I’ve just caught up on here. I’m over in the States, work related and squeezing in visiting a friend too.
Sevda, you KNOW you have not taken Ela out of that hotel except for the planned events, when you could have. Just admit, because it’s very plain for most people following you, that you could have gone somewhere once or twice even, in that amazing city and shown Ela some amazing things….even Central Park! I’ve been twice with my 2 young girls. One trip on my own with them (including business events I attended) and the other time they came along with my husband and I. Both times, we were limited in time as we only had 4 days each trip. I did a tiny bit of research for things to do with kids, and factored them into each trip. The kids things didn’t even cost money - except the bicycle tour through Central Park, I did with them. The tour guide cycling (we were seated behind him) stopped at different points to show us the spots where certain movies were filmed …many of which were children’s movies. My girls loved the whole experience. I also took them up the Empire State Building and to the Natural History museum, as well as doing simple things like taking them to go get ice cream or a donut at night times, when they thought it was bed time. They loved walking with me at night, seeing all the bustling streets still full of people and the cabs (taxis) beeping away. These things have all made lovely memories they have. They were 3 & 5 on their first trip to NYC and then back in Feb of this year…ages 5 & 7 on their second trip to NYC.
Besides the formal planned activities Ela has done there in New York, she has done nothing spontaneous or fun with YOU! She hasn’t seen or done ‘New York City’ things…only done a glorified photo shoot before seeing a movie and the ice skating. The ice skating was the only kid related fun thing!
The rest of the time…she’s been cooped up in the hotel room. She’s not 3 or 4, where she'd possibly be miserable if she missed out on being in bed by 7pm AND you let that child stay up until you go to bed back in the UK, even on school nights! So, at least take her places in NYC and squeeze a few spontaneous walks at night to go get an ice cream or donut treat or something! The adrenaline of the fun & trip should keep her going energy wise and she can catch up on sleep on the plane home, etc.
Anyway, it’s probably too late now…you’ll be flying home I think soon…with nothing of a memory of just you with Ela…except for when you were buying tacky presents for your family, visiting Target & Sephora and being in your hotel room ramming as much sweet breakfasts down you both as possible. Hardly things you needed to do or see in NYC.
You are just LAZY and like you have said, you’ve already been to NYC to see the sights. How selfish, you can’t let your young daughter experience just a few of them as a child…and also made some fun, spontaneous memories with her.
Sad. Selfish. Lazy.