Camping

[186momx]

Can you guys share your camping tips and tricks please...

I never camped until I met DH.  It isn't my favorite thing to do.  I feel like a slave to the camper while we are gone and am stressing before we leave and when we get home.  All the prep is thrown on me along with the clean up when we get home.  DH feels that since he pulls the camper his job is done and sits back and enjoys himself while I spend the entire time cooking big meals, cleaning up, entertaining DD, etc. and he makes me feel guilty if I want to take a nap or sit and do nothing.  

Trip this weekend is to the coast.  Weather in the upper 50s/low 60s, partly sunny with a 20% chance of rain.  All I want to do is walk and the beach and go to this really cool Christmas ornament shop.  I picked up pre-cooked food at Costco and DH is throwing a fit I don't want to cook a pork loin or tri-tip over the fire.  I told him I wanted to relax.  Now he thinks we need to take a big hike each day since I don't want to cook good food as he doesn't want to just chill at the camper/beach.  

I know part of the problem DH but I would take any advice to make my life easier.

[mooselovah]

Ummm why isn't he doing the food prep planning and cooking if this is his thing?

[waverly]

Ok so I haven't camped in years except the Boy Scout one where food was provided.

Mornings were either cereal or eggs, bacon potatoes. You have a stove in the camper right? Do they have ovens? Maybe crock pot or one pot meals or throw meat and veggies and put on a tray in the oven if there is an oven.

Or camp stove. Dinner was hot dogs and chilli, spaghetti and tacos but my dad never threw fits about food. He was simple. Lunch was sandwiches lunch meat and cheese.

It doesn't sound like he is the compromising type, but can he do dinner one night and you the other. Hike one day and beach the other?

Can you have the talk before camping so expectations are out there. Honestly I would pull the either you help me or I am not going card (unless you really want to go). But I have been super feisty lately so maybe not the way to go.

[k3am]

All the camping tips in the world aren't going to help this problem.

[waverly]

Oct 9, 2017 16:52:46 GMT -5 k3am said:

All the camping tips in the world aren't going to help this problem.

This too. It's a 99% DH problem and a 1% camping sucks and is a lot of hard work problem.

My parents both helped and the kids when we were older. And my dad is nowadays one of the most selfish people I know, and even he helped.

[twinmomma]

We grew up camping and never ate anything beyond stuff that could be thrown on the grill or spaghetti. Your DH needs to get over it or cook it himself. And I'd be telling mine that with no hesitation.

[brewco]

I came across this post in the recently updated threads, I don't normally go here, but I do A LOT of camping. Can you just ask your H to do specific jobs? Maybe you put bedding or clothes together but he is responsible for taking it out to the camper? Can he unload the camper while you put stuff away inside the house when you get home? You prep food, he cooks - like throw some meat in a marinade and he's responsible for cooking it. I try to do as much prep with food as possible- marinate meat, chop veggies, mix up eggs if we're doing scrambled eggs. Is there a reason you need to go on the hikes? Can he just go while you hang at the campsite to nap, read, relax? I'm sorry you're so stressed about this, I hope you are able to enjoy the trip too.

[sunbutter]

So LOL at pork loin that he wants YOU to make.

We tent camp so if it doesn't fit in my Prius, it doesn't come. That simplifies things. Our fanciest meals are steamed salmon and veggies placed in foil packs prior to the trip. Cooking them entails starting the fire and putting the foil pack on the coals.

But usually it is baked beans, fruit and hot dogs.

If cooking isn't fun for you, you shouldn't be the one doing it.

On the guilt thing...I often feel guilty sitting down taking a break when I know there are things that I could be doing. I then unfairly project that feeling to DH. He is always supportive of me relaxing but I get stressed out when there is work to be done and he isn't doing what I think is his fair share.

And why a big hike? If you are there for a full day, an hour in the morning after breakfast is plenty long enough for a little kid. Then there is plenty of time to nap and chill for the rest of the day.

[campermom]

I have plenty of tips and tricks....but if you are the one making those tips and tricks happen by yourself, you will still hate camping.

Is he Like this in other ways?

[akafred]

I think for this, pick 3 things you hate about camping and don't do them. DH can do them, simplify them, or they can not happen. Like, cook hot dogs or hamburgers and skip the fancy stuff. Or have DH cook the fancy food. If you hate changing the sheets, put 3-4 fitteds on top of each other and just stop one off every time. If you hate dishes use paper plates and say screw it.

[186momx]

I needed you guys to kick my butt. I know this is a total DH issue. His mom did everything when they camped as kids while him and his dad went off. No idea where the big meals came from as his mom can't cook and they just ate peanut butter sandwiches.

I did lay down the law about me not doing everything. Why do you think we haven't gone all year. He wouldn't step up but DD has been asking to go so i feel that we should go because she wants too. Plus our friends are meeting us so once we get there I will get some help.

I've switched to paper plates to help on dishes. We have an oven with stove but I burn everything I try to cook in the oven. I'm planning on lunch out Friday as we will probably explore up or down the coast. With yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast. Right now I just don't care about DH's wants and packing just for what DD and I need.

I could drive over to the coast walk the beach for an hour and drive home all before lunch if DD didn't want to camp so bad.

[supertrooper1]

I agree with everyone. He shouldn't be demanding food he's not willing to cook. It's been years since I've gone camping, but it was usually hot dogs or bbq chicken. A pre marinated pork tenderloin with foil packet potatoes does seem pretty easy if you're willing to compromise. Just throw them on the grill, flip a couple times and dinner is done in 30 minutes.

[nellgirl]

I agree with the others... this is a DH issue. If he wants to go camping, he should do his fair share. And WTF at ‘he is pulling the camper’? Unless he’s out there with a rope, that’s a lame excuse at best.
I love camping (we tent), and I’m definitely the driving force ‘camper’ in our family, but I’d be pissed if my H left it all up to me!

[campermom]

My kids are 8, 6, and 2 and the big ones have specific jobs when we get there like one gets the camping chairs and sets them up, one puts the pop up trash can out and puts a bag in it, they set up the table clothes and put the signs and flags out.

Dinner the first night is either subway we pick up on the way there or something I've premade like spaghetti. Getting there at dinner time and setting up while hungry won't work. Must be an easy meal.

Disposable everything! And crockpot liners. And leftovers go in gallon bags-they take up less space in the fridge and one less thing to wash.

Also duplicates of everything-toiletries, pots and pans, crockpots, cleaning supplies, foil, tablecloths, pack n play, kitchen ware-it all stays in the camper. It was $$ like stocking a house the first year, but we go so much that it made sense. Certain clothes are camping clothes and stay out there all season like old jackets. We go about 8 times a year though.

Always stay near the playground so the kids don't have to cross roads to get there.

I keep a list of regular camping stuff we need every trip on my phone.

When meal planning i make a list meal by meal so I can think of every little thing like butter syrup and oil. I make my shopping list at the same time and on my camping list I write down all those things that I already have at my house.

When food shopping I turn the fridge on the day before, shop, then unload it all directly into the camper instead of bringing in my house only to take it back out again.

Buy pie irons and have H cook sandwiches over the fire-you can do anything in those! But buy good ones bc cheap ones don't seal.

For us linens only get changed very 3 trips or so, or more often for longer or beach trips.

Having a camper with slides as opposed to pop outs was a must for me. I can keep the beds made that way.

We store it at our house so we can pack it little by little over the week.

Unpacking stinks but the big kids have to help carry stuff until it's done. They are used to it now. It's OUR camper not just mom and dads.

Good breakfasts during the trip then cereal the last day-easy cleanup. In disposable bowls.

Timing when coming home-must get home just about the time the toddler naps. We can unload and clean it before he wakes up.

When we do laundry I do loads that are just camping stuff-sheets, towels, dish rags, etc and that load goes right back in and beds are remade but Ike I said that's not every time. We know certain bowls that make it back in the house are camper stuff and go back in.

Glow sticks-always have a large supply in the camper. At night, since we are next to the playground, we can put one on everybody, sit by the fire and hang out, and look up. Got everyone? 1, 2, I see 3! We are good!

[CrazyLucky]

My family loves camping and does it several times a year. If DH thought that his job was to pull the camper and my job was to do everything else, we would go camping ZERO times a year, because F that. If you are able to reach some kind of compromise, camping is great, even if it is hard work.
We often get to the campsite at dusk, and so sometimes we bring fast food for dinner the first night. I try to prep dinners ahead of time if possible. Like we do foil packs of chicken and veggies that you cook in the fire. Those are ready to go ahead of time. Some other simple ideas - hot dogs and hamburgers, sausage, tacos, pasta. We have pie cookers which are awesome. We use them to make dessert pies, but also sometimes grilled cheese or campfire pizzas. Everything tastes better over a campfire. We do pancakes and/ or French toast and sausage every time. Sometimes eggs, bagels, or cereal.

For bedding, don't bother with bedding, just use sleeping bags.

We use real dishes and we wash them every time we need to, which is generally once a day.

How old is your DD? A lot of times, there are some kind of junior ranger programs. Tell your DH to take DD to one of those. They'll both learn something and you get some alone time.

Get fire starters, don't even bother trying to make your own fire. You can probably do it, but it's just so much easier to use a fire starter. Also, get the fire colors. They will amuse your DD.

Get a good hammock to swing in while DH and DD are at the junior ranger program.

Get a bucket and shovel. My kids can entertain themselves forever just digging in the dirt on the campsite.

For activities, if DD is old enough to hike, again, you can send her and DH. Or you can all go for a short hike, and you and DD can turn back and allow DH to continue. We always take bikes. Even if there are no great bike paths, it's fun to ride around and see what other cool equipment people have.

There's usually a camp host you can ask for local things to do for kids too.

I hope you're able to work something out with your DH. My family has so much fun and makes so many great memories camping. The kids don't have tablets to look at, and so we get a lot of great family time. We're going the weekend of the 21st, and I can't wait!

[2chatter]

Another vote for sandwiches and hot dogs. Dump cake in a Dutch oven. Smores. And for real - the last time I tent camped overnight I was on the brink of uber eats as the actual plan because I ended up with a sick kid, work travel and a crazy project. No shame.

I hope your DH gets on the same page and you aren't doing camp prep, execution and clean up solo.

[rere]

Ditto everyone else. We love soups when we camp. I make it before hand and just throw it in the crock pot that day. The kids also love to roast hotdogs and brats over an open fire. They think they are really woodsmen. Camping is not about fine dining. Save that for the house with proper equipment or better yet restaurants.

[erinshelley21]

Yeah this is an H problem.

I do most of the prepping for our trips, but I do almost none of the cooking. I'll make breakfast but I LIKE doing that and DH is not a morning person. That's it though. I'll cut stuff up for foil packs but DH does the cooking. He complained the first year but when I explained I do 90% of the packing and 99% of the cooking at home, he realized standing in front of the grill flipping food was not that bad. Lunches are easy... sandwiches and pasta salad I made at home. We have a stove and oven as well. Our stove has been used 1 time in 3 years. The oven has never been used. I think the same can be said for a lot of people in our group we go with too. If it can't be cooked on the grill, fire, microwave or crock pot, then it's not even an option.

Tell him he can take your DD and go hike unless you're wanting to do the beach and the store with her.

I hope you find a solution.

[phdmomma]

Your H has some unreal expectations, unless you are Martha Stewart or Betty Crocker and want to make crazy meals camping, then you shouldn't have to. We tent camp, and I almost killed DH last time because he wanted to make foil packs and still needed to build a fire at that point, and the kids just wanted tho dogs and refused the foil packs which took forever. I also despise all of the time I have to spend getting stuff together to go camping, compared to how much DH things that he does. I swear I like camping, I just don't like having to do all of the prep work and clean up work and planning myself.

[mommyatty]

Tell DH to have a fabulous time on his hikes and cooking his mfing pork loin over the fire. You’ll be enjoying the beach and your pre-cooked food. And btw if the car is gone, you’re probably out shopping for Xmas ornaments. He can have a glass of wine waiting when you return.

Having a campfire does not equal a return to the caveman days. F a whole bunch of that noise.

[ECB]

I really want to know what "pulling the camper" means.  Is it literally that he drives the car that has the camper behind it?  Because if so... LOL on SO MANY LEVELS that he thinks this is all he needs to do.  

Honestly, taking the passive aggressive route isn't the only thing you should be doing.  You need to have a sit down TALK about this and his expectations.  Camping is WORK.  It can be fun but its WORK.  It doesn't matter what his mom did- you aren't his mom.  He needs to step up and do his share.

Driving the car that pulls the camper does.not.count as work.  

[sweetptater]

Oct 9, 2017 23:25:13 GMT -5 nellgirl said:

I agree with the others... this is a DH issue. If he wants to go camping, he should do his fair share. And WTF at ‘he is pulling the camper’? Unless he’s out there with a rope, that’s a lame excuse at best.
I love camping (we tent), and I’m definitely the driving force ‘camper’ in our family, but I’d be pissed if my H left it all up to me!

This legit made me LOL. 

[186momx]

You guys are making me crack up laughing. Yes he believes his BIG job is driving the truck that is pulling the camper, parking it, leveling it, and unhooking the truck and then returning it home and parking it back in the driveway.

I loved camping the first couple years we had it and DD was a baby. We had double everything so everything stayed in the camper. We parked the camper at our friends cabin and used the cabin for meals, bathroom, etc. and just used the camper for sleeping and me dealing with a cranky baby. I got lots of sleep and quiet time as when DD went to bed 6:30 so did I so I got to read and what not while he hung with friends around the fire. Then our friends sold the cabin and bought a trailer. We have done a couple week long trips which has turned me off camping. DH going off on golf trips, fishing trips, etc. and leaving me with a toddler wasn't fun. The worst was the year it rained all week and the dog got sick and had poop Armageddon in the camper while DH was ocean fishing. I dropped DD off at our friends trailer at 5am, gave the dog a bath outside, and had to scrub poop from everywhere. When he got back I told him I was never camping again and we had to go home. Since then we have camped 2 weekends.

DD is 6. She doesn't like to hike more than 15 minutes but loves to walk barefoot on the beach for hours. She actually is a huge help and likes to clean so I take advantage of it whenever I can. She is way more content to sit and color or be read to. She didn't get DH's need of always being on the go.

CrazyLucky, campermom, can you explain these foil packets please

[sdlaura]

Do you have an Indian Princesses club in your area? They don't call it that here anymore due to the name being offensive - it's now the YMCA Adventure Clubs - but it's the same idea of Dads and daughters camping together. That might be great since your DD is 6. Ours is for girls 5-10 and their Dads.

DH loves camping and I am fine with it but have no interest in it with small children. DH also is not a planner and has never packed for the kids when we go anywhere, or done much of the planning. So they joined the adventure clubs with some other Dad and daughters we know, and it has been awesome from the perspective of DH and DD spending time together, and also him having to plan and pack everything. This past weekend was the second one (it's one weekend per month). I've tried really hard to stay out of it. He forgot to pack any extra underwear for her this past weekend. She survived, and I'm sure they'll both remember underwear next time.

[ECB]

Oct 10, 2017 11:54:17 GMT -5 186momx said:

 Yes he believes his BIG job is driving the truck that is pulling the camper, parking it, leveling it, and unhooking the truck and then returning it home and parking it back in the driveway.

And what are you doing during this time?  Probably watching your child, right?  So it's not like you're sitting on your ass eating bon-bons while he does "everything", right?

He wants to be pampered and do NOTHING? THen he needs to pay to go to a resort where you pay people to do everything for you.  

Expecting his wife to take care of him, herself AND their child in an environment that isn't exactly luxurious while he does NOTHING??

Yeah- I'd be having a CTJ moment with him and his expectations.  

[Covergirl82]

I agree with everyone else. YH needs to realize that his expectations are not realistic and the current division of responsibilities isn't balanced (because 95% on you and 5% on him is way off from balanced).

[campermom]

When we pull in, park level and Unhitch, even though H is doing the leveling.....at the same time I am hooking up electric and cable and pulling tables and cornhole out of the trailer.

When he is done, there's still work to be done. Just like if I am done first, and he is done with the awning, or working on the lights or the fire, I will move onto setting up the ice maker and getting the fishing stuff out (we keep them in the shower lol). There are some things only he does bc I can't reach or I just won't-hitch stuff, but as for the rest of it we are both perfectly capable.

We sit down together when it's done.
There's plenty to be done.

I mean...He can drink a beer....but he can do so WHILE hooking up the damn water hose. And all that other stuff.

What if you told him camping stresses you out and let him know you are willing to go through the list of all the To Dos together. Then if he sits down, ask him, "So, there's like 26 things left on the list. How do you want to divvy them up?"

Cajun Foil Packets. When we have a big crowd, we divvy up the ingredients and each family preps one part. We also add chicken. But if it's just your family it's A bit too much work www.favfamilyrecipes.com/cajun-style-grill-foil-packets/

These hamburger potato carrots and onion are easy www.southernplate.com/hobo-packets-this-weeks-quick-and-easy/

Yum. Cook the bacon ahead of time and stick it in the fridge. www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/chicken/foil-pack-chicken-and-broccoli-dinner.html

[CrazyLucky]

Totally agree with everything campermom, says. DH does pull the camper, and then he and DS do the leveling and pull it out and all that. While they are doing that, I'm unloading the storage bin, setting up the screen house, staking out the awning, etc. No one sits and relaxes while there is work to be done. Except DD. She's 5 and she just got to the point that she is not a hindrance to the process.
For our foil packets, we usually lay out big pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil. I squirt Italian dressing on each one, then put small pieces of uncooked chicken, peppers, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, whatever on top, then another squirt of italian dressing. Then seal the aluminum foil. I also put them in a ziploc bag because even though I try to make them leak tight, sometimes they leak, and I don't want dressing or raw chicken juice in my cooler. Once the fire has some coals, put the packets in the coals for a few minutes, flip them over for a few minutes, and voila! A dinner that even the kids don't complain about (which is where my bar is set now).