Camping with Littles
Last month, we went camping for Dean’s birthday. Now, I am not a “camper”- if there is such a term. I have only been camping a handful of times and all of those have been with Dean in the 6 years since we have been married.
It’s not so much that I don’t like camping…just that I am not familiar with it. I feel a bit like a fish on land whenever I’ve camped. I guess I just never know what to do. That sounds weird perhaps…but I feel like everyone else has a job, or a specific thing that they always do when they go camping. For example, my husband loves making the fire so he always immediately goes hunting for wood and builds us a fire. Some people are the food prep lovers or some people enjoy setting up the campsite (tent, sleeping bags, etc.) Because I never camped growing up (it just wasn’t our thing), I don’t know what role I’m supposed to play. I don’t know how things work (how do you set up this contraption? Where should we store everything?)
That all being said, my husband REALLY loves camping, and having grown up in Colorado…he has had some wonderful camping experiences! So, as we welcome the beautiful autumn weather here in Iwakuni, I am opening my heart and mind to all that is camping (well, at least car camping….we like to bring the goods: wine, s’more making necessities, comfy sleeping pads…lol)
This last camping trip may have finally convinced me of the beauty of camping. This is because it was our first time camping with our toddler and baby. I know you may be thinking I’m nuts- especially if you are unfamiliar with camping like I am. “Living outdoors with no bath and no room to contain our tiny crazed human?? Not a chance!” It’s true- at first I was thinking about what a headache it would be…changing diapers outside with no sink, trying to eat a meal with no highchair for our son…(thinking that Dean is lucky I love him). BUT I WAS SO WRONG.
It was absolutely amazing because our son could literally do whatever he wanted. We had no toys for him, and he still had the best time. He could run around as much as his little heart desired, he played with sand and dirt and sticks (who cares if you’re dirty…its camping!), he played his little version of tag with us until way past his bedtime, and he fell fast asleep in a tent listening to the crash of the ocean waves after having the best sticky sweet dessert ever. What a magical experience that must have been for him!
And because he was so happy just being outside, I was actually able to enjoy the incredible food my husband grilled for us and do something for myself: walk all over the beach taking photos and learning our new camera!
We are going camping again this weekend and I am very excited. It can be a lot of work prepping for the trip and cleaning up after, especially with littles, but the experience is SO WORTH IT.
So as a former so called “non-camper”, who would most days much rather get dirty and then go home for a nice hot shower and comfy bed at night, I have to say that camping with littles is actually awesome and I highly recommend giving it a shot.
