on my mind
>> Saturday, July 17, 2010
(Reposting from July 23, 2009 because it's been on my mind all day.)
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I'd Rather Be Camping
soccer, anyone?Three-leaved plants aside, camping seems to actually be easier for me than being at home. At first I thought it was just because we were on vacation; maybe we were all more relaxed and at ease with the pace of camping life. But our life at home is pretty cush, too; so I thought about it a little more and realized that there are few reasons why life feels easier when we are camping.
1. There is no struggle to get the kids outside.
We wake up, unzip the tent, and we're outside -- ready to start the day in the sunshine or fresh air. (or rain. but that's what the tarp is for.) At home, there are way too many distractions between the bedroom and the front door.
2.There are not hundreds of toys underfoot.
When we go camping, we do not bring home with us. Sure we grab a couple of shovels and pails, maybe a dumptruck or frontloader and usually a ball or frisbee. But the kids usually occupy themselves pretty well with sticks, rocks, pine cones, tent stakes, various straps and ties, and best of all -- headlamps. Really, what more can a boy ask for than a flashlight and a big stick? It really gets me thinking about the toy box at home.
3. Bacon and coffee both taste better outside.
It's true. Not sure why, but they do.
4. The dishes do not pile up.
When you only bring 5 plates, 5 cups, 5 forks and5 spoons; there are no dishes accumulating in the sink.
And since the ants or the raccoons would flock to your campsite if you left your syrup-coated breakfast dishes sit out all day, the incentive to wash them right away is pretty strong. (Hmmm...maybe that's what I need to get my butt in gear at home. I'll just get a raccoon....)
5. The dog hair simply blows away.
Nothing to vaccuum. 'Nuf said.
And finally...
6. Our standard for cleanliness is much, much lower.
Swimming counts as a bath, right?
Only a couple more weeks....
19 comments:
Your camping posts always give me the itch to pack up our crew and head out for the bush right away too!
i love that you love camping. it makes me fall in love with my family, and find peace... and yes, bacon and coffee both taste divine in the wilderness. :)
I love it :) Bacon is the main reason why I haven't become a full fledged vegetarian.
I can smell the campfire... and want to go camping. Where shall we meet you guys? ;)
Before kids we were HUGE campers. It was really my ideal vacation. And I admit, this makes me almost want to go with the boys. We tried last year when the youngest was a babe. I found it was just too much work. But maybe I'm trying to hard. The kids wouldn't sleep, naptime or nighttime. We all just got cranky and tired. With boys though, I'm certain this will again reign as a vacation of choice sometime soon - when bedtimes are more predictable and easier to travel I suppose.
@Christine, I think adjusting expectations is a huge part of it. We started taking our kids when our oldest was 7 weeks old, so they have never *not* known camping. Maybe sometime I'll write up my own tips and tricks for camping with kids. :) If you want, click on the camping label at the bottom of the post to read about our other excursions....
Bacon. Oh how I love bacon! We are heading to Western Mass next weekend for nice long camping trip! I. Can't. Wait.
beautiful pictures, Elizabeth.
I already told you we never ended up camping with baby four or five. Although they have gone with friends . But when we cabin or camp we try to do as much of this as possible.
And I love doing all the smoky laundry on return, remembering the campfires.
I remember reading this post last year and enjoying it. Thank you for reposting! Neither my husband nor I come from camping families, so we don't go camping with our son. Your post, however, makes me reconsider...
And, what wonderful pictures!
Everything tastes better outside, that is so true! Bacon, marshmellows, peanuts, every single thing!
And the dog hair blowing away, a bonus! I feel an ode to camping coming on...
:) Lovely post, makes me want to pack up and head out to the mountains tonight.
swimming totally counts as a bath :)
atleast at my house it does...
Now I want to go camping
So, why can't we just live outside like that all the time. SO many good points. Just reading it made me feel calm.
Steph
Don't you love it? There's just something about the outdoors! My favorites were "standards for cleanliness are lowered" and the last shot of the boys in the chairs.
Hope the weeks whiz for you and you're on the road before you know it!
thanks for reposting this liz, chris and i are planning on camping for the first time in 3 years next mo for our ann. although we are hoping to camp w/ out the babes, you truly remind me how much better coffee tastes when it's at 6am at the most beautiful sunrise you've ever seen and somehow you're wide awake, even though, if you were at home you'd be ready to kick the ass of whichever person it was to wake you up that morning.
So jealous, it hurts me a little bit right now... och. How lovely, friend.
Oh yes me too!
We were camping at the weekend, it was my boyfriend's 30th birthday and we hiked with all our kit to a week in the far north west of Scotland. It was lovely to walk along the beach which we had to ourselves. It did rain quiet a bit on Saturday though!
Have a good trip when it comes.
Jade
This is such a great picture of how amazing nature is for our families. Loved the nursing shot. :)
I always have such a long list of things to pack if we'll be spending more than a day away from home. It's always so much stress! Your post makes me think camping would be so much easier than going anywhere else!
I love your blog :o) As a mother of two boys (4 1/2 and 6) I frequently feel overwhelmed and now am longing for summer when we can go camping!!
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