Coney Island Triple Play: A Hot Dog, A Ride the Wonder Wheel, and the Beach

Before we left for Coney Island, I told the kids exactly what we were going to do: Eat a hot dog, ride the Wonder Wheel, and play at the beach. That's it. The Coney Island triple play. All my problems as a parent would be solved if I took charge like that more often. I'm really good at putting my family in fun locations, but once we get there I wonder around making things up as I go. This almost always leads to impulse buying and the kids saying can we? can we? can we? please please please. Which then leads me to escape onto my iPhone to temporarily avoid their Mom Mum Mommy demands. Not this time.

To add to my Coney Island power trip, I made them ride in the white cart, instead of the moving red or blue carts on the ferris wheel. I wanted to get the full view. The kids moaned and probably thought I was the biggest bore, but they had fun regardless. I enjoyed myself throughout the whole day and came home without breaking the bank. Things can get out of control on Coney Island, but when I run things like an organized day camp, it's all good. If only life were that simple, thrilling and predicable all the time.

PS The kids were so little the last time we went to Coney Island.

The kids were stoked when I told them they could get an italian ice. 

the russian woman in the red bathing suit behind looked like a victoria secret model.