The Family Camper

A Day in the Life of a Family Camper


Sunrise - Oh, what time is it? I need to pee, but don't want to get out of the tent and wake up the kids.  So I try to sleep in my sleeping bag until the first child stirs.  Feed burp, change the baby.


7:30ish - One child wakes and wakes up everyone else in your tent, if not the whole campground, by one of the following:  crying, whining or talking super loud.


8:00 am - I finally give in to the children and we get ready to go out and face a beautiful, yet chilly world outside the tent.   This includes: changing bums and dressing into morning attire .  


8:30 am - The fire has already been started by a fine and helpful husband, who is luckily a morning person.


9:00 am - Breakfast is prepared and we all eat and enjoy the as the sun slowly warms up our camp.  Kids eat, baby eats, then mom eats.  Clean-up breakfast 


10:00 am - We make a plan for the day and start the preparations for fun.   Swimsuits and sunscreen are applied to each body.   Note to self: After much lathering I am investing in the fabulous spray sunscreen.  


11:00 am - Finally we are ready and need some cooling off so we head to the nearest water source and take a dip or float.   Oh the joy of rivers in the mountains.  All children are accounted for and no one has drowned, success!


12:30 pm - We are hungry so we spread some bread with  pb & j.   Then chug down some ice cold water and a couple fruit snacks.  Feed, burp and change the baby 


1:00 pm - As the afternoon sun beats down on us I realize I am feeling fatigued.   We attempt to take a nap in our tent only to realize that we didn't pitch the tent in a place appropriate for afternoon nap time.   We roast inside with minimal clothing on. 


3:00 pm -  Finally give up the attempt when we awake in a pool of sweat and realize the children have escaped out the door and are running around camp unsupervised. 


3:30 pm - The family takes a trip outside camp to see wildlife.   Lots of driving and only a little wildlife leads to lots of whining and a few moments of excitement.   We snack on jerky and some greatly preserved snack food like m&m's.  We keep scanning both sides of the road.    We give up looking and are satisfied seeing a few of the local animals, still hoping that moose or bear will just pop out of the woods.  Feed, burp and change the baby.


6:00 pm - Arrive back at camp famished and ready to eat again.  Dinner is prepared as little ones pull on pant legs saying, "I'm hungry."   Kids eat, baby eats, mom eats.  


7:00 pm - As sunset approaches the cool of the night is settling in.  It is yet again time for another change.  Children are clothed in evening attire and coated with bug spray.  Kids run and play in the surrounding woods.  We try to straighten up camp as best as possible, no food or garbage left out for bears and critters.  


8:00 pm - Fire is started and smore's are made as the evening light fades.   Kids are told to be careful around the fire 40 times.  Then we realize we should just put them to bed. Feed, burp, change the baby.


9:00 pm - Bed prep begins.  Children are brought to the tent wailing because either they are exhausted or just detest bed time.    They are stripped down and checked for ticks, leaches and mosquito bites (All of which I loath and give me nightmares.  Anything that sucks blood was created by the devil, I'm sure).   Two layers of pj's are place on little bodies, so they are sure not to get cold.


9:30 pm - Kids are still bouncing around the tent as parents threaten them that they will be sleeping outside on their own if they don't settle down.   Kids finally pass-out in the tent, but not in their sleeping bags.  Parents get up from their own beds and slide the  little ones in sleeping bags.   Staring at the sweet children, we realize that this camping trip is all worth it.   Watching sleeping children is something all parents enjoy.  I believe it is needed to remind us of our love and appreciation for them.


10:00 pm -  Parents go out and chat around the fire, until we realize that the sun will be rising, along with all those peacefully sleeping children.  Feed, burp and change the baby.


12:00 pm - One last trip to the potty.


3:00 am -  Feed, burp and change the baby.   Sneak quietly outside the tent to pee by the nearest bush.


6:00 am -  Here comes that sun again and another day in the life of a family camper.  


Times this by 3 kids and 5 days, add set-up and clean-up and that equals two exhausted parents....whooowh!


Pictures of Our Camping Trip to Follow