Camping with the kids

[AZsix]

Last year I started taking each of my four kids on a camping trip by themselves. It's a great way for me to get some one on one time with them and them with me. We are lucky enough to have a SP about a half hour from the house so it easy for us to make a quick little get away. We go just for the night and I let each kid pick the dinner and breakfast menu. I also let them choose a game to bring that the two of us can play. So far I am half way through, with trip #3 coming up next weekend. I have really enjoyed the two trips I have done this way so far. The kids love because they don't have three others to deal with and I love it for pretty much the same reason. Don't get me wrong, I miss the other three when they are not there but it's nice to be able to devote all my time to just one. I take them all to the same cg so that no one will feel they got a better or worse trip than anyone else.

I look forward to each trip as it allows me to see a different side of my children. One that is not competing with, distracted by or fighting with a sibling. We have time to really talk.

I realize that not everyone is lucky enough to have a cg so close by but I was wondering if anyone else has done this with their kids. I would highly recommend it if possible. I realize that camping season is limited in some parts of the country and it may not be practicable however.

For me it's just one more reason for me to love the pup and what it has added to my life.

[Gracy]

DH has 4 nephews and we would do the same thing with them..... rotate who gets to go with us for the weekend.  They seemed to like it...... taking all them or even 2 of them at one time was a bit much for us..... they aren't the best behaved kids in the world so alone they were much better.  When we tried taking more then one it was hard and they seemed to get bored and really act up.

[fallsrider]

What a great idea! My DD is 13 and would love to do this. We have a wonderful SP campground only 20 minutes from home, with huge, private sites. She enjoys fishing, so in the spring, that could work because there's a large lake at this park.

DS is only 17 months old, so I may wait until later next season before taking him!

DW and I have discussed me taking the kids together for a weekend, too, because she would enjoy one or two weekends each year to herself. DD is very capable of helping with DS, so my job wouldn't be so difficult.

DW isn't fond of cold weather camping, but DD wouldn't mind. She loves camping and will go anytime. That might let me get in one weekend of cold weather camping before the end of the year! Thanks for the idea!

The neat thing about cold weather camping at our local SP is that they keep one W/E loop open year round (with the water shut off). It is NEVER full and you can just show up Friday evening and will always get a spot.

[AZsix]

What a great idea! My DD is 13 and would love to do this. We have a wonderful SP campground only 20 minutes from home, with huge, private sites. She enjoys fishing, so in the spring, that could work because there's a large lake at this park.

DS is only 17 months old, so I may wait until later next season before taking him!

DW and I have discussed me taking the kids together for a weekend, too, because she would enjoy one or two weekends each year to herself. DD is very capable of helping with DS, so my job wouldn't be so difficult.

DW isn't fond of cold weather camping, but DD wouldn't mind. She loves camping and will go anytime. That might let me get in one weekend of cold weather camping before the end of the year! Thanks for the idea!

The neat thing about cold weather camping at our local SP is that they keep one W/E loop open year round (with the water shut off). It is NEVER full and you can just show up Friday evening and will always get a spot.

I Have taken the kids for a weekend though my wife joined us on Sat. night. She had work that she had to get done. My wife is also going to take DD along with a neighbor and her two daughters for a "girls only" camping trip. I'll go do the set up and then take the boys home with me.

You are welcome for the idea. I know you will have a great time. It's really a "win-win" situation for everyone. What is going to make next week even sweeter for me is that in the last 6 months or so our DD has really become a daddy's girl. I know we are going to have a fantastic time.

Please let us know how it turns out. I'll be writing about next weekends trip when I get back.

[backpacker3]

I tried the same thing with my three kids but found out real quick that only one of them likes the outdoors as much as I do. Now, my son has four of his own kids and so I now take two of the four camping, the other two hate camping and the outdoors. It's fun, and and I have just as much fun as they do.
Good Luck on those campouts.................