Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Good-Bye, Ikea, Old Friend

Maia and Mason have been known to pose the question, "Mom, can we go to Disneyworld or Ikea again?" This has the unfailing effect of making me smile. Of course my response is always, "Ikea it is!" They love the play land. I enjoy meandering through the store and discovering all the things I need--things I didn't even know existed!

Well, yesterday the schools were closed in these here parts so I planned a little excursion to our favorite little Swedish store. Maia, Mason and Teensy were so thrilled! I didn't think Mackenna would be allowed in the play land because for some reason, I had it in my brain that a child had to be three to enter, when, in fact, entrance into the play land is entirely based on height. And she's tall enough!

In a tragic twist of fate, on the very same visit where I learned that Mackenna can, indeed, go into the play land, I also learned that Maia is now too tall to enter. (How can she possibly have grown 3 inches in the last 4-6 months since we last went?) Poor Maia. Her shoes were already off and she was ready to go. How disappointing...for us both. And, because Maia wasn't going, Kenna wanted nothing to do with it (which was fine with me, she is only two after all).

Maia did a great job dealing with the change of plans. She walked through the store with Kenna and me and played with her little sister at the little play spots. I know it wasn't very much fun for my nine year-old, though.

So, I have to say "good-bye" to my dear old friend, Ikea. We've passed many days off school together in what I have long considered a mutually beneficial relationship, but I think our glory days together have passed. While Mason and Teensy still reveled in their time in play land, emerging sweaty and smiley, my bookends didn't enjoy the morning quite as much. And I was still shopping with two kids. At the end of the morning only 2 out of the five of us had had the time of our lives. That's just not big enough of a percentage to make it worth future trips. On the bright side, hot dogs are still $.50 so we did have a cheap lunch!


10 comments:

jenny-penny said...

It will be a sad, sad day for us when that happens for us.

Deb said...

poor maia. that is one of the hard things about being a kid. you want to grow up, then realize when you do it's the end of some fun things.

and poor you. a shopping trip with kids is just work, not fun.

Jenni said...

I've been so looking forward to the day that all 3 kids will be able to go to small-land, but have never thought about the height issue! Dang. I'm sorry its the end of an era for you guys!! We'll have to go there sans children some evening to relive your "glory days"!!:)

Christie said...

I feel for you. I am sorry to hear of the ending of an era, now, you must go only when the big ones are at school. :-)

Tracy said...

Sorry you can't go dump your kids to look around Ikea. I don't find it fun unless I get to buy something, so we never did the play land thing. Maybe Target will open up an area for you to leave your kids.

Brenda said...

My kids just end up watching Spongebob when they go there, or else they refuse to go in. Hmm... I stopped trying a while ago on that.

It is really hard to shop with even two kids at Ikea! I am proud of you for trying (:

Cami said...

Oh, that is sad. Mind you, based on height AND potty training. I've just barely been able to enjoy the pleasures of the play land. But hey, you're right. 50 cent hot dogs are hard to beat.

Corinne said...

Sad times. I forgot that would happen some day. It certainly takes the gloss off, doesn't it?

The Spiveys said...

I guess I'm dating myself here but I used to play in the Ikea Playland when I was a kid too! My brother and I would always head to the TV and sit and watch it until our parents came back...much to their dismay :) And my little brother still looks forward to their hotdogs.

Jeri said...

Oh it is good to see you blogging again! I am so sad that Maia is too tall! We love Ikea, and Natalia is just barely tall enough now. I just never get out there.

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