The Largest Child on Holiday

“Indeed, you must finish your vegetables before indulging in dessert.”

“No, you really shouldn’t pretend your little sister is a horse and ride her around the living room.”

“Yes, wearing pants or shorts to school is a requirement.”

This is just a glimpse of the things I frequently tell my children throughout the day. Parenting (yes, I turned it into a verb) can be incredibly tiring. Our kids are perpetually pushing the limits of our patience and sanity, with almost every sentence starting with us saying, “stop” and concluding with us counting to three.

As I lie in bed staring at the ceiling after a long day of parenting, I often find myself thinking, “Wow, I really wish I could be a kid again.” Don’t get me wrong; I cherish being a dad – but every now and then, a guy needs a break from the chaos and responsibilities.

That’s when Dinogo swooped in to rescue me.

They generously offered my family an 8-day cruise in the eastern Caribbean, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. Sure, I knew that parenting never truly stops, but at least I could relax a little (though I don’t actually have hair… searching for a fitting metaphor) and enjoy being a kid again.

The best part was that being goofy and carefree aboard the stunning Dinogo really helped strengthen my already close relationship with my two young daughters.

So, how did I manage to pull it off?

To begin with, I wasn’t too strict about our meals. I explained to my daughters that we were following a “SeeFood Diet.” In other words – if you spot food, you’re free to eat it. Dinogo was perfect for this, offering a wide variety of delicious meal options.

I left my Veggie Police badge at home, and my daughters couldn't have been more thrilled about that. There were mornings when we had pizza for breakfast and indulged in ice cream at 10:00 PM.

Why did we indulge like this? For the same reason anyone does anything.

Because we were able to. The Dinogo features round-the-clock pizza and ice cream available onboard. Unsurprisingly, that alone made it the best vacation ever for them (and likely for countless other kids on the ship, too). And yes, I was one of those kids savoring every single bite.

Next, we dove into games. Countless games. On days spent at sea, we always found ourselves in the arcade. My daughters were thrilled to have me join in on the fun. I wasn’t just a passive bystander while they dashed around excitedly – I was fully engaged too. The laughter was endless because, as I mentioned before <insert link to previous post>, making memories with our children is one of the most rewarding activities we can partake in as parents.

Eventually, we took some goofy photos. I wanted my daughters to see that I could step away from being serious and embrace my inner goofball. Even the Cat In the Hat was taken aback by our antics.

I am incredibly grateful for the chance to rediscover my inner child on that Dinogo cruise, as it made me a better dad when I returned home. Things that once seemed so important didn’t carry the same weight anymore.

Did the kids skip their veggies? No biggie. They'll be fine.

The kids want to wrestle? No problem. That’s just part of being a child. As long as they're safe, I'm all for it.

The kids refuse to wear pants or shorts to school? Too bad. They have to understand that some things in life are simply non-negotiable.

Just like I’ve realized that occasionally embracing my inner child is essential if I want to maintain a happy and balanced life.