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Camping with the tent; I let the kids pull me over

It is a beautiful afternoon in July. We are going on vacation in a few weeks! I am very interested in this. Countdown blown. But on this beautiful afternoon, while I'm unpacking my online order of summer outfits, I'm being framed. By the rest of my family. And it has something to do with camping with the tent. I have just made a promise that I may regret… Under the influence of the sun's rays, new skirts, smiling children and a glass of wine, I fell for it with two big feet!

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Kaat goes camping with the tent

Summer vacation. I think it's dellicious! In recent years we rented a mobile home on a nice campsite in the north of Italy. At Lake Lugano. Because there was some hassle at the campsite last year and because we had seen the area, we decided to choose a different holiday destination this year. This is to the great sadness of our children.

The rest of my family, the trinity, would love to camp with the tent during the holidays. The children have their father's camping enthusiasm. I never had those camping genes. Camping was definitely not given to me from home. Not that I've never done it. But then I was young and financially dependent.

Advantages of a tent holiday

After our vacation last year, the trinity already came up with the idea of ​​camping with a tent next year. According to them, the advantages of this are enormous:

  • Wider choice of campsites
  • Huge freedom
  • Price-wise interesting:so longer on holiday

In any case, make it easy(er) for yourself and go through our camping tips!

Disadvantages of camping with the tent

The suitcases had not yet been unpacked when I was taken to all kinds of camping shops. The trinity almost managed to persuade me. There is a whole camping world that I didn't know existed! Large shops with beautiful tents, good camping furniture and trendy camping crockery. With the beautiful plastic wine glasses I almost gave in to go camping with the tent. Yet I managed to stick to my point of view:

  • I'm well over 40, so I'm definitely not going to sleep on an air mattress.
  • I have all the luxury at home, why should I camp in a tent for two weeks on vacation?!
  • Every night I have to pee at least once, no way that I am going to wander around that campsite by myself at night.
  • The purchase of all camping gear costs a fortune. 

Spoiled

Sorry. To each his own. I wish I got excited about camping with the tent too, but it just wasn't given to me. I am spoiled. I know that. Some people can't go on vacation at all. I am aware of that. But after a year of hard work and saving, I would like something more luxurious than a holiday in a tent. What do you prefer?

How the trinity convinced me

The trinity saw that I was adamant. So in January we booked a spacious mobile home for two weeks during the summer holidays. Delicious. To top it all off, we also go to the Prosecco region. You will understand that I am very excited.

Borrow and test a tent

Now my husband has a very nice colleague. She had already offered to borrow their tent. The Trinity  was immediately enthusiastic, but I just ignored it all these months. I sometimes do that with my kids. If they continue to whine about something, or ask for the usual way:just ignore it. That works very well. Also in tent testing, it turned out. Till this afternoon. That wonderful afternoon in July.

Camping campaign

The trinity had hatched a plan. A cunning plan. After the two planned holiday weeks in the mobile home in the Prosecco region, a surprise awaits me.

Then we go camping for another week. In the borrowed tent of that nice colleague. Two over-enthusiastic children and a very proud dad surprised me with a fully developed camping campaign 'camping with the tent'. Agreements were made with the children. Think of washing dishes, keeping the tent clean and things like that. All part of the grand plan. Camping gear is arranged and packing lists are made. We are going to set up the tent at our "old" campsite, which feels a bit like coming home.

We have the freedom so in bad weather we just go home! That is possible with camping in a tent. Of course I had many questions. How do we get all the stuff with us, does a colleague not go on holiday himself and what is included with the borrowed stuff?

A resounding yes for camping with the tent

The trinity had a ready-made answer to every question. Three radiant faces looked at me with great joy. I was caught by their gaze. I had no choice but to say yes. And so did I. Wholeheartedly yes. I even laughed at it.

Holiday stress

And now besides luxury camping, I will also go camping. OMG. In a tent! How do we get everything with us, what do I still need to buy and…. how am I going to like it? Normally I already have holiday stress before we go on holiday. This year it will get a third dimension.

The tent holiday. I'm just gonna do it! I will do my very best to make it successful. For my sweet, headstrong trinity. Because if they're having fun, so am I. Just to be sure, I take an extra bottle of Prosecco with me from the first holiday destination. To soften the suffering which is called a tent holiday. Or maybe next time we should go for a Walkie Talkie tent…

Do you have any camping tips or an extensive holiday checklist for me? Let me know. These are more than welcome! I wish you a happy holiday!

Shutterstock photo camping with the tent by wavebreakmedia