Hi. I only started camping last year and rwally love it. Cope quite well apart from putting the tent up which my 11yr old helps with. I hate having her help do it when she should be having fun with her little brother. Its not a small tent either. I have heard that there are MEETS for single parents like myself and sounds good. Would love to know where to look if anyone could give me some tips.
Hi and Welcome to UKCS. Don't just go for the single parent ones - you'll be made welcome at all meets. Other people will usually be on hand to help you put your tent up.
Don't feel guilty about getting your daughter to help you put your tent up - getting the kids to help is all part of the camping process, and they usually love it. My two have always had jobs to do. OK at the moment they are too small to help with the tent - apart from bashing the odd peg in, but they both have other jobs.
I agree that getting your kids to help is part of the fun. And it proved a great ice-breaker for my 11 year old son (who is not as forward at introducing yhimself as some kids are) and the girl in the tent next to us. For some reason he had no trouble inflating our double airbed with the foot pump (he put so much air in it it almost rolled into a tube) but really struggled with his single airbed but the girl next door came over and offered him the use of her electric pump and they went about the campsite together all the time till she went home.
Hi Sassychick and welcome to UKCS, I hope you get on one of the lone/single parents meets but please don't limit yourself to those only. We have quite a few single parents who come on quite a few of the meets and you won't be left out and everyone will help you set up. There is always loads of kids of all ages who play together and the parents can then chill out and have a chat with each other
just become a camper myself!! im also a single parent, with 11yr old boy and a bit daunted by the idea of just us two going it alone. we just did our first ever weekend in a tent (we cheated......my sis, a very experienced camper, came and joined us on our second nite!!) no ehu, at a local nature reserve. really really enjoyed it.
i had a look at solo/single parent meets but they all seem so far away from us here in south yorks. anyone help with news of single/solo meets near us please?
HI and welcome to UKCS. The Solo meets are being organised by ChrisAmy and as far as I know only 4 have been organised for this year. I am a single parent with two boys 8 & 11yrs and we go to all kinds of meets, where we are always made very welcome. Check out any meets near to where you are live on the meets board, everyone is very friendly and I am sure that you and your son will really enjoy yourselves, it is also a great way to make new friends.
I wasn't a single parent when I went to my first meet which was also the first solo meet, Ex OH hated camping would sooner play sport or go to the pub.
I have now been to about 15 meets since September ranging from 25 miles to 150 miles away and haven't looked back, I have met lots of lovely people and become very good friends with some. My boys 9 and 10 have made some great friends who they email and phone regulary.
Take the plunge and go to a meet you won't regret.
Sue
------------- MEETS n HOLS Trentfield Oct Al n Dee blessing May