cybervanner wrote: Heck, it was the other way around for me! I wanted to go camping! It was camping with my parents that started my love for it. For me, after I bought my own car, I was always bumming the old Pop-up off of the parents, grabbing some friends, and heading out to a state park, or to the beach or something. Dad was a little bit leery at first, but I always kept it in great shape. Plus, Dad taught me how to maneuver a vehicle with a trailer long before me setting off on my own with one. I never did any drinking either. Sometimes, I'd have another friend that had bummed a boat off of their parents, and we'd go water skiing, fishing, or something like that. One of my other best friends had an acoustic guitar that he'd bring along sometime, and he'd play some tunes around the campfire. It was great times! I really miss some of the road trips I took as a teenager, and young 20's
This is what we keep hoping our almost 19 year old will start doing. Sounds like great fun to us but he would rather spend his time playing XBox Live. However, he surprised us all be asking when our camping trips are this year because he wants to go with!
Sounds like you made some great memories during those "getting your feet wet" years.
Shannen (and hubby Rick)
2 sons, ages 15 and 19
2 dogs, "Duncan" (mini schnauzer) and "Libby" (lhasapoo)
1996 GMC Yukon
1986 Kit Road Ranger 234
1965 Chevrolet Bel Air
1948 Plymouth 2-door sedan
2005 Honda Foreman 500
We started allowing Goth Boy to stay home when he turned 16, mainly because he was such a downer on any trip(very emo at that age). We only went places that were within 2 hours of home and we had good neighbors who checked on him, and would tell on him if he got out of line. He stayed home with the dog. Never had a problem with him. He's 21 now and no longer camps with us, but he camps with friends.
Now his 15yo sister,Dancing Queen, is beginning to lose interest in camping. We have so far solved that problem by taking her friends. She has several friends who love to camp, but whose parents are averse to the great outdoors. Those girls think we are Parents of the Year because we load them all up and carry them out to the woods. I always put the girls in charge of managing the campfire--they had no idea how to even find downed wood! DD brings her little tent and sleeping bags, and her inflatable boat and off they go.
It's very hard to keep kids interested in being with you at this age. I find that our camping style has had to evolve to include activities that DD15 is more interested in, sometimes we do things we don't necessarily want to do, but SHE wants to do. I figure she's only going to be with us a few more years. It won't kill us to bend a little bit.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
No teen worth their union card would admit to actually wanting to camp with their family. Its been too many years for me to know what is going through that mind but I suspect a good portion of them really have a good time but wouldn't ever admit it and another good chunk convince themselves they aren't having a good time but will appreciate it later. That leaves a pretty small percentage where problems might develop. I say pack 'em up and head out, the odds are with you.
We are absolutely blessed, then, because we've never had any problems with our kiddos wanting to go camping. Even our 19 year old ,who needs to work work work to pay for her junior year of college, asked us what days off she needed to plan for if we were going camping any time this year. and our 16 year old decided it was a good thing she didn't have a job this summer, so she wouldn't miss any camping time with us! She even wrote a school report on "our favorite campground" this semester. The gang even wanted to go camping while I was recovering from a cesarean birth last month, because "Daddy had time off!" it was the only time i ever turned down a camping trip. :*(
The Dittos
(Dad, Mom, Dusty, Dewdrop, Doodles, Bear, Turtle, Ladybug, Tommy, and our furry baby Smokey)
Lots of different advice so far. As a Mom who is dealing with similar issues, bring the teenagers with you. And in the end they will thank you. I do not know where you camp, but go where there is tons for them too do; biking, hiking, swimming, the beach. Our boys like "potato guns" They are little plastic guns you press the tip into a potato and then shoot little potato pellets at each other. They love it I am sorry to say, the whole family is involved. Make it a sight seeing trip, go out every day and see something new. Camp close to entertainment if possible, let them pick an afternoon activity like shopping or a movie if they need a break from the outdoors. Cook over the fire, smores, bring fun food. Bring lots of games. Camp with another family with similar ages of kids. Let them bring friends, more food and prep, but well worth it, they have more fun, you have some relaxing time. You will still have some good "family time" just different. This day and age I wouldn't leave them home, too much possibilities with friends, computers, drinking, you can go on and on, not to mention what your house will look like. Don't loose the battle, good luck
Have just the opposite problem, we can't seem to go without our kids. Our Youngest daughter just graduated from high school on the 14th(a year early) and moved out the following weekend. She called to day to find out where we will be on the 5th of June so she can meet us there. The other 2 ages 21 and 24 now bring there spouses and children. I guess we were lucky we never went through that stage where they didn't want to go.
Him and Me
06 Dodge drw
06 Crossroads Zinger (searching for our dream fw)
Talk about dejavu! We had this very conversation this evening in our household. DS is 15 and seems to think that he will be staying home by himself. That's what he thinks! His father and I don't think the same way. Now, realizing that all of his life of luxuries are supplied by mom and dad, he will be going with us. We will do what a lot have suggested on here and let him take a friend and go places that have lots of activities. Now the funny thing is that all of his friends have already said that they will go so I don't think it will be much of hassle. He's the type that complains for the first 5 minutes or so and then is fine the rest of the time. Now DD is only 8 years old and I'm sure she will want a tag along too.
Robin, happily married with son, daughter, and a Boxer (I like the dog the best)
2001 Gulfstream Mako 28BH
2005 Chevy 2500HD
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