Success Redefined

So the camping trip was a success. R had a blast, running amongst the campsites with all the other kids, playing on the beach, roasting marshmallows over the campfire, sleeping in the tent. But it certainly is different camping with friends AND kids, rather than just friends. How I measure a successful trip has most assuredly changed:

Success With Kids: Waking up dry because your kid managed to not have any accidents in the tent
Success Before Kids: Not waking up wet and covered in dew because you passed out on the picnic table

Success With Kids: Killing a 2-4 over four days
Success Before Kids: Killing a 2-4 the first night

Success With Kids: Ensuring the 4 major food groups (protein, fruits & vegetables, grains, dairy) are represented in each day’s meals
Success Before Kids: Ensuring the 4 major food groups (red meat, beer, potato chips, S’Mores) are represented in each day’s meals

Success With Kids: Packing a cooler with lots of water and juices to ensure proper hydration at the beach
Success Before Kids: Packing a cooler with lots of beer and fruity alcoholic beverages to ensure proper hydration at the beach

Success With Kids: Constant application of sunscreen to keep sensitive skin from burning
Success Before Kids: A quick application of sunscreen in the morning and then complete failure to reapply because “that should be good enough”, resulting in 2nd degree burns that make sleeping in a tent so uncomfortable, you welcome passing out on the picnic table (see above).

Hm. In rereading this list, it actually looks like camping with kids might be the more fun option, in almost every way. Who knew?