I don’t know what’s worse...the whirlwind last minute frenzy of trying to pack for a family camping trip, complete eight loads of laundry and squeeze it into duffel bags, dig out the buried supplies and equipment and make multiple trips to the store- with kids- for the things we keep forgetting...OR...actually having to go camping with all four kids. The second one is optional, the first one is not.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoy camping. But camping with kids isn’t my idea of fun. “In my world”, as my kids put it, camping includes lots of recreation, no schedules, resting in a lounge chair and reading a book or taking a hike when and where ever I want. Camping with kids is without question a LOT of work. There is lots of recreation...to keep the kids busy (thereby wearing out the adults), no schedules (which translates into staying up way too late, waking up with sunlight and foregoing any naps), and resting with four kids really never happens, no matter where we are. Add to that not getting a good night’s sleep and, well, there you have it. (Besides, with half my kids gone, staying at home is as close to a vacation as I get!)

So, I’ll put up with the first (non)option, if I don’t have to endure the second. Maybe when the days of potty training are far behind us and the older kids aren’t constantly fighting it will be tolerable (and maybe even fun). In the mean time, I will brace myself for the aftermath that is camping...the whirlwind UNpacking from a camping trip, eight loads of dirty laundry to clean and put away and refilling the backpacks with school books and binders. But at least I’ll get a good night’s sleep.