I've learned two very important lessons from my children over the past month.
1. Hide the scissors (see below).
2. Don't take toddlers camping.
We decided to spend the Friday night of Memorial Day Weekend camping at Grapevine Lake with D's sister, cousin, and their families. We had a great time hiking, roasting hot dogs, making s'mores, and visiting around the campfire. It was really fun...until bedtime. We spent from 9-10 pm taking turns rocking O to sleep around the campfire until he finally gave in shortly after 10. One down, one to go.
Meanwhile, C was watching Care Bears with her cousins on the dvd player (real rugged, I know). I spent from 10-11 pm with her in the tent trying to get her to settle down, but to no avail. D took his turn, but also gave up after about a half hour. I went back in and by this time it was 11:30 and I was getting frustrated. An hour later, at 12:30 am, in total desperation, I gave her one of O's bottles of milk and she fell asleep.
For the next hour, O slept soundly in his carseat while the adults sat around the fire talking.
At 1:30 am we decided to go to bed. D carried O in his car seat into the tent and started getting him out. "What are you doing?! Leave him in there!! He's been sleeping perfectly for three hours!" Ignoring my pleas, he took him out to put him in the pack 'n play.
O woke up crying. His crying woke up C. C unleashed a fit of rage that could not be stopped. There we were at 1:30 am with two screaming children in a tent from which we could see about six other tents.
For about five tense minutes, we debated what we should do. When C's crying hadn't slowed down one bit, I decided to bail. I grabbed C, O, the keys and headed to the car.
D, unwilling to let our children ruin his camping trip, stayed in the tent and enjoyed a horrible night's sleep.
In twenty minutes I was home and in my glorious bed.
I miss that hair :(
So, in conclusion, there are certain things you can't do when you have a 1-year-old and 2-year-old.
Camping is one of them.
Reading this post was like therapy to my soul. So glad that I'm not alone in this crazy parenting journey.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you were close to home! Campings a nice idea - it will be fun when they are older, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. (I'm one of Dallan's cousins) We took our two little girls camping that weekend but made the mistake of going a few hours away. Did I mention that I'm eight months pregnant! ya no fun! I love looking at your blog it's really cute!
ReplyDeleteyeah...we camp in the back yard for this reason. Someone HAS to be upstairs to hear catherine, so I camp in bed, all by myself, and kyle sleeps in the tent wtih the kids in teh back yard. you are a brave mama. And, Claire, we love you..
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories of trying to take Daniel camping (also at Lake Grapevine) when he was 1. He wouldn't stop moving around the tent and finally ended up in the carseat in our van - and I trying to sleep in the driver seat. Nightmare night too. He hadn't camped again until last month. Things were much better now that he's - 5.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. You are so real and funny!