vulnerable to manipulation by persuasive or charismatic people is important. Just because this is an entertainment/amusement park doesn’t mean you can relax your normal responsibility towards physical, emotional or sexual safety. It can be a bit stressful.
Oh, there are some events that I force myself to go to for the kids, spend more money than is wise to spend…only to hear whinning because they ONLY got to ride the rides X amount of times. I am forced to listen to more whinning as they see this shinny thing, or smell this wonderful treat (that is terribly unhealthy) that they are not allowed to have. Other people’s children are running around and screaming and pushing and crying; trying to manipulate to get what they want. Those who run the games and the rides are sometimes unsavory looking characters that I wouldn’t let near my family, at any other time. Other workers are just normal everyday people looking to earn a living…sometimes, looks don’t reveal the intention behind the smile and the polite demeanor. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover…so you have to follow your instincts. If you are uncomfortable …move on and teach your children to do the same.
I feel that I need to keep my eye on each and every member of the family so that no one becomes seperated in the crowd…that just is not safe. After all, people with ulterior motives hang out at these events too. I don’t want my family to be affected by someone with evil intent on their hearts and minds. Too many children (and adults) are assaulted, faced with violence, become a victim of a crime, or come up missing when they are in environments that have loose boundaries and where people tend to blend into the crowd becoming anonymous. The old saying applies well here, it is better to be safe than sorry. No one wants to be that person on the evening news…who has had a child taken, become the victim of a crime, or who has been injured because the amusement ride has broken down due to poor maintence and caused injury, to those who were on it at the time.
I admit, that it is a time of frustration in the family. Children want to go, do, and spend. They are not aware of all of the dangers; they only see an opportunity to go have fun. It is up to you as a parent to think of these things and try to prevent those things that you can prevent. Kids want total freedom to just wander around with some of their friends…but, my husband and I do not feel that in today’s world that is a safe option. So we compromise (alot)…no one is truly Happy…but, we all try to find a middle ground where we each get a little of what we want. I spend more than I want and less than they want, we go do more than I wish and less than they do, they get to choose their rides within the financial guidelines we set at the beginning…and, I stand near the ride praying the whole time that this ride that has my child in it’s grips is safe and the operator knows what he/she is doing; all in all, it seems to work in a masochistic kind of way. So, it is mid July…here we go again!
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Funny you should mention amusement parks. I got SO OVER amusement parks the summer our family went to Elitch’s Park in Denver. This was sometime in the early twentieth century…maybe the roller coaster had only recently been invented…We rode that crazy roller coaster and I was sure I would die. When the ride finally came to an end, I wished that I HAD died. It was so miserable that ever after I never felt amusement parks lived up to their names.
Thinking rodeos would be less intimidating to me, I ventured to the famous Burwell, Nebraska rodeo as a teenager. At that event, my boyfriend had his pocket picked and lost all his hard earned cash, plus we had no money to buy food that day!
It’s no wonder I became a home body!
Hugs
Mother Connie