Mama, You Got This

Before becoming a mother, Disneyland was all about doing the things I wanted to do. My mom and I made amazing memories there growing up, but there were entire areas of the park we never even wandered into—places that just didn’t seem important at the time.

But now, as a mom myself, those once-forgotten corners have become the heart of our Disneyland days.

The rides I used to walk past without a second thought? Now, they’re some of the most magical parts of our trip. The shaded patches of Fantasyland, the slower-paced rides, the character meet-and-greets—those are the moments that matter now.

Because when you visit Disneyland with your kids, you experience it in a completely new way.

Seeing the park through your child’s eyes is one of the most joy-filled gifts of motherhood.
Your heart shifts in ways you never saw coming. You stop chasing your own favorites, and without even realizing it, your joy becomes their joy. Their laughter becomes your soundtrack. Their wonder becomes your highlight reel. And their magic becomes your grounding place on days you really need one.

A few of LALA’s and MJ’s favorite rides right now are Peter Pan, it’s a small world, Dumbo, the Carousel, Monsters Inc., The Little Mermaid, and Zephyr. And of course, no trip is complete without visiting a few of their favorite characters—especially Ariel, Sully, and Tinker Bell.

LALA is obsessed with Tinker Bell right now—so much so that people constantly tell us she looks just like her. Even though we have what feels like an entire wardrobe of Disney clothes, she always reaches for her green Tinker Bell dress or her sparkly Little Mermaid costume. It doesn’t matter what we have planned, she’s twirling through the park like she is the character, and honestly? It makes the experience feel even more magical.

Then there are the parades and fireworks—bursts of color and music that feel like something out of a dream. The kids dance in the streets with sticky fingers and snack-covered cheeks, waving at characters like they’re royalty. And honestly, in that moment? They are.

And in those moments, everything else fades.

The exhaustion. The meltdowns. The doubts that creep in during the hard days. The quiet questions we all ask ourselves: Am I a good mom? Am I doing this right? Am I enough?

Somehow, all those questions soften when you’re holding your child on the Dumbo ride or when they’re waving with everything they’ve got to Ariel floating past in the parade.

Those moments remind me that I got this. That I am the right mom for them. And that this season—messy and magical—is worth every second.