Camping trip report: everything went wrong and it was perfect

May 11 min read

Took the family camping for the first time last weekend. Tent flooded because I didn't set it up on flat ground. Forgot the kids' sleeping bags. One of the coolers wouldn't close so all our ice melted. But somehow it didn't matter? We ended up sitting around the fire telling stupid jokes for hours, my daughter caught a real fish with her own rod, and my son just laughed the entire time we were eating burnt hot dogs. Wife and I looked at each other at one point and just started cracking up. Planning to go again next month already.

7 comments188 views

Comments(7)

EEvan M.New DadMay 3

Tent flooded on the first camping trip, that's a rite of passage! The chaos is half the charm. Those are the trips kids remember forever, not the perfect ones.

MMarcusNew DadMay 3

Everything going wrong and still having a perfect time is peak parenting. My worst camping trip was when someone's sleeping bag got wet and we all just laughed about it instead of freaking out. That's the vibe.

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CChris R.RegularMay 3

Did you end up just packing it in or did you rough it out? I always wonder how people handle total disasters like that with young kids but honestly it sounds like you nailed the attitude about it.

DDerek P.RegularMay 2

Dude this is awesome. Nothing builds character like a little chaos in nature. Did you end up staying in the tent anyway or did you bail to a hotel? Either way, props for getting out there with them.

EEvan M.New DadMay 1

That's the best kind of camping story right there. My first trip with the kids was a disaster too - forgot the stakes and our tent was basically a nylon puddle by morning. But yeah, somehow those are the trips they remember forever. Glad it worked out!

RRonRegularMay 2

This is the energy I need to hear before our first family camping trip. Everyone acts like it has to be Instagram perfect but sounds like the mess is actually the point.

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TTommyNew DadMay 3

This is such a perfect example of parenting. Things fall apart but the memories stick. I need to read this next time I'm stressed about something not going according to plan with my daughter.