The basics: two-night camping trip with a 4- and a 6- year-old. Location: a campground in Upstate New York, on the pond. Time to get there from New Jersey: 2.5 hours.
Struggles
- Apart from me not being able to make a fire the first night, all the struggles are related to: parenting! They fought, R whined, I yelled. The quiet time rule at this campground is from 10PM to 7AM. L and R were up and laughing/crying/horsing around in the tent before 6AM. We had neighbors on both sides, but thankfully, no one complained.
- Another lowlight was a long thunderstorm that just would not quit on our second night. Thankfully, it started when we were already preparing for bed and lasted all night (at least it felt like to me). The tent did not leak, just one wet corner the following morning.
- ZERO phone signal. I couldn’t text or call. I needed to tell T that we arrived okay, and we had to drive out of the campground and finally got a signal at about 5 miles out. Talking about disconnecting.
Highlights
- The view was incredible. We were right on the pond, and could walk in the water if we wanted. The kids looked for snail shells, rocks, sticks. They had a swimming area where we played for a while. I crawled out of the tent in the middle of the night to use the restroom, and holy smokes, the sky. So many stars. We don’t get that in New Jersey- too much light pollution.
- The food. The walking tacos (or, as the kids dubbed them “magic tacos”) were a hit! The gas stove worked like a charm! On the second day we made an ice run to a supermarket, I got a DuraLast (?) fire log, and we had a roaring fire.
- Tender parenting moments: the three of us smooshed into one tent, so it took me back to the time when they were babies. R’s little body pressing into mine as he snored; L’s hand around my neck while she slept.
- Life skills for the kids: washing dishes, going to get water, packing everything up each night, taking it out in the morning, switching the ice, throwing the trash and recycling out.
Lessons
I brought too much stuff. I have a small Impreza, and the car was to the gills. It was my first time camping with the kids so in my mind I covered all of the bases?… I brought all the barbecue tools, absolutely no need. I brought two pots and one pan. Used a pot and a pan. I also did not use all of the camping gear that I purchased for this trip.
Oh, and next time I am downloading a few movies onto their iPads.
This was a hard trip. Harder than Iceland, harder than Denmark, and much harder than Paris. I am exhausted, my body hurts. But I also am feeling accomplished. I think we can do it again one day. I mean, I bought the tent.
Mom of Children 