Since becoming a mom, my lifestyle has changed a lot. Bye-bye Club Med and the high life (I’m exaggerating a bit)—and hello camping and family activities.
I quickly realized that staying at bed-and-breakfasts or fancy hotels with kids wasn’t exactly a relaxing experience. Spending my time saying “shh” (or “shit,” depending on the situation) definitely doesn’t fit my definition of a relaxing getaway. Nor does it fit that of other vacationers.
That’s how I discovered camping a few years ago. In fact, I’ve already written a post for you called “Camping Makes Kids Well-Behaved.” I’m not a true camper. I’m not one of those people who spend the summer camping, “parked” in an RV, nor am I one of those adventurers who set off to explore the world with a backpack… though both of those options seem more and more appealing to me.
I set off with my husband, my two daughters, a tent, and our camping supplies. I’m properly equipped and just organized enough to make it work. Over the years, the process of packing the car has improved greatly. It used to be the most tedious part. I’ve invested in three storage bins—and in learning to let go a little:
- The bin for camping essentials (clothesline, clothespins, tablecloth, trash bags, Ziploc bags, matches, lighter, hammer, small broom, pencils, notepad, hand sanitizer, gas refill for the stove, tarp to put under the tent, Hotshot fire starter, first-aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, fire starter, dish soap, sponge, dishcloth, and paper towels, flashlights and headlamps).
- The dish bin, which is filling up with more and more collapsible silicone dishes (they take up so much less space… you never know when we might happen to pass by an outlet store). I also pack a container with spices and two camping wine glasses.
- The toiletries bin with soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
The kids also each have a backpack with their favorite games, a stuffed animal, swimming goggles, flip-flops, etc. At ages 9 and 12, it’s their responsibility to pack whatever they want, as long as they can close the backpack.
I also have a few tips I’m really proud to share with you:
- I attach a headlamp to a water jug to light up the tent
- The kids play and prepare dessert while I make dinner.
I’m not quite there yet when it comes to food or the cooler. My organization in that area is still a bit haphazard. Often, on the first night, we eat out and then do our grocery shopping locally.
As for clothes, everyone has their own small suitcase with the essentials. I bring a little less each year, even if it means doing a load of laundry while we’re there. Anyway, we never go camping for more than 5 days.
But I’ll let you in on a secret: this year, armed with real air mattresses (no more sleeping pads!), I’m ready for a 7-day camping trip. I have my camping espresso maker and a hammock; since I’m the first one awake, I have time to read while camping. What a luxury!
And as a bonus, since camping isn’t expensive, we also have more money left over for other activities. It’s also worth mentioning that my daughters are getting older, so we can go on longer hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, biking… in short, plenty of activities I enjoy to keep me busy outside the campground!