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Dear All

Thank you for so many helpfull replies, lots of think about.  I think I am just a little nervous really and hopefully worrying about nothing.  I am going to see how it goes this trip and take things from there.  We are really looking forward to it already.  It will be a bit strange leaving hubbie behind but I am sure we will cope lol ;)

I take my kids camping on my own all the time as we have a 'proper' holiday altogether and then to keep them occupied in school holidays i take them camping while hubby has to work. I always ask to be near the toilets, as long as they can be seen easily from my tent then im near enough (dont want to be right next to them tho) I always explain to my 5 and 10 year old if they need the loo in the night to wake me up, never to go alone and if im not there if they wake up in the night its because im in the loo and i will be back shortly. They are very good and feel they are being grown up having some responsibility. To make sure they dont accidentaly walk out the tent at night or sleepwalk i lock the doors by hooking the two zips together with a small padlock or hook the loop at the bottom of the doors around a tent peg, this means i can sleep well knowing they are safe.

 Giving them jobs when setting up/packing up helps to keep them busy and you sain! my 5 year old loves handing to me or taking out the tent pegs, and my ten year old loves pushing the poles through and blowing up the beds, they are getting experts now after several camping trips so know what needs doing. I always go to the toilet with the 5 year old but 10 year old is fine to go on her own.