When I was 30, I wrote a blog called 40 before 40. I’ve actually been getting on quite well with achieving some of those 40 things, but I’ve just been terrible at keeping up with the blog! So anyway, here is a big one: go to Disneyland with Nathan and Sophia, a trip that took place a year ago. I’ve already written various blogs about Disney, but here are some reflections a year later.

Our trip started with a drive down to outer London, a visit to Nathan’s Godfather’s house where we parked the car and a night in a hotel. The next day, day one of Disney, we set alarms for 4.30am (yes you read that right!) to get up and moving for the Eurostar at 7am.

The train to Paris was comfortable enough, although everybody was shattered and Sophia complained of a tummy ache. In the end, calpol and a 4 finger kitkat from the lady in the cafe sorted that out – a miracle!

I’ve been to Disney twice before. Once to Paris with school when I was 13, and once to Florida when I was 15. I’d forgotten how the excitement builds as you approach, all the little finishing touches and the sheer magnitude of the place! We arrived and I went to get a queue-jumping pregnancy wristband and as we came out, we caught the end of a parade. We ran across just in time for Sophia to see Snow White, Rapunzel, Joy from Inside Out, and Mickey and Minnie. Now, I’d had an early start and was quite hot, but I just burst into tears!

If you’d have told me I would be a Disney Mum who cried, I’d have laughed in your face. But somehow, the combination of the music and Sophia’s little awe-struck face caused me to burst into tears at least once a day. One time, it was when Kristoff crouched down and introduced himself to Sophia because she was dressed like Anna. I saw him glance at me and I’m sure I saw a though flicker across his eyes ‘oh, one of them’.

Even Nathan, who wasn’t going to Disney but was accompanying the rest of us on a trip to Disney, seemed to have a brilliant time. It’s just one of those places where you can’t help but be happy.

Some would question the wisdom, though, of taking such a small child on such an expensive trip. Yes, they’re free before they’re three at Disney, but the whole thing still costs a lot of money, and will they even remember it? And what if they’re ill? Or they get overwhelmed and kick off? See Lunch with the Princesses for more details about what went down with us!

But if you’re thinking about it, I’d say go for it. Sophia does remember Disney a year later. She might not remember the details, but she remembers how she felt, how much fun she had, and how exciting it was. She sees the pictures of meeting all those characters and she’s so pleased. She remembers how she went with some of her favourite people, our Goddaughter and her parents.

And for us, as Sophia’s parents, seeing her joy was just wonderful. We went to see the Lion King show and afterwards, Nathan asked her,’What did you think, Soph?’ ‘I didn’t think’ she replied, clearly mind blown by her first experience of live theatre. They say ‘it’s their childhood, but it’s your motherhood’. If you want to go, you’re allowed to do it for you!

The only thing is this, having taken Sophia… we need to do it for Aidan. So, I think that makes number 41 before 40. Go to Disney with Nathan, Sophia and Aidan. I’m just trying to convince Nathan. Watch this space.