Hi Nikki,
I HATE roller coasters, so I try to avoid them at all costs. The other day, my BFFs invited me to go to an amusement park with them. They’ve invited me before and I’ve always made up an excuse about why I can’t go. I don’t want to keep turning them down, but I also don’t want to go on any huge, scary rides! What should I do?
Roller Coaster Reject
Hi Roller Coaster Reject,
Well first of all, it’s totally normal to be afraid of roller coasters! I mean…they’re terrifying! They hurtle you through the air and around sharp turns and upside down at top speeds! Some people get a thrill out of that, and some people…are SENSIBLE! 🙂
But, here’s my question: Do you still want to go to the amusement park and just not do the big rides? Or do you not want to go at all and you’re afraid of hurting your friends’ feelings?
Either way, the main thing is to talk to your friends and be honest.
If you want to go, there are LOTS of things you can do at an amusement park besides ride all of the big, scary rides. If you want to go and have fun, just tell your friends ahead of time that you’re coming, but you won’t go on them. You can still hang out with your BFFs, go on the less scary rides, eat junk food, see shows, or whatever. And when they go on the big, scary rides, they’ll have someone to sit with their backpacks. And you could be surprised. There might be another friend in the group who’d rather sit out the scary rides too!
If you don’t want to admit you’re scared, you could also tell your friends really scary rides make you sick. It’s not even really lying, because they make you anxious, and that is a kind of sickness. BUT I do encourage you to tell the truth, if you can. You’d want your friends to be honest with you, right?
Now, if you just really don’t want to go, then tell your friends amusement parks aren’t your thing. It doesn’t need to hurt anyone’s feelings. Maybe you could tell them you don’t really like amusement parks, but suggest that the next weekend you guys have a sleepover, movie marathon or whatever you DO like to do with them. Friends don’t have to be into ALL the same activities!
Whatever you decide, be honest with your friends. They’ll probably surprise you. They just want to have fun with you. If you wouldn’t have fun on scary rides, they’re not going to force you.