Is a wide angle lens detrimental?

Can I use the SD940 in regular mode? Is wide angle just a setting? I'm primarily taking pics of kids and vacations so I would like 'normal' looking pics. Thank you for your time!

Wide angle is not a setting, but is usually denoted as focal lengths that show a wide view of the scene. Most shots you will take will be zoomed in a little or a lot and move to the range of normal to telephoto focal lengths.

So if I don't zoom in at all, that would be my wide angle shot. But if I use the zoom I will get 'normal' pictures without distortion? Sorry for all of the questions. I really do appreciate your help. Would the SD940 be good or should I look for something without the wide angle?

It's better to have a wide angle available instead of never having the option. That's why you see the nicer cameras have the wide angle capable lens.

In general there is wide angle, normal perspective and telephoto. Most compact cameras have normal perspective and telephoto. So in these cameras at default setting, it is normal perspective, and when you zoom in then you get telephoto (a closer look). Wide angle is available in better and higher end compacts, and is generally used for landscape, travel scenery, etc. You can take in more of a view. So it is good for traveling. For normal travel or family photos, people are usually standing some distance away from the camera because most people are trying to get the background in the photo, so you won't be taking them close up to the people and there is little distortion. Some people have used wide angle to take close up portraits to make funny distorted shots, just like the brand The Dog Collection. You can easily avoid these distorted shots by just standing back to take the whole body shot with the background, or just zoom in for a close up portrait (close up portraits look better with some telephoto).