Message Forums

Quote: One of my best purchases was a porta potti

---

I think this is excellent advice for everyone not just us single parenting type campers. I have a luggable loo. It does what it says on the tin but I feel a proper portable toilet is better for emptying.

Don't worry about the bloke jokes, they are all true lol. But if you do see a hunky bloke who knows what he is doing putting a tent up with his kids do not bother asking if it is me, It isn't :)

Cheers!  It was lovely, though so exhausted at end of day couldn't haul myself back out of tent to join neighbours for a drink!  Will need to work on my stamina I think!

My little girl got the camping bug last year when she was 3. We stayed with my cousin in her tent and then had to buy our own (Campus Arizona) - not the easiest to put up. But because there is so much room we invite her cousins and family along. She is now 4 and still loves camping.

We had her birthday party last week at home and used the chance to air the tent properly, suffice to say that the men all stood and watched with cans in their hands whilst me and sisters put the tent up and took down. They are all stop at home men whilst we go out camping and have loads of fun!!!

Keep it up - our camps now consist of 3 tents and loads of family/fun!!

Rosemary

Hi just earwigging

Just got back from dad n sons 1st camping trip went really well hopefully my

Daughter will make the next trip I'm sure it will not be long before my lad & me can put tent up n down telepathicly he does like the swimming pools tho it doesn't take the kids long to make palls does it.

Rob

Camping-queens: my situation is pretty much exactly the same as yours.  My wife flatly refuses to "rough" it out under canvas - too middle class in her upbringing adn too used to the 4&5 star hotels that her company put her in on her weekly business trips!!

My eldest first slept in a tent in the garden.  I used to do it quite often as a kid (got me out of the house) so I thought he'd like it.  He was really apprehensive and not at all looking forward to it.  But as soon as we were in our sleeping bags and settling down, a big grin came to his face and he admitted that it was great.  He joined Cubs soon after and even though the first camp (in patrol tents) was the wettest, muddiest most misserable camp I've ever been on (and I was in Cornwall the year of the Fastnet boat race disaster!) he's not looked back.

This summer we will be joined by his younger brother on our first two family camps (minus OH).  The first will be an all boys affair as we will take another husband and two sons (all of whom are camping virgins) to north Wales.  I suspect that I'll be doing all the cooking (I don't think my friend has cooked since committing matrimony 14 years ago) but at least that will allow me to get out of the washing up!

Look out for the obvious rookies in north Wales in early August - we won't be too proud to accept offers of help!

 hi im a bloke and thort id give the other half a break from the kids , so i took our little girl of 18 months and my older son away for the weekend last year in our vango venture 500 .  I thought our little un might fret for her mum but need not have worried, she loved it as both my son and i did. Mum had a nice relaxin wkend and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Was meant to be goin to york today but will leave it til next week due to the rain.

          Phil

Hey,

My friend has been making excuses about not going camping with her 2 year old.  I can now tell her it can be done!  Maybe I can convince her to take up camping then our 4 year olds can entertain each other and I won't be quite so exhausted at the end of a trip!

Our first trip was great but there weren't a lot of kids around so he didn't make friends and I didn't get a break all weekend.  Love him to bits but lack the stamina!!  How does he do it??

Laurie

I took my 3 children camping last year for the first time on my own and their first time under canvas.  2 boys were 8 and 10 and daughter just 6.  We managed to pitch our Auckland 5 no trouble at all.  We had practised in the garden first.  Went to Seton Sands, Haven Holiday site just outside Edinburgh for 5 nights.  Great holiday and this year we are going to Blue Dophin at Filey for 7 mnights and kids are looking forward to it already.  Managed to get good deals on internet last year 5 nights for 44 pounds and this year 7 nights for 55 pounds (pound sign doesn't work).

Considering upgrading tent to VRX Scenic 5.0 as Auckland was a bit draughty. Kids loved the freedom of the campsite and I gave them the chores to collect water, wash dishes etc.

Good luck and just go for it!

Fiona

i go camping every other weekend with my three year old little girl. we put the tent up (she stands on one corner) all on our own. who needs men. you learn to manage if you haven't got one.

Quote: Originally posted by fifipat on 16/6/2007

---

I took my 3 children camping last year for the first time on my own and their first time under canvas.  2 boys were 8 and 10 and daughter just 6.  We managed to pitch our Auckland 5 no trouble at all.  We had practised in the garden first.  Went to Seton Sands, Haven Holiday site just outside Edinburgh for 5 nights.  Great holiday and this year we are going to Blue Dophin at Filey for 7 mnights and kids are looking forward to it already.  Managed to get good deals on internet last year 5 nights for 44 pounds and this year 7 nights for 55 pounds (pound sign doesn't work).

Considering upgrading tent to VRX Scenic 5.0 as Auckland was a bit draughty. Kids loved the freedom of the campsite and I gave them the chores to collect water, wash dishes etc.

Good luck and just go for it!

Fiona

 

---