[Howdy to all of you stopping by from BlogHer! Besides camping survival advice, we've got advice on several other topics here: how to know that you have too many kids, for instance, or tips on teenager management, or how to handle sibling fighting...just to name a few. Or, if you prefer, check out how 20 years of parenting vastly changes the things you worry about. And don't forget our old standby's - mice and vomit. They're here, too. So stick around a bit - and if you get hungry, just go to the fridge and grab some salsa. We have plenty.]
Remember to take advantage of your remote location by sitting out and looking up at all the stars in the sky. I would add that it is important to do this on the first evening, as the rain on subsequent evenings may prevent you from pursuing this particular activity.
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Bring crowd-pleasing food. Sure, my children may be suffering a nitrite overdose; but I heard nary a complaint as we dished out baked beans and hot dogs each night. Roasted marshmallows for dessert weren't a problem either. Ah, it's the camping life for me!
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Bring children who know how to cook. Let's face it, ladies - it's hardly a vacation if you're slaving over a propane camp stove every day, right? Of course, right! Luckily we had Theo, who - being hungry - didn't mind stirring the baked beans and slapping together the sandwiches. This had the added advantage of giving me extra time to attempt to disinfect the toilet seats in the bathhouse. (Note to self: next time, bring blowtorch)
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| This isn't big enough. |
Make sure to have a REALLY BIG tent. That way, when the teenage boys are flooded out of their smaller tent by the torrential rain on the second night, you don't have a mutiny on your hands as they crowd in with the rest of the family. Slumber party time!
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Arrange IN ADVANCE with your partner just who exactly will accompany small children to the toilet in the middle of the night. This prevents you from losing extra sleep while having to point out to him at 2 AM that HE was the one who was so gung-ho about introducing the children to the joys of camping.
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| These gals should be grimacing in pain. |
Try to remember - pedaling a boat is
never fun. I mean, unless you enjoy feeling as though you are running through rapidly hardening lava. In that case, have at it.
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And don't forget...stop by Jen's
7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary - she may not have camping tips, but with 5 kids aged 7 and under, she is
definitely roughing it.
[campfire mug photo: Zazzle]
[tent photo: juggle.com]
[pedal boat photo: GizMag]
Very good advice regarding the nocturnal toilet trips. I'm sure my girls don't use the bathroom THAT many times during the night at home, but if they do I suppose it goes a long way to explaining what happens to the truckloads of toilet paper I lug home from the supermarke every week!
ReplyDeleteI could do hot dogs and baked beans for a week, no problem. Now I'm starved. And have neither in the house.
ReplyDeletetotally in agreement on bringing the blowtorch to disinfect the toilets. it's my least favorite part of camping as i'm a huge germophobe.
ReplyDeleteGlad you survived!
ReplyDeleteYou had rain? You are so lucky!!!
ReplyDelete(This comment from a non-camping perspective...)
Middle of the night bathroom trips = Pee in the woods. I haven't camped in years. Thanks for reminding me why.
ReplyDeleteSee, I have been doing it all wrong for yers, no wonder I come home and sleep for 3 days.
ReplyDeleteYou slay me. You had me at the nitrate-laden diet tips.
ReplyDeleteHow I wished I had your guide years ago, before the girls decided they hated "outdoors" entirely!
ReplyDeleteSuburban, his was just too funny. I like the way you have it set up too, like one little camping bomb after another. They're all funny!
ReplyDeleteMy best friend has taken her 5,3,and 1 year old camping numerous times. I don't know how she does it. Definitely would like to, but a little cautious here!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from BlogHer