Ready or Not

Tim, Natalie, Laura and Brian, 2006

The last time we went camping was five years ago. It was before kids, but not too far. In fact, it was during that trip we (my husband, Brian, and I) revealed to two of our closest friends (Tim and Natalie) we were "ready." Now being "ready" didn't really mean more than a simple decision to start trying to have a baby. I certainly didn't know that five years later on our next camping trip we would be setting up camp with a pair of two year olds, a three year old and a four year old -- and no, not all four are mine and Brian's; Tim and Natalie had also decided that they were "ready." I now know that no one can truly be "ready" for what lies ahead once that decision to become a parent is no longer an idea but a reality, especially once you become a parent of two or more children. Not only are you always concerned for their well-being but you also need to find a way to keep yourself and your partner sane from the sibling rivalry and the constant balancing now present in your everyday lives.

Colin with a Walking Stick

Making the decision to bring the kids on their first camping trip wasn't an easy one, but after bringing up the topic with Tim and Natalie, we were happy to find out that they were also "ready" to bring their kids camping for the first time. When we arrived at our campsite within a beautiful Wisconsin State Park, Brian and I were feeling worn out from our drive. The kids (Colin, 4, and Isabel, 2) were ready to be done with the traveling. They quickly ran around the site and then started happily playing in the dirt. When Tim and Natalie arrived, their kids (Angela, 3, and Matthew, 2) did the same thing. The notion of getting in touch with nature didn't escape them. They touched the rocks, the trees, the nearby plants and even bugs including a Walking Stick, caterpillars and worms. They were instantly at home. There was no talk of wanting to watch television or go indoors. We made all our meals outside, washed dishes outside and explored outside. I felt at peace.

Isabel with Her First Campfire S'more

Once it started getting dark the first night, Brian and I brought the kids into our tent and Tim and Natalie brought their kids into their tent. Our mutual plan was to get the kids to bed and then go back out and enjoy sitting and talking around the campfire sans kids. What we didn't know was that we were being watched. As soon as we disappeared into the tents, our campsite was overtaken by a family of masked critters. Yes, the raccoons had come. While the campsite was unguarded they stole a box of cookies and dug around in a bag of chips that I had left on a camp chair. The raccoons also noisily dug in our garbage bag which is when Tim first spotted them with his flashlight. Since Colin and Isabel weren't yet asleep (in fact, they were running around the tent giggling and crashing into each other), we decided to bring them back out so that they could see raccoons (not in a zoo) for the first time. It was a magical experience for them to see animals in the wild (not contained). After showing the kids the box of cookies discarded along an animal made path in the woods. Isabel started to say "The raccoons took my cookies," which is adorable coming from the mouth of a big brown eyed, petite, two year old little girl. It was even cuter the next day when she marched around the perimeter of the campsite with a gigantic flashlight in hand saying, with a serious look on her face, "Don't take my cookies again, raccoons."

And even though the camping trip was two weeks ago, last night when I was reading Isabel a book that just happened to have a picture of a raccoon in it, she got all excited and started talking about how the raccoons took her cookies and she played with the kids in the dirt. It was almost as difficult to get her to go to sleep last night as it was that first night of camping.

All of Us, 2011

Needless to say, we were better prepared for the raccoon invasion the next two nights, but it was amazing how close these mischievous, intelligent animals would get to us. Campers were definitely not strangers to these raccoons. In the daylight hours, we spent some of our time at camp hiking to a nearby waterfall, taking the kids fishing, playing at the playground and during the two-year-olds' naps one day, the guys even took the older two to the beach to go swimming. The rest of the time was spent preparing meals, eating and cleaning up, which normally might be taxing but out in the sunshine and with friends, it was simply peaceful. I can honestly say that I think we were "ready" to bring the kids camping this year, even though next summer will certainly be easier when the younger two are three and not quite as rambunctious and tantrum prone -- and hopefully out of diapers.

My Family

The weekend connection to nature without television and Internet was just what I needed to get re-energized before the start of another school year (both with Brian returning to campus as an instructor and Colin returning to preschool as a student). The trip also renewed my commitment to feeding my family more natural, healthier foods (as Natalie and I had a chance to talk a lot about this, mommy to mommy) and to discover other ways to get them in touch with nature. It also reassured me that camping was going to become a regular and fun family event.