Constantly Camping

Like all children of type A personality helicopter parents, despite the best of intentions my children's "lazy summer days" have been replaced with a crowded schedule of activities ranging from summer camps to swim lessons to sports classes to play dates. I would complain more but since this is a self-inflicted burden, I really don't have much leeway. And in all fairness, my children are happily engaged and genuinely excited at each and every event so really the wear and tear of our hectic schedule seems to be born by yours truly alone. 

While the logical decision would be to reduce the number of activities to which we are committed, logic is no match for my compulsiveness. So, instead, I have streamlined our time management whenever and wherever I can.

Therefore, we moved into our minivan.

While it is true that we sleep in our beds under the roof of our home every night, once our day begins we essentially live out of our family car. At first, there was the occasional breakfast on the run, you know, a bagel with cream cheese wrapped in a paper towel because we were running late to my son's soccer class. Quickly I figured out that bringing a lunch bag of snacks would appease my daughter during her brother's soccer class and my son during his sister's subsequent gymnastics class. It wasn't long before breakfast and snacks in the car segued to breakfast and lunch in the car as our shifting schedule occasionally precluded a prolonged lunch hour between morning summer camp and afternoon swim lessons. And, of course, there were the requisite outfit changes from jeans and jackets as we headed out the door bright and early to shorts and short sleeved shirts in the heat of the midday to swimwear including all the associated water toys for the late afternoon and then the subsequent change to clean clothes for the evening after the chlorine of the pool had been rinsed off. Soon, not only was I packing breakfast, snacks, and lunch for both children, I was also packing three sets of clothes and separate Saltwater Canvas Bags for chlorinated pool days and sandy beach days with different toys and bathing suits for each venue. Plus a big beach blanket.

Hmm. The minivan was starting to seem pretty full. Kind of like we were going on a never-ending camping trip.

Finally the other day I came to a dawning realization. I dropped the kids off at science camp in the morning, headed to a short hike with some friends, returned to camp with popsicles in hand (which I had preserved with multiple ice packs in the back of the car), headed to gymnastics with a packed lunch (also pre-staged in the back of the car), changed the kids at The Little Gym, then followed up with an after class park play date with another change of clothes, more snacks to share, and even a story time book "The Costume Trunk" that I had added to my growing vehicular inventory -- all without crossing the threshold of our house following the start of our day. It was day camping at its finest.

As I pulled out the water bottles and sunscreen and snacks and book, I realized that I was indeed constantly camping with every essential item I needed readily available in my car. I was a nomadic wanderer with a night time home. Just as the humor of my situation struck me, all of the children on our play date gathered on the blanket under the shade of the elm tree. There was the slightest of breezes gently ruffling the stray hairs framing the faces of the expectant four year old faces before me. One of the moms, with an amused smile, picked up the book and started to read, holding the colorful pages before her for all to see. She started reading "The Costume Trunk" in a gentle but animated voice. As I watched all six children (and even the baby) mesmerized by the vibrant pictures and happily munching on Pirate's Booty and Fig Newtons, I felt a rare moment of satisfaction. No one was whining, the weather was picture perfect, and the children were content. 

I have since lightened up our summertime schedule. We are spending more time at home, puttering around the house, sleeping in, and padding around in our pajamas until late morning. If my hyped up parenting seizes control of the schedule once again, I really don't mind moving back into the minivan for a while. There is something to be said for being prepared for good times, both scheduled and unforeseen. In my brief parenting experience, special moments are mostly unpredictable and I feel blessed when I get to witness them unexpectedly. For now, though, we will be eating our meals and reading our books on the couch at home.

This post was inspired by "The Costume Trunk." I received a complimentary copy  as a member of the online book club From Left to Write. All opinions expressed are my own. You can read other posts inspired by "The Costume Trunk" at From Left to Write on book club day Thursday July 28th.