Tag Archives: hawaii

Sisters vs. Maui

This is why you brave the flights with little kids to Maui: approximately 15 seconds after de-boarding Michelle had completely forgotten the previous 13 harried hours in the air and was scheming about how to stay out there permanently. Tropical induced amnesia. How else to explain how two short years after shuttling a a single 2 year old out there, we decided to double down and take a four and a one year old?

We survived a marathon flight out there (thank you massive headwinds) and had an awesome time escaping winter, playing with cousins, running outside and generally reveling in temperatures above 27 degrees. We learned a few other things, as well:

1. Sugar in the raw should be a controlled substance for kids under five. It’s toddler heroin on every restaurant table.

2. Changing a cranky, squirmy toddler’s diaper was never a use case in designing and testing airline bathrooms.

3. Even a one year old needs two economy seats to be comfortable.

4. Afternoon saunas, massages and readily available mai tais are not a good combination if you want to make your dinner reservation.

5. Toddlers are not born with an innate fear of the ocean. Allison or Rachel would have happily marched into the waves with a smile on their face.

6. Maui comes with a built-in toddler coping mechanism for parents. Just turn and look at the ocean (or turn and pick up your mai tai).

7. Was happy to see green smoothies going mainstream at the hotel breakfast buffet, but judging by the condo’s unanimous revulsion, fermented veggies have a long way to go.

8. Cecilia will eat anything if it’s served in a bucket by the poolside.

9. When your child starts calling the swim-up bartender your ‘good friend’ you might want to slow down.

10. Landing home in a snow covered Boston, it’s quite difficult to explain why we live here and not in Maui.

Little Grass Shack

When I was growing up, I remember my Dad going on business trips. Typically cable conventions or cable systems in exotic places like Sarasota or Oswego. Dad’s business trips meant two things: at least one TV dinner if it happened during the week (I still have a strong sensory memory of Hungry Man cherry compote) and, when we were smaller, a grab bag of goodies upon his return. Granted, the goodies consisted almost exclusively of free convention swag festooned with cable channel logos (although sometimes it was a sports arena program and ticket stubs). I’m sure my Mom cringed at the influx of stress balls, tote bags, cup holders, ash trays, coasters, lanyards and other tchotchkes, but we loved it, fought over it and hoarded it like it was shiny Spanish doubloons.

Well, Cece had her first introduction to the return trip goodie basket when a bursting USPS box showed up on our doorstep smelling like tropical sunshine and double rainbows. Its arrival just happened to coincide with her grandparents return from Hawaii. Ce’s reaction didn’t disappoint: