Sometimes, women just aren't as complicated as men think they are. On the whole, women tend to be pretty uncomplicated, as it turns out. Don't believe me? Here are some of the bullet points for dealing with a woman (as noted in nearly every post, exceptions are possible but this stands for a majority of us).
1. We just want to be heard. Just like it is common knowledge that men have selective hearing, women would like you to focus for fifteen minutes on what we're saying so we know that we're actually being heard. Just like men need longer periods of chill time sometimes where there is no noise, women need longer periods of listening when something is going on. If you'd take that fifteen minutes and actually devote it to listening to us, we'd leave you alone and shut up so you can have your chill time. Pretty simple.
2. We're all dramatic to differing degrees....but you don't need to tell us that Some of us tend to be less dramatic and some (ahem water signs) tend to be so overly dramatic that it's ridiculous. The thing is, TELLING us that we're dramatic will just make us behave more dramatically. And let's be honest, boys, you are just as dramatic as we are; just dramatic about different things. Your wife may be flipping out over the toilet paper roll (dramatic) but it's important to her for things to be maintained. How would you feel if someone left your video game controller out in the yard instead of maintaining it properly?
3. We don't care if it makes sense or not. Do NOT critique our appearance. Wanna find a quick way to make a woman feel self-conscious? Pick her apart physically. When you make that choice, though, don't complain that women get jealous, bitter or down on themselves. Let's pick a commonality for all men...your penis. If your girlfriend made a comment about the size of your penis, you would never let it go. You'd get mad, bitter and self conscious and likely angry if your wife compared your penis to someone else's. Guess what? We feel the same way. Women are prone to self-consciousness and we don't need you aggravating it.
4. We don't want to nag...so grow up. There are a whole lot of men who complain about being nagged yet they want to act like teenagers and have their wives clean up after them. Well guess what? If I'm washing your dirty underwear, I have the right to complain about your clothes pile. If I'm washing your dishes, I have the right to complain when you leave them wherever you want. If you're going to act like a child, expect to be treated that way. Nagging is not enjoyable to any of us, as a whole. And while we're on the topic, you need to review your definition of "nag". If you're uncertain, I have a few mother in laws that I know of that I could direct you to....it's a rite of passage for them to henpeck.
5. The worst thing you can do to a woman is stop making her feel special. Men complain that they can't read minds but it doesn't take a mind reader to flatter your girl. Wanna know how I know? Men do it when they're courting women. Somewhere along the line, men (I've ripped on women before so don't think I'm being sexist here) forget to make their girlfriends and wives feel special. Tell her she's beautiful. Take her for a walk. A little effort goes a long way in getting what you want and making your life more peaceful.
So you see, men? It's pretty simple. Maybe put a little bit of effort into maintaining the behavior you used when you were courting her and your relationship won't seem so "complicated." Stop being dramatic and making it into something way more crazy complicated than it is.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
What I Miss About Being a Stay at Home Mom
Although I love my job and have incredible boss families, there are a whole lot of things that I miss about being a stay at home mom. There are generally two kinds of working moms (and NEITHER is better). The first kind of working mom is thankful to get out of the house, enjoy her time away, and socialize in the work place. This working mom is often known to say, "Even if I didn't HAVE to work, I'd still want to." They've worked hard to get where they are and they enjoy what they do. They strike a balance that they're happy with between work and home life and their older children are accustomed to mommy working. They're proud of what Mommy accomplishes and they are very matter of fact when they speak about Mommy's job. (Of course this is generalized and, yes, there are always exceptions).
The second kind of working mom is working only because she has to. It's not to lead a lavish lifestyle or to party. This working mom would stay home if she had the chance. This working mom leaves the house every day wanting to be there with her kids. Does she enjoy her job and the break? Probably. Does she relish in some of the perks of being a working mom like getting breaks? Probably. Does she love getting to see the happy faces of the kids running towards her when she walks in/picks them up? Yes! Would she trade all of that to be the one that's with them all of the time? Definitely. This is the kind of working mom category that I fall into.
With all of that being said, here are some of the things I miss about being a stay at home mom:
1. TIME. Ah precious time. I miss not having the ability to put things off for an hour. I have to accomplish things in such a short time span when I'm not working. Everything is crammed into a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night. I miss having the wiggle room to move things around and do "this" now and "that" later. Right now I have to smash "this" and "that" into a fifteen minute period and it's no longer about getting it right...it's about getting it done.
2. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE QUALITY TIME: By the time I get home at night, it's homework and dinner and showers and bed. Yes, I have my weekends but those are generally spent, at least in part, running around doing the things I didn't have the time to do during the week. It's a vicious circle. I miss having the ability to go volunteer at their school more. I miss having the ability to go shoot some photos for a friend just because. I miss having the ability to fit in workouts without worrying about damaging my health by getting even LESS sleep. I miss being the one to say, "C'mon guys. Let's stay on task and get this homework done." I miss being the one that sets up the sprinkler for them and then snaps shots of them gleefully running through in the summer. I miss the quality time.
3. COOKING FOOD FROM SCRATCH MORE OFTEN: I miss this most of all, I think, because it combined quality time, health and something I actually love to do. I miss cooking from scratch all of the time. I loathe having to cook quick meals. I miss making homemade cinnamon rolls or buttermilk biscuits or bread....dear Lord, homemade bread! I miss it! It's healthier, often more budget friendly and it's soooo worth it.
4. BEING THE ONE THAT'S HOME WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE SICK. I know. It's ironic to miss this but it's true. I miss being the one that cuddles them and brings them ramen or empties their puke buckets. I miss being the one who rewets their washcloth to make sure it's keeping their little heads cool. I miss that!
5. BEING ABLE TO BE SPONTANEOUS. Yes, I'm a planner to the core, but I miss being able to pick up and go get ice cream with the kids without worrying about disrupting their schedules and them not getting enough sleep for school the next dy. I miss being able to say, "Screw it...let's do the zoo today." I miss it!
If someone offered me the opportunity tomorrow to still bring in enough income, be financially stable and be self-employed (work from home) or be a stay at home mom, I think I'd yank it up immediately. You see, I love my job but I love my family more :)
The second kind of working mom is working only because she has to. It's not to lead a lavish lifestyle or to party. This working mom would stay home if she had the chance. This working mom leaves the house every day wanting to be there with her kids. Does she enjoy her job and the break? Probably. Does she relish in some of the perks of being a working mom like getting breaks? Probably. Does she love getting to see the happy faces of the kids running towards her when she walks in/picks them up? Yes! Would she trade all of that to be the one that's with them all of the time? Definitely. This is the kind of working mom category that I fall into.
With all of that being said, here are some of the things I miss about being a stay at home mom:
1. TIME. Ah precious time. I miss not having the ability to put things off for an hour. I have to accomplish things in such a short time span when I'm not working. Everything is crammed into a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night. I miss having the wiggle room to move things around and do "this" now and "that" later. Right now I have to smash "this" and "that" into a fifteen minute period and it's no longer about getting it right...it's about getting it done.
2. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE QUALITY TIME: By the time I get home at night, it's homework and dinner and showers and bed. Yes, I have my weekends but those are generally spent, at least in part, running around doing the things I didn't have the time to do during the week. It's a vicious circle. I miss having the ability to go volunteer at their school more. I miss having the ability to go shoot some photos for a friend just because. I miss having the ability to fit in workouts without worrying about damaging my health by getting even LESS sleep. I miss being the one to say, "C'mon guys. Let's stay on task and get this homework done." I miss being the one that sets up the sprinkler for them and then snaps shots of them gleefully running through in the summer. I miss the quality time.
3. COOKING FOOD FROM SCRATCH MORE OFTEN: I miss this most of all, I think, because it combined quality time, health and something I actually love to do. I miss cooking from scratch all of the time. I loathe having to cook quick meals. I miss making homemade cinnamon rolls or buttermilk biscuits or bread....dear Lord, homemade bread! I miss it! It's healthier, often more budget friendly and it's soooo worth it.
4. BEING THE ONE THAT'S HOME WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE SICK. I know. It's ironic to miss this but it's true. I miss being the one that cuddles them and brings them ramen or empties their puke buckets. I miss being the one who rewets their washcloth to make sure it's keeping their little heads cool. I miss that!
5. BEING ABLE TO BE SPONTANEOUS. Yes, I'm a planner to the core, but I miss being able to pick up and go get ice cream with the kids without worrying about disrupting their schedules and them not getting enough sleep for school the next dy. I miss being able to say, "Screw it...let's do the zoo today." I miss it!
If someone offered me the opportunity tomorrow to still bring in enough income, be financially stable and be self-employed (work from home) or be a stay at home mom, I think I'd yank it up immediately. You see, I love my job but I love my family more :)
Monday, March 24, 2014
He's NOT Scatterbrained
I recently spoke with some moms of children living with ADHD and was actually a bit disturbed at their descriptions of their children. As a parent of a child with ADD (mild hyperactivity) and a child with ADHD and SPD, I kind of have some opinions on things. I understand and support that people have different parenting approaches but the descriptions really bugged me. So here are a few little nuggets of information from the perspective of an ADHD/SPD parent....
1. STOP expecting your child to behave "normally." First off, normal is relative and children without diagnoses are quirky too. Your child's brain works differently than some other kids. Imagine sitting on your computer and opening about 55 windows at the same time. Your computer would have to work extra hard to even "focus" on one window because there's so much going on in the background. THAT is what the mind of an ADHD child is like. Now imagine that every time you opened a window on the computer, your keyboard shocked you or sent a skunk odor or made an airhorn noise but you never knew which one it'd be. That's what Sensory Processing children live with. If all of that was going on in your brain, would you remember every little thing told to you. Doubtful!
2. Your child is NOT scatterbrained or ditzy. Stop using negative terminology like that. It's one thing to say they're in their own little world. They are. That doesn't sound negative, for the most part. It's another thing to label them as scatterbrained, ditzy, or lacking common sense. Refer back to #1.
3. While medication is a solution for some people, it is not always the solution for everyone. Don't judge a parent's approach until you live their daily life. I don't medicate my children but I know and support people that make that choice for the well being of their child. Some choose herbal or dietary changes. Some, like me, focus on dietary and behavior modification. It's a matter of choice and children's individual needs. With that being said, I don't think that piling on medication on medication on medication is going to help. Adding more pills won't make your child "normal."
4. And FINALLY, punishing your child for "not remembering" or "getting off task" won't help. Period. Positive reinforcement is the only solution here. You have to keep trying to find what HELPS them to more efficiently focus on the task at hand. Different kids, different approaches but punishing and yelling for them forgetting things or getting off task will only make things worse because now you're making them feel inferior and stupid.
I could go on for days but this really grinds my gears. Stop treating your children as if they're not living up to your standards. They're not the asshole here. You are. *Rant over*
1. STOP expecting your child to behave "normally." First off, normal is relative and children without diagnoses are quirky too. Your child's brain works differently than some other kids. Imagine sitting on your computer and opening about 55 windows at the same time. Your computer would have to work extra hard to even "focus" on one window because there's so much going on in the background. THAT is what the mind of an ADHD child is like. Now imagine that every time you opened a window on the computer, your keyboard shocked you or sent a skunk odor or made an airhorn noise but you never knew which one it'd be. That's what Sensory Processing children live with. If all of that was going on in your brain, would you remember every little thing told to you. Doubtful!
2. Your child is NOT scatterbrained or ditzy. Stop using negative terminology like that. It's one thing to say they're in their own little world. They are. That doesn't sound negative, for the most part. It's another thing to label them as scatterbrained, ditzy, or lacking common sense. Refer back to #1.
3. While medication is a solution for some people, it is not always the solution for everyone. Don't judge a parent's approach until you live their daily life. I don't medicate my children but I know and support people that make that choice for the well being of their child. Some choose herbal or dietary changes. Some, like me, focus on dietary and behavior modification. It's a matter of choice and children's individual needs. With that being said, I don't think that piling on medication on medication on medication is going to help. Adding more pills won't make your child "normal."
4. And FINALLY, punishing your child for "not remembering" or "getting off task" won't help. Period. Positive reinforcement is the only solution here. You have to keep trying to find what HELPS them to more efficiently focus on the task at hand. Different kids, different approaches but punishing and yelling for them forgetting things or getting off task will only make things worse because now you're making them feel inferior and stupid.
I could go on for days but this really grinds my gears. Stop treating your children as if they're not living up to your standards. They're not the asshole here. You are. *Rant over*
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Open Letter to Critical Parents & Other Assholes
Dear Critical Parents (& Other Assholes),
You know who you are. You are the people that make other parents feel like they're doing something wrong at every turn. You are the people who find something to pick at no matter what the case. You are the people who take every opportunity to put someone else down while you are sitting on your self-made pedestal. You are the bullies who never outgrew their mean girl complex and the mean-spirited people who rally the troops in hatred instead of support. You are cruel, though you claim to be a victim. You are hurtful, though you claim to be indifferent. You assume positions of "authority" so that you can lord over others and reach more people in your quest for hatred and strife. You are the cause of our bullying and mean girls generation coming up today. You entitle your children to treat others the way that you treat your peers and you give them the same rose-colored glasses that you view your world through. You are an asshole.
You should know that people see who you are. You think that you've got everyone fooled but you don't. There are those that are too afraid to stand up to you because you're intimidating in your ploy for power. They are afraid that you will spread ugliness against them too. They are afraid that you'll make their children's lives miserable. They are afraid that you'll make them your next target. BUT there are also those of us that aren't afraid. We don't care about the ugly things you say because they're words and the people that truly know us know that we aren't any of the things that you say about us. We know that true friends will defend us regardless of your words and people that aren't seeking the drama to begin with won't care what you say. They won't care about your lies. They won't care about your put-downs because they are leading their own lives and they know, unlike you, that karma comes back around to bite you. It always comes back around.
You should know that your behavior says more about you than us. Your mean words and actions say more about nothing about who we are and everything about the kind of heart you have. Your constant ability to find reasons to criticize everyone don't reflect badly on those that you criticize; it reflects on you. You find a way to put down working mothers for not volunteering enough yet those same mothers are emailing teachers to make sure they're on top of things and their children are well-reputed in all of their classes. You find ways to put down the stay at home moms that aren't contributing enough but what you don't know is that those same mothers are working on projects at home or holding down the fort so they can be there when their children walk in the door. You find ways to attack those that you call your friends in secret yet turn and smile at them while you criticize others openly. You are a coward and a bully. You don't feel good about who you are so you find ways to try to bring others to your level. You are afraid that if you show any vulnerability, they'll realize that you aren't as scary or powerful as you make yourself out to be. You're just like everyone else.
You should know that karma always comes back to bite people...always. What you are putting out is going to come back to you times ten (or a hundred). Every mean word you speak about these people that are doing their best is going to come back to haunt you in one form or another. Every troop you rally against that helpless person you're criticizing is going to be rallied against you. Every judgment you cast down will be cast upon you. The friends you stab in the back (that don't realize it) will stab you in the back.
You should know that the company you keep can quickly change and that your friends may not continue to be your friends when they realize that you are not who you proclaim to be. It's a common thread for people to say that you can tell who your real friends are, not when you are in the best of times but when you are in the worst of times. When you're at rock bottom, your cronies will walk away and find someone else. You won't have true friends because you have treated everyone inferior to yourself.
Finally, you should know that you are on top right now but there will be a bottom. It won't come because the rest of us cause it and it won't come because we treat you the way you are treating us. It will come because life throws you curve balls. It will come because what goes up must come down. Sadly, though you treat us as your minions, we will still be there because our hearts are kind. We may not be your friend but we'll be your supporter if you want to change. We'll accept your apologies and try to help you be better person if that is what you seek but the change must come from within you and with a genuine heart. You see, our hearts are loving and we don't seek to hurt or break down others; we seek to build each other up and support each other, even in our different approaches. There are more of us than you realize and we are done letting you make us feel inferior. You, too, will hit rock bottom one day and you will see what we have seen...and it will hurt your heart in ways that you can't imagine.
Sincerely,
The Fed Up People You Treat Like Crap
You know who you are. You are the people that make other parents feel like they're doing something wrong at every turn. You are the people who find something to pick at no matter what the case. You are the people who take every opportunity to put someone else down while you are sitting on your self-made pedestal. You are the bullies who never outgrew their mean girl complex and the mean-spirited people who rally the troops in hatred instead of support. You are cruel, though you claim to be a victim. You are hurtful, though you claim to be indifferent. You assume positions of "authority" so that you can lord over others and reach more people in your quest for hatred and strife. You are the cause of our bullying and mean girls generation coming up today. You entitle your children to treat others the way that you treat your peers and you give them the same rose-colored glasses that you view your world through. You are an asshole.
You should know that people see who you are. You think that you've got everyone fooled but you don't. There are those that are too afraid to stand up to you because you're intimidating in your ploy for power. They are afraid that you will spread ugliness against them too. They are afraid that you'll make their children's lives miserable. They are afraid that you'll make them your next target. BUT there are also those of us that aren't afraid. We don't care about the ugly things you say because they're words and the people that truly know us know that we aren't any of the things that you say about us. We know that true friends will defend us regardless of your words and people that aren't seeking the drama to begin with won't care what you say. They won't care about your lies. They won't care about your put-downs because they are leading their own lives and they know, unlike you, that karma comes back around to bite you. It always comes back around.
You should know that your behavior says more about you than us. Your mean words and actions say more about nothing about who we are and everything about the kind of heart you have. Your constant ability to find reasons to criticize everyone don't reflect badly on those that you criticize; it reflects on you. You find a way to put down working mothers for not volunteering enough yet those same mothers are emailing teachers to make sure they're on top of things and their children are well-reputed in all of their classes. You find ways to put down the stay at home moms that aren't contributing enough but what you don't know is that those same mothers are working on projects at home or holding down the fort so they can be there when their children walk in the door. You find ways to attack those that you call your friends in secret yet turn and smile at them while you criticize others openly. You are a coward and a bully. You don't feel good about who you are so you find ways to try to bring others to your level. You are afraid that if you show any vulnerability, they'll realize that you aren't as scary or powerful as you make yourself out to be. You're just like everyone else.
You should know that karma always comes back to bite people...always. What you are putting out is going to come back to you times ten (or a hundred). Every mean word you speak about these people that are doing their best is going to come back to haunt you in one form or another. Every troop you rally against that helpless person you're criticizing is going to be rallied against you. Every judgment you cast down will be cast upon you. The friends you stab in the back (that don't realize it) will stab you in the back.
You should know that the company you keep can quickly change and that your friends may not continue to be your friends when they realize that you are not who you proclaim to be. It's a common thread for people to say that you can tell who your real friends are, not when you are in the best of times but when you are in the worst of times. When you're at rock bottom, your cronies will walk away and find someone else. You won't have true friends because you have treated everyone inferior to yourself.
Finally, you should know that you are on top right now but there will be a bottom. It won't come because the rest of us cause it and it won't come because we treat you the way you are treating us. It will come because life throws you curve balls. It will come because what goes up must come down. Sadly, though you treat us as your minions, we will still be there because our hearts are kind. We may not be your friend but we'll be your supporter if you want to change. We'll accept your apologies and try to help you be better person if that is what you seek but the change must come from within you and with a genuine heart. You see, our hearts are loving and we don't seek to hurt or break down others; we seek to build each other up and support each other, even in our different approaches. There are more of us than you realize and we are done letting you make us feel inferior. You, too, will hit rock bottom one day and you will see what we have seen...and it will hurt your heart in ways that you can't imagine.
Sincerely,
The Fed Up People You Treat Like Crap
My Review of the Downtown Aquarium in Denver
(Disclaimer: This is strictly my opinion. This is not a general statement nor am I affiliated with or representing anyone with this opinion.)
I went on a trek to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver for the first time yesterday, in search of a unique experience. Having grown up in the Chicago area, Shedd Aquarium was the aquarium I was accustomed to. I was living near Atlanta when Atlanta Aquarium opened its doors and went to that aquarium as well. I've also visited aquariums in several other states. I had never visited an aquarium, though, where the restaurant is such a large part of the aquarium experience. I have both pros and cons of the experience.
LOCATION: The aquarium is in an amazing location. I am a little bit biased but I love Downtown Denver. Though the parking was a bit steep ($7.00) for the amount of time that someone that is walking the aquarium path just once, it is not outrageous for the price of parking in other parts of Denver. In addition, the parking lots were well-maintained with conveniently located sidewalks and a comfortable walking distance to the aquarium itself. The location in reference to the highway was perfect. No uncomfortable one way streets to navigate. Get off the highway and get ready to park. I found it to be incredibly convenient and a great place to be able to send out-of-towners without them having to use Google Maps to find their way through busy city streets.
CLEANLINESS/UPKEEP: As with most attractions that I have visited in Denver, the aquarium was maintained very well. The facility was clean, inside and out. The architecture was incredible, eye-catching and fun. The restrooms were well maintained and located in convenient locations throughout. Thumbs up to the staff for their great job keeping things up for the patrons.
STAFF: I found the staff to be incredibly kind. From the ticket sales person to the photographer (souvenir snapshots) and everyone in between, everyone was courteous, helpful and ready to help make the museum experience fun and educational. I personally witnessed them speaking with children on field trips with a level of patience that some day care educators would be envious of. There was not a person that I ran into that didn't seem to enjoy their job to an optimum level.
GENERAL ADMISSION PRICING: I am a bit divided on this one. If you are planning on eating at the restaurant, the $17.99 for adult admission is definitely worth the price. I would also venture to say that if you are able to linger at the exhibits and observe for awhile (alone or with older children who have attention spans and interest in the experience), it is well worth the admission price. This extends to those that are willing to walk through the path more than once to see exhibits over again. After all, these are living, breathing creatures that will never give you the exact same experience twice. If you are the parent of an infant or toddler that you are just bringing out to "see the fishies", my recommendation would be to wait until they are a bit older. Though children 1 year and under are free, you are still going to have to pay for your admission and children with short attention spans are likely to not enjoy this experience nearly as much as your $18 asks.
MEMBERSHIP: Obviously I didn't buy a membership this trip but I examined the memberships rather closely at the aquarium and online. If you are a family of four, the $159 for the Captain's Level Membership seems to be a very reasonable price for unlimited admission for a year (especially when the general admission price is so high). Though it doesn't include free parking, it does reduce your parking price to $3.50 which is less than a coffee from most major latte chains. It includes a 4D Theater Value Ticket, guest passes (4 total), priority seating in the restaurant and discounts on several different levels.
The Admiral's Membership, at $199 for a family of four, is reasonably priced. It offers the same perks as the Captain's Level but ups the amount of guest passes to eight and gives you discounts on up to four adult entrees at several different restaurants in Colorado. Incredible deal for those that dine out regularly. You still don't get free parking, but your parking price is still half off.
Now here's the drawback...for large families that are already on a budget, it would be an additional $25/person to add on memberships for the other two people in the household. Unlike a large portion of family-friendly places that offer memberships, it is NOT all of the children within your household included. It was not clearly listed whether adding the other two people on for that price would include discounts within the restaurant for the additional people as well. The price has now moved rom $159 to $209 for my family's membership, which is nearly double the price of a membership to most zoos and museums in the area which offer free parking to visitors. In a nutshell, if you're a small family, GREAT value. If you're a large family, you might be better off getting a membership to the zoo and making the aquarium an occasional visit.
ADD-ONS: The restaurant's food was incredible and well worth the visit for those that are looking for a unique experience. 4D tickets were not outrageously priced nor were the tickets for the Aquarium express train or the carousel. At the end of your trek, there was a plethora of activity from face painting to pictures with the mermaids (which I will get to in a moment) to feeding the stingrays. All things considered, the prices were actually very reasonable and well worth the price for something unique.
EXHIBITS: I was actually quite impressed with the variety of animals in the exhibits. The layout was well thought out and the exhibits offered a very up close and personal experience. Creature views are accessible from strollers for the youngsters being toted along in such accommodations. Getting to see snakes and tigers was a pleasant surprise. In addition, the flash flood experience was a very neat "hands on" way for kids and adults alike to learn about this weather phenomenon. Getting to see the divers feeding the fish (and other creatures) was incredible and the mermaids were a fun addition to the experience. I was, personally, a fan of the seahorse and jellyfish exhibits though the shark area was a pretty incredible sight to see, as well. The children seemed to flock to the shark area with floor to ceiling viewing and viewing portals in the floor as well. The exhibits seemed very true to the animal's natural habitat and allowed easy viewing without having to stand on tippy toes.
UNIQUE FROM OTHER AQUARIUMS: The mermaids add a delightful spin to this aquarium. For children, this is a magical experience and a nice treat of eye candy for the dads coming in. In addition, the tigers were a pleasant surprise, though it seems a bit out of place for an aquarium experience. The aforementioned flash flood experience is an incredible and fun way to learn and the various "port holes" where kids can stick their heads "in" the exhibits are a phenomenal add-on.
BOTTOM LINE: The bottom line is pretty simple. For the family with infants and toddlers only, I'd say stay home or pick another Denver excursion (as the choices are plentiful). For the family with preschoolers on up, this is a great experience. If you're visiting, make the choice to dine in the restaurant and take your time in the exhibits to get the optimum bang for your buck. If you're a local, the membership might be worth your money for a small family.
Will I be returning to the Aquarium? That remains to be seen but I would definitely not turn down the opportunity to explore this site again in the future.
I went on a trek to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver for the first time yesterday, in search of a unique experience. Having grown up in the Chicago area, Shedd Aquarium was the aquarium I was accustomed to. I was living near Atlanta when Atlanta Aquarium opened its doors and went to that aquarium as well. I've also visited aquariums in several other states. I had never visited an aquarium, though, where the restaurant is such a large part of the aquarium experience. I have both pros and cons of the experience.
LOCATION: The aquarium is in an amazing location. I am a little bit biased but I love Downtown Denver. Though the parking was a bit steep ($7.00) for the amount of time that someone that is walking the aquarium path just once, it is not outrageous for the price of parking in other parts of Denver. In addition, the parking lots were well-maintained with conveniently located sidewalks and a comfortable walking distance to the aquarium itself. The location in reference to the highway was perfect. No uncomfortable one way streets to navigate. Get off the highway and get ready to park. I found it to be incredibly convenient and a great place to be able to send out-of-towners without them having to use Google Maps to find their way through busy city streets.
CLEANLINESS/UPKEEP: As with most attractions that I have visited in Denver, the aquarium was maintained very well. The facility was clean, inside and out. The architecture was incredible, eye-catching and fun. The restrooms were well maintained and located in convenient locations throughout. Thumbs up to the staff for their great job keeping things up for the patrons.
STAFF: I found the staff to be incredibly kind. From the ticket sales person to the photographer (souvenir snapshots) and everyone in between, everyone was courteous, helpful and ready to help make the museum experience fun and educational. I personally witnessed them speaking with children on field trips with a level of patience that some day care educators would be envious of. There was not a person that I ran into that didn't seem to enjoy their job to an optimum level.
GENERAL ADMISSION PRICING: I am a bit divided on this one. If you are planning on eating at the restaurant, the $17.99 for adult admission is definitely worth the price. I would also venture to say that if you are able to linger at the exhibits and observe for awhile (alone or with older children who have attention spans and interest in the experience), it is well worth the admission price. This extends to those that are willing to walk through the path more than once to see exhibits over again. After all, these are living, breathing creatures that will never give you the exact same experience twice. If you are the parent of an infant or toddler that you are just bringing out to "see the fishies", my recommendation would be to wait until they are a bit older. Though children 1 year and under are free, you are still going to have to pay for your admission and children with short attention spans are likely to not enjoy this experience nearly as much as your $18 asks.
MEMBERSHIP: Obviously I didn't buy a membership this trip but I examined the memberships rather closely at the aquarium and online. If you are a family of four, the $159 for the Captain's Level Membership seems to be a very reasonable price for unlimited admission for a year (especially when the general admission price is so high). Though it doesn't include free parking, it does reduce your parking price to $3.50 which is less than a coffee from most major latte chains. It includes a 4D Theater Value Ticket, guest passes (4 total), priority seating in the restaurant and discounts on several different levels.
The Admiral's Membership, at $199 for a family of four, is reasonably priced. It offers the same perks as the Captain's Level but ups the amount of guest passes to eight and gives you discounts on up to four adult entrees at several different restaurants in Colorado. Incredible deal for those that dine out regularly. You still don't get free parking, but your parking price is still half off.
Now here's the drawback...for large families that are already on a budget, it would be an additional $25/person to add on memberships for the other two people in the household. Unlike a large portion of family-friendly places that offer memberships, it is NOT all of the children within your household included. It was not clearly listed whether adding the other two people on for that price would include discounts within the restaurant for the additional people as well. The price has now moved rom $159 to $209 for my family's membership, which is nearly double the price of a membership to most zoos and museums in the area which offer free parking to visitors. In a nutshell, if you're a small family, GREAT value. If you're a large family, you might be better off getting a membership to the zoo and making the aquarium an occasional visit.
ADD-ONS: The restaurant's food was incredible and well worth the visit for those that are looking for a unique experience. 4D tickets were not outrageously priced nor were the tickets for the Aquarium express train or the carousel. At the end of your trek, there was a plethora of activity from face painting to pictures with the mermaids (which I will get to in a moment) to feeding the stingrays. All things considered, the prices were actually very reasonable and well worth the price for something unique.
EXHIBITS: I was actually quite impressed with the variety of animals in the exhibits. The layout was well thought out and the exhibits offered a very up close and personal experience. Creature views are accessible from strollers for the youngsters being toted along in such accommodations. Getting to see snakes and tigers was a pleasant surprise. In addition, the flash flood experience was a very neat "hands on" way for kids and adults alike to learn about this weather phenomenon. Getting to see the divers feeding the fish (and other creatures) was incredible and the mermaids were a fun addition to the experience. I was, personally, a fan of the seahorse and jellyfish exhibits though the shark area was a pretty incredible sight to see, as well. The children seemed to flock to the shark area with floor to ceiling viewing and viewing portals in the floor as well. The exhibits seemed very true to the animal's natural habitat and allowed easy viewing without having to stand on tippy toes.
UNIQUE FROM OTHER AQUARIUMS: The mermaids add a delightful spin to this aquarium. For children, this is a magical experience and a nice treat of eye candy for the dads coming in. In addition, the tigers were a pleasant surprise, though it seems a bit out of place for an aquarium experience. The aforementioned flash flood experience is an incredible and fun way to learn and the various "port holes" where kids can stick their heads "in" the exhibits are a phenomenal add-on.
BOTTOM LINE: The bottom line is pretty simple. For the family with infants and toddlers only, I'd say stay home or pick another Denver excursion (as the choices are plentiful). For the family with preschoolers on up, this is a great experience. If you're visiting, make the choice to dine in the restaurant and take your time in the exhibits to get the optimum bang for your buck. If you're a local, the membership might be worth your money for a small family.
Will I be returning to the Aquarium? That remains to be seen but I would definitely not turn down the opportunity to explore this site again in the future.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
24 Hours
It's amazing the difference that 24 hours can make. On Tuesday, I was feeling a bit ill; nauseous but not exceptionally bad. Over Tuesday night was a different story. I was up all night with vomiting and diarrhea, unable to sleep at all because of my tummy troubles. The whole day on Wednesday was spent feeling awful. Unable to sleep because of a monster headache. My body ached all over so badly that it hurt to move. I couldn't get comfortable in a non-nauseous position except on my back with an ice pack on my head and a heating pad on my back. The problem was that in that position I couldn't sleep. I could barely keep down anything except popsicles, Gatorade (which I am not a fan of), and three or four bites of broth. It was awful.
By the time my fiancé got home last night, I was not in a good place. I was almost in tears because I was tired and uncomfortable and just wanted to sleep. Thankfully, he's an amazing guy and not only did he fix me some soup but he also rubbed down my back with icy hot, brought me an ice pack and laid with me until I fell asleep. He also got up in the middle of the night with my youngest as she woke up vomiting last night. The ability to sleep pretty much a full eight hours was exactly what I needed. I woke up feeling much better. I'm not 100% but I'm definitely at least 70% which is good enough for work!
24 hours made a huge difference between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning and then between Wednesday morning and today. Now my fingers are crossed that my other ones either get this bug quickly or don't get it at all.
By the time my fiancé got home last night, I was not in a good place. I was almost in tears because I was tired and uncomfortable and just wanted to sleep. Thankfully, he's an amazing guy and not only did he fix me some soup but he also rubbed down my back with icy hot, brought me an ice pack and laid with me until I fell asleep. He also got up in the middle of the night with my youngest as she woke up vomiting last night. The ability to sleep pretty much a full eight hours was exactly what I needed. I woke up feeling much better. I'm not 100% but I'm definitely at least 70% which is good enough for work!
24 hours made a huge difference between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning and then between Wednesday morning and today. Now my fingers are crossed that my other ones either get this bug quickly or don't get it at all.
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