I need a time out!

Perhaps I need a time out. This parenting thing has it's moments and pushes my limits.
Perhaps I need a time out.

If you are a parent maybe you can relate. Ever take your kid somewhere special? It takes planning and money and patience and a measure of selflessness ( cause it's not about you but the kids' happiness). Then IT happens. IT could happen about just after arrival or right before you leave. For example, IT is the moment your kid cries unconsolably and gets into a funk because (s)he lost a ring he got out of the bubble gum machine. So you're at the special place with fireworks in the background or Donald duck at your table, or a birthday cake with their picture on it and what do they focus on? A lost 50 cent ring from the bubble gum machine that you asked them not to take out of the car in the first place. (and yes, the price of items in the machines have gone up and where is the friggin' cents symbol on my keyboard!- I digress)

Is it just me or has this sort of thing happened to you too?

Tonight's situation was not quite the same thing but it's in the ballpark. For the past couple of days,I've been trying to think up fun things to do with the kids during Spring Break. This year I decided to take some days off during their Spring Break and I wanted the time to be eventfull. We considered an overnight trip to the beach at my eldest son's request but decided it was too pricy right now especially since it's not warm enough to get in the ocean. I had to disappoint him and say no, not this time.

My ideas are as follows:
Durham science Museum - we haven't done that in a while
The pay exhibit in our local museum ( something we hadn't done yet)
A picnic at the park ( they used to ask us for this a lot)
A day at the local indoor pool
A day trip to Carowinds

I thought the Carowinds trip would be the fun surprise. All our other plans are local activities. The trip is a sacrifice because Carowinds is overpriced in my opinion and so is gas. We don't live that far away so we can pull off a day trip and save some money. These days a hotel for a party of 5 requires a suite at the very least!

Silly me. I was looking for excitement and appreciation and one of my kids says with disappointment, "We can't stay in a hotel? Aw Man!"
~SNAP!!!~
At that point I was pushed outside my limit and said, " I'm so sorry to disappoint you! You should just stay here with Grandma since you're so disappointed. That's right. You stay here and we'll go - I don't want you to go and be disappointed!" It was about here in my rant that my husband stopped me and said he thought the kid got the picture and that I should leave it alone. I shut up but I kept fumming. Kid says, "I just like saying in a hotel." Honest feelings I know, but it doesn't really soothe my fire to acknowledge this. "Money doesn't grow on trees!", I think to myself. I'm taking off work, I'm trying to figure out something fun to do FOR THEM, We owe money back to the government for taxes, and you want to be disappointed because we don't stay overnight?!!??

Then what? It will probably disappointing if we don't buy the rainbow slushy or the $20 kiddie burger meal at the park. Maybe this isn't the best idea for a trip on a budget. Maybe my kid is the all or nothing type? Maybe it's my fault for not raising a more appreciative kid? Maybe I'm way out of line taking it all to personally?
Perhaps, I need a time out.