Sestina Upon Return From Disney World, June 2022

“A vacation with children,” said her friend
“Is not for pleasure -- it is a trip.”
And the mother agreed, and sent a text
To her husband and his sister and his mom
To try to think, to consider, maybe -- a plan
And to make sure to include all of the kids.

And then along a Main Street walk, the kids
Having fun with cousins, not missing a friend,
And rushing to wherever is next, according to plan -
When the little one hits the ground in a trip!
And luckily someone saved ice (thanks, Mom) -
But no time to comfort or thank or even send a text --

And by the time the family hears official text
Read out loud, one at a time, by all three kids -
And the grandma doesn’t look at her grandsons’ mom--
[and again i have decided that I really really need a friend]
It is objectively quite an interminable trip
But it’s not my vacation, so maybe that’s the plan?

And what would I know what to make of a failed plan?
Although, I did read every email and every text
In preparation for this unexpected trip
That is undertaken for the benefit of others (not just kids).
And, I took advice from each and every friend -
Even from my therapist, who is herself a mom.

To be fair, Husband must balance between his wife and mom,
Which is a tight rope to walk, with no plan.
However, he seems to need no friend,
And declares that he hates to hear of texts,
Even when he’s checking in on who has which kids
(which is the minimum a parent must manage on any trip).

“Well, that was certainly a memorable trip,”
Everyone said (sarcastically?) to this mom -  
And she taught the meaning of “infamy” to her kids -
And she vowed to never let others plan
Her family’s vacation, no matter the fine context!
Because the only people to trust for that are already friends.

The mom texts her friends:
She needs to recover from the trip,
And then must plan, for the kids.