Any moms camping alone with kids???

[pupmama]

I have done this twice this summer and LOVE it.  I've always been adventurous and independent so it suits me perfectly.  I only needed to get over my fear of backing up and parking the PUP.  But it is easier than I thought!!  Most times I get it in (straight!) on my first try -- which annoys DH to no end.  Not saying I have any great talent, I think maybe moms in general have infinite patience and that works in my favor here.

Kids and I are having a great time out on our own when DH can't get time off work.  I'm a SAHM anyway, so we are able to go out mid-week and secure a site and fully enjoy our summer break.  I'll admit, it's a lot of work doing the cooking, wood chopping, fire building, set up and break down, showers, entertainment, etc, etc, without help ... but we work it out.  Kids (8 and 6) can help with some chores around camp, but the heavy stuff is still up to me.  I'm ok with that, we sure sleep well.

Curious to hear how many other moms are taking the PUP out on their own with kids and how they like it.  If you haven't yet, I highly recommend it.  In fact, the 3 of us are so comfy in our little PUP we are (half seriously) wondering where daddy is going to sleep when he joins us for a week in Aug.

Happy camping   

[mhc77]

way to go pupmama!  i think i would consider it once my kiddos are a bit older and can help with some little things.  they are just 2 and 3 now but in a couple of years, i would see doing it.  if we did this, i'd prob want to go to a campground instead of our usual boondocking just to have some people around.

again, way to go!

[elkriverrats]

Great post.
Love it!!! My 13 YO son and I go camping and leave DH at home alot during the summer - he is not big into crowds or some of the places we choose to visit...
We always have a blast.  I have a much easier time backing in when hubby is not around (go figure haha!).  My son is able to help at the campsite, as he is older so it doesn't seem like much extra work for me - I have noticed he is more eager to jump in and help when its just the two of us, I think he likes being responsible for camp (and for his mom :).  He helps with everything, he even cooks!  It is really a time that I treasure - Dad has a more active role in sports practice, hunting, etc so this is MY special time with him.

One of my favorite trips so far was taking my mom, son and nephew camping north of DC and taking the metro into the city every day.  Everyone got to make a list of what they wanted to see, we mapped it out and off we went! It was such a good time for all of us and hubby was beyond happy to be out of that particular trip!  Even made it through my first major SPUT - did not have the trailer properly seated on the hitch and DROPPED IT IN THE ROAD DRIVING 40MPH (that is a whole different thread)!  Needed a good Samaritans help getting it back on the hitch, but luckily no big damage and we were soon on our way again.
Now...I also enjoy grownup camping!  We are headed out for a long weekend of R and R in the PUP while kiddo is at camp.

To all you Camping Moms out there, I agree with pupmama.  Try it, bet you love it!
Happy Camping!

[duncmelsmom]

My two kids and I took a 35-day trip across the SWern U.S. last summer.  DH couldn't get off of work for the whole time, so he flew into Las Vegas to join us halfway through the trip.  We had an incredible time.

My BFF went with us for the first leg of the trip, but she's legally blind.  She's not a camper either.  I think the only reason she went was her fear that something would happen to me.  I still did the driving, setting up, and breaking down. 

Unlike the posters above, I still cannot back into a campsite.  I keep trying and trying to no avail.  When we'd get to a National Park or campground, I would look for some kind soul to do it for us.  Each guy always was SO generous with helping us.  One time in Arkansas, we drove for miles down this one lane road to get to Lake Ouchita (the GPS didn't always guide us down the easiest routes).  After winding around and down this long farming road, we came to a place where the road was flooded out with a swiftly moving river.  My DS was telling me to go for it, but I knew it wouldn't be safe.  There was no way I could have backed up the camper either. 

Lo and behold a speedily moving white pick up truck came flying across the river to our side.  My mind was flashing to scenes in Deliverance, but I politely asked this guy if he could back the truck and Niagara down the road so we were facing the other direction.  He said he was good with his john boat and I took his word.  Not only did this guy back it up, but he led the way another 8 miles to our campground.  My BFF was totally freaking out.  I wish I could tell that guy again what an angel in disguise he was.  I hope Karma gave him his just reward!

[Lifetimer]

Since my DH works weekends the only way I can go camping is just me and DD (11).  I started doing this on my own from the first day we got a PU.  DD was 5 at the time.  I have found my short cuts, like the drill for raising the PU.  I usually take about 2 hours to set completely up (I do alot of sitting between things since I have a bad back).  When DH is there for set up (this is only once a year) it takes about 20 minutes to set up. 

As for backing up the PU.  I always ask the CG host to help spot for me and have no problems.  Sometimes they will even do it for me.    Or a fellow camper will come and help.  It sounds like there are quite a few of us.  I just very rarely see them around here. 

Beleive it or not Lady's I have actually gone camping all by myself!

[Sunrise camper]

Although we have moved on from a PUP to a HTT (DH's idea not mine)  I quite frequently go camping with DS by myself, have since we started this adventure.   

Kind of funny that I too back in better when DH is not around.  I actually can put it in the driveway better then him, SHHHHH!

Funniest memory of trip without DH is when I went to a campground to meet some friends who were seasonals there.  The week prior a lift cable broke.  Not being able to get into the local camping center to get it fixed, I improvised and got some parts from the big box store to make a temporary repair.   When i go to the campground the repair held but that one corner didn't go completely up, had to climb under the PUP to tighten the cable loop I had made.  My girlfriend took a pic and put it up on the internet, LOL.  She must have trusted it though since her son and her ended up bunking in with DS and I for the week instead of their tent.

[monica4patience]

DH is here with us this weekend, but goes home on Sunday. Then it will be me, DS19(special needs), DS11, and my mom85. We'll be camping for the next 4-1/2 weeks. DH will come on weekends as he can. He'll  be "on-call" for one of the weekends.

My boys are much more helpful when DH isn't here. I think they like to "man-up"!

[dandj1958]

The main reason I have a pup is that I can tow, set it up, tear it down and put it away all by myself.  I camping every other weekend and my camping partner more than half the time is my 8 year old grandson.

We are a whiz at getting the camp set up.  Grandson knows his roles (chocks the tires, stabilizers down, top cranked up-or as far as he can before his arms get tired).

It takes longer when my husband comes along since he doesn't know the drill like my grandson.
My grandson and I spend the days exploring the area and at night we both love our time around the campfire. 
These are special times for me and I will look back on them with great fondness after my grandson grows up and hopefully wants to bring his family camping with me

[pupmama]

I love all the replies here!!  Great to hear there are lots of us getting out there with kids.  I have not run into another mom or grandmother camping on their own, but hope to one of these days.

Also love the stories of fellow campers, and other kind souls, helping out where needed.  Especially backing in trailers for you ... how cool is that!!  It has occured to me that if I am ever in a campground where the sites are hard to back into, and it will happen someday, I might need to look for help.  It's nice to know people are willing.

I agree with everyone ... these are very special times with the kids. Something about being out there without dad does make the kids chip in more, behave a little better, feel some independence, and we get so much one-on-one time. It's been one of the best summers ever, I look forward to many more trips.

dandj1958 -- I see your photo from Silver Falls. I'm from Oregon too, maybe we'll see you on the road someday.

[twomoms]

Well,  I don't think my partner and I entirely qualify for this one.  But yes as Moms we take the boy ourselves all the time :D.  It's our son's "favoritest ever!!" 

Not sure either of us would try it on our own though,  you guys are some kind of impressive!  Besides that, the division of labor is such that on our own we are each just "half a brain"   

[BratsMuttsNFish]

I got my PUP last year when my kids were 7 and 8. My DH has never gone camping with us. He has no idea how to do anything in camper, set it up, break it down, nothing. He didn't even go with me to buy it. He has no interest in camping at all, so anytime I go it is just me and the brats and usually my dog. This summer we went from Louisiana to Virginia and back with no men. Just me, my mom, and 3 kids. We brought her 19 foot TT though, figured it would be easier and a bit more roomy, plus hers is all electric, no cranking or yanking involved. We had a blast and her stabilizer hitch didn't give us too much trouble, but I brought WD40 and a hammer.

[Jean]

I love all the replies here!!  Great to hear there are lots of us getting out there with kids.  I have not run into another mom or grandmother camping on their own, but hope to one of these days.

dandj1958 -- I see your photo from Silver Falls. I'm from Oregon too, maybe we'll see you on the road someday.

I'm from Oregon too. I've gone camping a couple times, but always have someone to help me at the end. This year, I didn't do any camping on my own, and I miss it. We should get an OR women's camping weekend for next summer!

Jean

[kristykru]

We actually got our first PUP a week ago. In all honesty I haven't been "on my own" camping in a long long time, possibly since before meeting DH. So hummed and hawed... Tent, PUP, small travl trailer (boler) or small old Motorhome. Our towing capacity is very low..... And I wanted to make sure I could do it completely alone with my 2 DD (2 and 4).

DH works too much so I know the only sure fire way to get my kids out there (besides tagging along with my parents) is to do it on my own. And I don't want thm to miss out on camping because as a kid and a teen I loved it, and miss it.

So I am excited to get it insured, loaded, a driveway camp or 2 with the girls and then get going! And I'm a SAHM so I too can go out mid week to local spots and not worry so much about getting a nice spot.

I am a bit nervous about my 2 year old, but no time like the present!

[momoboys]

I'm so happy so many other moms do this!  We've been trying to decide whether or not to take that plunge ourselves.  I have three able-bodied boys, and could even leave the dog at home with DH, but I'm nervous anyway (despite being a fantastic backer-inner!)    It's the work that's putting me off, I think.  The cooking and the cleaning up, the set-up and take-down, the showering and fire-starting.  This summer, camping without Dad may be our best option because he just doesn't have the time off to come with us.

[krinen]

I'm a singe mom and I have always camped alone with my 3 boys. When I was married, the ex's idea of roughing it was if the cable went out. I used to tent camp with a bunch of single moms on group sites, but in the last few years my boys and I just tent camped by ourselves.

And in a few years it will just be me and the dog, and I've bought myself a popup!