Not long ago, my partner and I embarked on our inaugural tent camping adventure with our kids. To be honest, I never imagined I’d ever go camping, primarily due to my irrational fear of aliens and, to a lesser extent, bears. Plus, the thought of getting dirty, sleeping on the cold ground, and navigating to a communal restroom in the pitch-blackness of night didn’t thrill me.
Ah, the sacrifices we make for our children.
With fall upon us, I anticipated a cool night, even here in Florida where we reside. My plan was to keep the tent zipped shut, hoping the ancient concept of zippers would confuse any curious aliens—similar to how a sundial might baffle us. We packed air mattresses, sturdy flashlights for those late-night trips, and our little pup, who could serve as a decoy in case of an alien or bear encounter.
We selected a picturesque campsite along the river and brought along two shiny new fishing rods, our hearts brimming with expectations of catching tons of fish. Never mind that my partner’s fishing skills were largely based on YouTube tutorials—if he could fix brakes that way, surely fishing was just as easy, right?
Upon arrival, we managed to set up our tent with—believe it or not—hardly any squabbling. It even felt enjoyable, which was a surprise. Then, I turned around and saw this:
“What are you doing? Look at your face! You’re absolutely filthy! How can you get that dirty so fast?” I was shocked. I unintentionally hurt my daughter’s feelings because I’ve apparently avoided dirt for the better part of two decades.
To mend the situation, I grabbed the camera and began snapping photos of my daughter, using my overly cheerful “please don’t cry” voice. I eventually coaxed a smile from her, and I apologized. I realized that if I couldn’t let go of my aversion to dirt, no one would enjoy themselves—because camping is all about embracing the mess. If you’re not getting dirty, you’re likely missing out on the experience.
While my partner prepared our fishing lures, the kids indulged in treats typically off-limits, like Sprite and Doritos. We fished, caught a bizarre pufferfish, and had a thrilling time extracting the hook. We even attempted cartwheels by the riverside and cooked hot dogs on a heavy iron skillet over the fire pit.
As the evening approached, we found ourselves getting messier by the minute. When it came time to make s’mores, we realized we had forgotten both sets of skewers. After five minutes of bickering about who was to blame, our son innocently suggested using sticks instead, highlighting our ridiculousness. We burst into laughter while searching for suitable sticks. I couldn’t help but reflect on how camping mirrors life: if you can’t accept the chaos, it simply isn’t as enjoyable.
The s’mores turned out delicious. We stayed up late giggling over card games like Go Fish and War, eventually snuggling up in a pile of filthy, happy humans for sleep. Despite having to leave all the tent flaps open due to the sweltering heat (it turns out tents don’t “breathe”), thankfully, no one encountered aliens or bears that night.
So, our first family camping trip was a resounding success. We relished the experience so much that we’ve already mapped out another trip for December. Bring on the dirt!
For more tips on family adventures, check out this informative blog post on embracing messiness in life. And if you’re considering family planning options, this resource on pregnancy and home insemination is invaluable. Additionally, you might want to explore Make A Mom’s range of at-home insemination kits to boost your fertility journey.
In summary, camping with family can be a delightful experience filled with laughter, adventure, and a lot of dirt. If you’re open to embracing the messiness of life, you’ll find joy in every moment spent in nature.
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