For a long time I've been keen to take the girls camping, but something always comes up or gets in the way. That's why I was pleased when a mate mentioned that for his daughters birthday he'd like the girls and me to go "wild" camping with them.
So no tents. My eldest has been camping before (admittedly in different circumstances as was a huge scout camp!) but not like this, and my younger daughter is yet to sleep outside (bad dad I know). They were both super excited about it though.
We were camping in a "wild campsite" where the is a long thin woodland along a river the other side of Brecon. When we arrived the others had already picked a camp so we strung up our tarp and set our bivi bags out with sleeping bags inside.
Luckily the girls fit in one bivi bag so it would help to keep them warmer (it got down to about 2 degrees C), also saved me from having to buy a third bivi bag just yet!
We ate like kings the whole weekend - in fact probably too much food in all honesty! I hardly wanted my fry up on Sunday morning!
The really great thing was how much the kids loved it. We gave them plenty of freedom and let them go off in their little group so long as they looked after each other. They would go and wash up the plates and cups in the river or just go and climb trees or create games, I always love seeing children happy in the woods.
They slept really well, didn't get scared in the dark and just behaved brilliantly all weekend - they really do make me proud.
They seem very keen to do it again and I really must make time for it as it's something I enjoy as well.
Who else likes to camp without a tent?
we used to do it in the garden when we were kids we didnt get as far as the woods. and on a tour of Egypt we slept on the dunes and woke up with animal tracks around us. We had all slept right through. Pleased your girls had a good time, more girls need to do things like this rather than pretending they are pink glitter princesses all the time. Some times girls like to be in the mud and jumping in the river.
ReplyDeleteWow, Egypt sounds an amazing place to camp. I dream of taking them to the Yukon and kayaking or something similar.
DeleteSomeone one said to me to raise girls right just treat them like their boys and you wont go far wrong. We make no allowances for gender what so ever. My girls love the outside and love mud!
You are giving your children such a wonderful life. They will be well grounded adults.
ReplyDeleteI hope they do. Currently I feel like I've produce people I love spending time with. That feels like a win.
DeleteYes, a wonderful experience for the girls, but I'm wondering what your son's reaction was being left behind?
ReplyDeleteHe had a great weekend. We were worried but arranged a nice playdate for him with one of his new friends at school and my wife took him out for a meal where he met up with his nan and great nan so was treated to lots of attention. When we got back he ran outside and said he missed the girls.
DeleteHe is still a bit young to trust to be given the freedom like the girls and its nice to spend time with the kids a bit more independently of the others.
i seriously want to die and be reincarnated as your next kid! how wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! What a comment! Might get this one framed and put on the wall. If you do I hope you like chores for no pocket money because that's where my children currently are... lol.
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