Enjoying the Unexpected

I spent weeks planning our latest family vacation to Kansas City—a place close enough to drive, but far enough to feel like a true getaway. The trip was a last-minute idea my husband and I had to soak up the final days of summer break with our boys.

I remember carefully researching and mapping out each day—where we’d go, what we’d do, and how to get the best deals on all the activities. I had crafted an itinerary I felt sure would be fun for all of us.

On our first day in KC, we headed to Science City—a huge space filled with hands-on experiments, STEM fun, and explorations galore. We had visited three years earlier, but with the boys now older and in new stages of life, I looked forward to seeing them experience it through fresh eyes.

Truthfully, I had envisioned the day a certain way in my mind: all of us bouncing from one activity to the next, learning, playing, and marveling together.

As we stepped into the bustling space, both boys gravitated toward different things—one of the many beauties of a place so large and diverse. Kam was immediately drawn to the climbing structures, the arcade games, and the treehouse. Dawson, on the other hand, had his sights set on the tightrope bike—and to my amazement, he was brave enough to try it!

Later, we found ourselves in a hands-on activity room filled with craft supplies and interactive stations. I expected we’d all make a take-home craft. But Dawson walked straight up to the counter, where a woman stood next to a 3D printer surrounded by dozens of small printed objects. He struck up a conversation with her right away. He carefully picked up each object, turning them in his hands and arranging them into scenes with—no surprise—sharks and alligators as the stars.

He was captivated. He asked thoughtful questions about how the printer worked, how long it took to make each object, and—much to his disappointment—if they ever gave the prints away (they don’t). While the rest of us explored coding robots, puzzles, and other stations in the room, Dawson stayed rooted at that counter, fully immersed in his 3D-printed world.

I found myself gently nudging him to try the other activities, but he kept insisting he just wanted to stay there. And when it was time to go, he pleaded for a few more minutes. I gave him five—and he used every second with joy and focus, while the rest of the room buzzed with people coming and going.

Later in the day, we found ourselves with more time than expected, so we offered each boy the chance to revisit their favorite spot. Kam chose the jungle gym. Dawson, without hesitation, chose the 3D creatures.

I was honestly surprised. There were so many flashy, exciting, hands-on science experiments all around us—and he chose the same counter with 3D-printed objects. But that’s when it hit me: I had been expecting Dawson to experience Science City the way I thought it should be enjoyed—not the way he wanted to.

Given the choice, he returned to what made him happiest—and it made complete sense. The 3D figures were sensory-friendly, the area wasn’t crowded, and they allowed him to create and imagine in his own way. I sat nearby and watched him savor his extra time in peaceful, uninterrupted play. And truly—that was the point of the day.

That moment changed how I approached the rest of our trip.

As we moved on to Great Wolf Lodge, I paid more attention to what the boys naturally gravitated toward—not just what I envisioned as the highlight. For me, the thrill was all about the slides—fast, fun, and filled with adrenaline. But for the boys? They gravitated to the outdoor pool and the hot tubs. Not always the slides—sometimes just three-foot pools of calm water. At first, I found it underwhelming. But then I realized they loved the undivided attention from my husband and me. We played endless rounds of monkey in the middle and watched as they dove for pool toys again and again. It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what they wanted. And they were so happy.

Throughout the trip, we all got to explore and be kids in our own ways. But more importantly, I was reminded to adjust my lens. Not every “big” adventure has to be big for everyone, all the time.

Sometimes, joy is tucked into the quiet corners of a space—or in doing the same thing over and over again, simply because it feels good.

This vacation challenged me—in the best way—to let go of the schedule and expectations I had created in my head and make space for the unexpected joys that come from seeing the world through their eyes.