As my siblings and I started families of our own, we decided it would be fun to start the camping tradition up again. We wanted to give our children fun memories like we had as kids. So we planned our first family camping trip over Memorial weekend at Truman Lake. Our daughter had just celebrated her 1st birthday. Ever camped with a baby? We hadn’t either. But we were young and invincible.
We packed pretty much everything our daughter owned or might need. We packed our car so full we had to sit on our pillows because there was no other place for them. We even brought the play pen! Actually it was a good idea; she could play and didn’t have to spend the whole weekend being held or sitting on the ground. Since we survived our first trip we decided to camp on our own a few months later.
This time we headed for Pomme De Terre Lake. We didn’t pack quite as much and got camp all set up. And then what? It was our first time of camping alone. It wasn’t quite the same without the rest of the family there to visit. We hit the beach. Babies get cold quick so swimming was cut short. Fishing with a baby, wasn’t happening. Somehow we got through the long lonely day. Finally it was time for a warm shower and bed.
The whole camp ground had the same idea and we had to wait for a shower stall to open. I get my stuff and the baby’s stuff all arranged and proceeded to figure out how to wash a baby and myself in a small shower stall. At this moment she decided to fill her diaper. Really now? Where am I going to lay her to change her? Not on the concrete floor! I try to change her on the little shelf which holds your belongings. Didn’t work too well, things rolled out of the diaper and I have to chase it down. But I get the mess all cleaned up and get the baby ready for a shower.
I strip her down and sit her on a towel while I proceed to undress. She sits there patiently (such a good baby) while I undress. At the exact moment I take off the last article of clothing she darts under the stall door! Using my ninja skills I manage to grab her foot. So there we are, both wearing our birthday suits, she outside the stall, and me on the inside holding her foot. Remember the place is crowded so I can’t just let go and step out of the stall and grab her. I can’t let her go while I wrap a towel around me because the place is crowded and someone may snatch my baby. I can’t drag her back in because it’s a concrete floor and it will scrape her baby skin. I’m trying to coax her back to me and she has the audacity to look at me and grin! Does anyone come to my rescue? No. After a few minutes playing tug of war with her little foot she finally turns and crawls back in the stall.
After a quick shower, which she did not like, we’re wet, cold but not too clean. I dry her and just wrap a towel around me. Get her dressed. No way am I sitting her back on the floor. I just don’t dry off. I dress myself with a baby on my hip. Gather up our stuff and finally head out. Hubby is wondering what was taking so long. As I hand him the baby I announce we are going home in the morning!
Fortunately our love for camping wasn’t ruined. We camped and enjoyed it for many more years. We learned to wash the baby in the big stainless steel dishpan on the picnic table and take turns going to the shower house. We did get better at limiting what we brought, although once we did pack a wadding pool for the kids. The beaches were closed due to flooding and toddlers wanted to swim so we improvised. Kids were happy.
We’ve camped with dogs, and kittens which had to be bottle fed. We’ve dealt with sunburns, raccoons, cold weather, hot weather, rain, leaking tents, collapsing tents and a whippoorwill bird that camped right outside our tent and sang all night. We’ve celebrated birthdays, and anniversaries while camping. We watched our kids go from little ones to kids that rode their bikes to sulking teens who were bored. But most of all we had fun.
Missouri has wonderful camp grounds. I’ve tried camping in other states and learned not all camp grounds are created equal (another story for another day). If you’re brave – try taking your family camping. There’s nothing better than bacon and eggs cooking over the camp fire in the morning or smores at night or holding a worn out little one in your arms while warming up by the fire. I like to think we were successful in providing good memories for our children. I know I remember it all as good. Here are some of the places I’ve camped in Missouri:
Windsor Crossing
Bennett Springs
Berry Bend
Thibaut Point
Thousand Hills
Truman State Park
Nemo Landing
Light Foot Landing
Bucksaw
Be sure and check out my photo page!