This post is sponsored by Wild River Country. All opinions are my own.
Earlier this summer, around the end of the school year, I had grand plans. Plans to move my entire family over to a Paleo diet, plans to practically homeschool the boys while they were home for a few months, plans to nix screen time, and of course plans to turn them into classical musicians…you know, in my down time. These were just the things I figured we could do in the mornings, whereas of course we would be summering it up real nice in the afternoons at the pool or splash pad or trampoline park. And my work, of course, would not fail even a little bit. I’d just wake up earlier and do it then!
I took summertime a little too seriously, and I’ve had a time letting go of those expectations. But after spending a full afternoon with my husband and boys at Wild River Country I literally felt the crazy person dissipate and the Fun Summer Mom finally come through!
First of all, I should tell you that when I told the boys we were going to Wild River Country again they were beside themselves with excitement. They told me over and over again which slides they wanted to do, and of course we had to jump in the wave pool. There were requests for pizza, tubes, slides, and swimming galore, and all with massive smiles on their faces. This, y’all – this is what summer is about!
When we got there, we slathered up with sunscreen and headed for the first hour of tubing fun. The boys loved sliding on tubes, and I loved that it was something we could all do together. After a few warmup runs on the Sidewinder they were grinning from ear to ear and ready to ramp it up. We jumped on the Accelerator slide and from there on were just running up and down the hills with our tubes. Talk about the most fun workout ever!
After the tubing we decided to head to the Wave Pool, a family favorite. I love it because bobbing around on a tube in the waves is just plain relaxing, but they loved it because they wanted to chest bump the waves. It was so funny watching these boys try to outdo one another with splashing around in there!
At one point it all just clicked – this is what summer is about. It’s not about keeping up with crazy expectations or outdoing myself. It’s about creating those lasting memories that my kids will talk about years from now, that they will find joy in reliving with their children one day.
It took a full afternoon of fun in the sun at Wild River Country for me to remember the fun mom I am and that I want to be for my kiddos; for that I am so thankful!
While we’re all a big fan of the entire park, I think our favorite slides and attractions are definitely the Cyclone (fun for everyone!), the Pipeline, the Sidewinder, the Wave Pool, the lazy river (that’s for me), and the Black and White Lightening slides. We still have yet to try the larger ones (for myself and Nate), but for now I’ll do anything I can to just keep seeing my kid’s faces light up!
If you’re needing to let go and really enjoy life? I can’t recommend Wild River Country enough. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – it’s perfect summer fun for the whole family!
I love that first picture of you. Such a good mom pose and reminder of what you learned. I want my boy to remember summers like this too!!
Haha thanks Keisha! If only I was that relaxed alllll the time – ha!
Walking up and down those hills at Wild River Country is a serious workout. But you’re having so much fun while you are doing it that you don’t even notice the workout you’re getting… until the next day when your legs are sore. Lol 😃
I’m glad you were able to let go and have some fun. Wild River Country is so much fun for everyone.