One Scoop or Two?

My family and I recently went away overnight to an indoor water park in lieu of a tangible reward for really amazing report cards. 

Once inside the massive building, we realized there was a lot more than just a water park.  Imagine needing more than that.  Never in my wildest childhood dreams would I have seen myself enjoying such a marvel outside, let alone inside.

My husband pointed out that once most kids stayed in the park for a day or so, it would get old, so the hotel provided additional distractions.

This included a “kid spa,” with services created exclusively for kids between 4 and 12. Those who have been following me already know what I’m going to say.

What in the world does a kid need with a spa? Are you, kid-ding (pun intended)?

But let’s say you agree to this insanity.

Here are the prices. A single scoop at this spa (it’s named SCOOPS) was just for the birthday girl and included a manicure or pedicure experience, a souvenir mug with free ice cream voucher and an “adorably comfy” robe to take home as a present.

All this for $89.

The double scoop was almost the same but you could include friends, and each friend would cost $99.  A T-shirt replaced the “adorably comfy” robe and both a manicure and pedicure were included. There was, of course, a three-friend minimum, which puts us incredibly close to a car payment.

As if that were not enough, you could also get a facial and “touch-up.”   I was afraid to ask what a “touch-up” was for a 4 to 12 year old. I cannot imagine anything wearing out yet.

Further, the “refreshing” facial was perfect for young “tween” faces (there’s that word again) and also indicated that the services would pamper, beautify and spoil you.

Now I don’t know about you, but my kids are pampered all day long.  And they are beautiful and I definitely don’t ever want them spoiled.

They really haven’t done anything to date that would require that they be rejuvenated, because they are inherently “juvenated.”

What the park needed may have been a giant sand pile and maybe a few hundred buckets, molds and shovels.  Kids should be playing not being pampered; wrong “p” word.

Finally, as we discussed recently, there is a problem with supplying services and tangibles to our young people that they may not be able to secure for themselves later in life.

This leads to young people who may eventually feel inferior in that they are unable to provide for themselves at that level.

And as a side light, I walked by the spa and saw a six-year-old sitting in the chair wearing her “adorably comfy” robe, having her toenails painted and looking just, well, bored with the whole activity.

Perhaps she was at the water park too long?

Wrap your mind around that!