Lessons learned while camping with two small children and friends

There is no such thing as too much food while camping, or too much shade at the beach.*

Buy the cheap trail mix and add your own chocolate chips. Don't be sad when the chocolate melts and makes the bag all gooey; let it harden into chunks of trail mix bar.

"Please don't put sand in your vagina!" invites all kinds of stares from onlookers at the beach.

Peanut butter is a magnificent addition to the ever-popular s'more.

Dirt is your friend.

Beach and/or shower access is good with wee ones. See previous line about sand and vaginas.

Nature really is cool enough to hold your child's attention for two days. Plus it takes twice as long to do anything camping anyway so it seems like you have half the time.

No cathedral can beat an impromptu interfaith worship service at the beach that involves the New Zealand Anglican prayer book, a catholic prayer focusing on the heart of Jesus, and a Hare Krishna chant.

Getting a baby to nap at the beach so that we can stay the whole day must put me in some sort of parenting hall of fame.

Don't fight with the one person who knows the secrets of tent assembly (i.e. your husband).

If you like camping, or imagine that you might one day enjoy it, do yourself a favor and marry an eagle scout. You will look cool to your friends when your husband can start a fire, make the tent, change the propane tank mid breakfast, make a s'more like a champion, and pack the back of your car with the precision of a NASA engineer.

Just be nice to the park rangers if they try to bust your friend for smoking weed in his car when he is actually doing his daily Hindu meditation with incense.

Make sure your friends actually brought their french press for coffee before you say, "God, I am so glad you have that french press!"

Don't let a three year old have sole control of the kite.

Go camping with friends often. It rocks.


*when you are car camping and don't have to hike it in and out of your site.