Bronx Zoo 2

A continuation of yesterday’s entry. After lunch, we took the monorail and did the Dinosaur Safari (this was a special exhibit they had then…not sure if it is even still there).

The baseball hats that the boys are wearing were a purchase from the gift shop…an experience we rarely took part in. I must have forgotten to bring them hats and decided they needed them for the sun.  But usually, we skipped the gift shop altogether.

Here’s what I used to tell them.  The gift is getting to go to the zoo, or the aquarium or wherever….the experience and the memories are the gift.  

We tried not to even enter the gift shop.  And after a while, they got used to it.  They didn’t expect that to be a part of their day so they weren’t focused on it.

My attitude if it makes you (the parent) feel like the day is too expensive and too argumentative (which the gift shop ALWAYS is), it should be avoided because it makes you less likely to want to go back.  Keep the whole thing positive for you and for them…bring water bottles, snacks and and steer clear of the money pit of the gift shop.

I promise that the memories of the day will stay with them longer than the overpriced, cheaply-made toy you might buy them.