Surprises are for Adults…. NOT for Four Year Olds

When you’re dealing with four year olds, NOTHING is what it seems.

Banks and I have secretly been planning to take J to Disney World since December. Money was scrimped and saved, hotels were booked and tickets were purchased. We whispered plans to each other out of ear shot and when J was around, we would spell out “D-I-S-N-E-Y” when discussing it so that we didn’t have to clue him in.

I’ve been so excited I could barely keep it in.

On Monday, I told J that we had a surprise for him on Friday and that if he was really good, I’d give him his surprise then. He’s been trying so hard to be good and I’ve been trying SO hard to keep it in. And it’s really hard to keep packing and leaving for Florida a secret, guys.

Last night, I asked Banks if we could just tell him already because we’re leaving in just a few days, I’m sick of holding it all in, and it was Banks’ birthday. He said yes, so we went out to celebrate the birthday and after dinner, I told Banks to let J know the secret.

I should have known better, right?

I should have just told him we were going to Milwaukee.

But being the sport he is, Banks leaned in and told J that on Friday, we were taking him to Disney.

At first we thought it didn’t sink in because there was silence. So Banks repeated himself.

Still silence.

Finally, J started to cry and I thought “Aw, how stinking sweet! He’s so excited he can’t stand it!”

Yeah…. no.

In between his sobs, he announced in a pitiful voice:

“But… I don’t wanna miss pajama day at school!!!”