Have you ever met a person whose personality, enthusiasm and overall outlook is wonderfully infectious? I met nine of them, front and center, poolside at Sand Cay. I had the privilege of talking to the McDaniel family, MaryKaye and Mickey McDaniel, and their seven beautiful children – Jessica 27, Keylee 14, Brogan 12, Dalyah 10, Fulton 6, Meara 3, and Rowan 19 months. Meara, a precocious 3 years old, wasted no time introducing herself and the rest of her family to me! And with Rowan in her arms, MaryKaye McDaniel was the picture of a woman who had a whirlwind of activity around her, yet somehow, she made it effortless to answer my questions.
The Sand Cay Connection
MaryKaye is no stranger to Sand Cay, and The McDaniels have a history here. MaryKaye has been coming here as a kid for years and in 1990, MaryKaye had a huge family reunion at Sand Cay (T shirts included!) with aunts, uncles, cousins – the works! Mickey and MaryKaye married in 1999, and came back in 2013, with their then, four children. It’s a family affair – “I also have aunts have come to Sand Cay since the late 80s.” MaryKaye said.
How did the McDaniel Tribe Begin?
MaryKaye and Mickey met when they worked together for a camp for special needs children. Later, MaryKaye and Mickey were blessed with Jessica, 27, who they adopted at 8 years old. Mary and Mickey wanted additional children, but it seemed, at the time, it was not in the cards. Boy were they wrong! What a surprise – six marvelous children later!
There’s no place like Sand Cay
Sand Cay was fortunate to have the McDaniels as guests this year, after a year of COVID limitations. The family came down in two packed vans from home – Burlington, KY, (south of Cincinnati). “We’re at home here. It’s a perfect family place,” MaryKaye said. “The subject of going somewhere closer to home in KY came up, but we’ve always said – there’s just no place like Sand Cay.” “I feel safe here. It’s not commercialized, it’s quiet and if feels like our own place. We cook and the kitchen is so spacious in the unit. We also love grilling at the barbecues! The beach is easily accessible for Jessica, and this is a priority for us.”
Sand Cay is an Easy Home Base for Family Fun!
Although the McDaniels love Sand Cay’s beach – they are anything BUT beach bums. The kids are vigilantly on “Lizard Patrol” at Sand Cay! They took in the MOTE AQUARIUM, and pet baby sharks, sting rays, and they saw also saw gorgeous coral reefs. Just how many McDaniels can you fit into MOTE’S simulated “Hurricane booth?” A LOT (I was told by Mickey McDaniel) The family took in dinner at Ye Olde Salty Dog and the Sand Bar – where they literally dined right on the beach.
We Are Family
Back in Burlington, MaryKaye is busy homeschooling the kids, while Mickey works as a pediatric nurse at the Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital. The kids love karate, gymnastics, archery, piano – and SWIMMING (as Dalyah,10, exuberantly pointed out). She was showing some impressive moves in the pool!
What resonated with me when I saw this family in action was their incredible dynamic – silent teamwork. It was as obvious as when Mickey and MaryKaye were helping to hand the baby off to each other in the pool, but as subtle as the way that the kids were interacting with each other. I quickly began to realize – this is a tight family!
I left with a few indelible words from both MaryKaye and Mickey. “I like working with kids, because kids don’t give up!” Mickey said about his job. MaryKaye also said something that stuck with me – “We don’t put things off in life (like vacations) – we just do them!”
We can’t wait to see you again Mary, Mickey, Jessica, Keylee, Brogan, Dalyah, Fulton, Meara, and Rowan! You are the true definition of Sand Cay Family!
