I sit here at home realizing that we have no camping trips planned this summer for the first time in 20 some years
The boys are older and have other things going on. Our 18 yr old is working and playing baseball so that he can make the college team. The 16 year old isn't interested in camping with his family and has football practice everyday.
This morning I found myself going through our many family photos of camping trips, with young boys laughing and doing what they do best....playing!!! We started out in a tent, then a pop up, and finally our motor home that was our base of operations on our 35-day Tour de USA. Each had it's advantages and created a different camping experience for us.
I'll never forget two young boys trying to make pop corn in a pan in the pop up, forgetting to put the lid on, and laughing as they tried to catch the popped corn in their mouths before it hit the floor!!!
Or "Frog Island" (so named by my then 10 yr old) as he tried to catch the bull frogs and then get them to stay in the canoe.
Now, those days are gone. While the DW and I will continue to travel and camp, gone are the days where we'd sit at the lake and watch the boys have water fights, chase the dog and try to catch her, or sink the canoe on purpose!!
How often did we think they were too young for some activity and wish they were "a little bit older". Now, I find myself wishing they were "a little bit younger".
Enjoy the years you have with your children before they head out on their own. It seems to go by way too fast!!!!
Don, Jackie and the Boyz
Madison, our loveable Austrailan Shepard
Our new to the clan baby Black Lab, Riley
O'Malley the Alley Cat
Fresno the rescued kitty
2010 Flagstaff 26RLS
2012 Ford F-150 Screw Ecoboost H/D 3.73
2006 Toyota Tundra D/C (sold)
2001 Bantam B-19,(sold)
2003 Harley Road King
The whole family,
Cold ones in the cooler, good times ahead.
Yep those were the days. Now take the time to enjoy your DW and camping with her because before long you will have these people called Grand kids that like to camp too. Then the cycle will start again. lol That is what camping is all about....memories
Albert & Tamara, the dogs Casey & Cody, Living the simple life.
God never said Saved by Grace;kept by performance.
Went through the same thing a few years back. However, with the youngest now in college we are much freer to travel and not be tied to school and sports schedules. Added bonus is having grandkids to take if we want to have kids around. We've also been advised that everyone will be going on trip to Disney and Fort Wilderness. So, they might get older but you'll still have plenty of kid time one way or another.
2012 Aerolite 212RBSL
2013 F150 Lariat EB S-Crew max tow HD payload
1996 Four Winns Horizon 190 (gotta have a boat down here)
old - 1995 Jayco 1007 pop-up (lost to a fallen branch)
Our family could have written a nearly identical post. Boys now 20, 19, and 16. We intentionally avoided a lot of summer travel league ball to free up time. We've seen 40 states and have countless memories...Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yellowstone, New York City, Washington DC, and oil stained beaches on the gulf.
We switched gears a couple years ago and now have used rv to tailgate at some MU football games, camp at dirt bike races, etc. Still camping just shorter trips and age/event appropriate.
Camping Family Me, Mom, 3 Boyz & Toyz
2004 GMC 2500HD D/A CC 2005 Ameri-Camp 321QBS
Thanks for the friendly push to get out to the lake, relax and ENJOY those times with the kids while I still can. They're 3 and 5 now but the days go by so fast...
Great post and so very true,
We're at the point now where even the grand kids are getting to old lol. 12, 15 and 19. They say it's boring and would rather do other things with friends.
Many times I sit and reflect and wish I had spent more quality time with our kids.
I say to those who are to busy working ect, MAKE the time to spend and enjoy your family!
I didn't until it was to late and now I am sorry for it. To me making money was the most important thing at the time, what a stupid fool I was !!! Life is very short, enjoy your kids while you still can.
Yep, us too. Our youngest just graduated from college. We are parting with our beloved popup (host of our memorable 8-week 10,000 mile tour of the USA when they were younger). Buying a nice TT, but the wife has an eye out for one with extra beds so maybe we can still attract the adult kids, or, more likely, have room to take grandkids some year. We won't stop making memories, just making different ones.
And something that I heard long ago and have tried to remember: the pastor listening to death-bed confessions never hears someone say they wish they had spent more time at the office.
We kinda have the same situation going. Bittersweet for sure. Just went over to check on the TT tonight. All set to go unfortunately no trip till August....
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