BWCA Foiled again - no solo til empty nest I think... Boundary Waters Group Forum: Canoeing with kids
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   Group Forum: Canoeing with kids
      Foiled again - no solo til empty nest I think...     

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09/13/2011 01:22PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
So last year, my fall solo was pre-empted by a sister coming from Alaska to paddle with me.

This year, my eldest just "assumed" we were headed to the BW as we do every year for her/my birthdays, and asked to be allowed to pick the route as a "birthday girl". My kids are old enough to be complaining about camping (pre-teen and turning 13), so every time they "plan" or "agree" or "can be dragged" to go to the BW, I wanna take them!

I do think I'd really really enjoy a relaxing solo, but somehow I just cannot stand NOT to take whatever kid or kids are available and willing to go. Eldest will soon be 13, and we've got but 5-6 years of her left here. That's not all that many more trips (though of course I hope the trips continue through college and beyond!!).

How do YOU decide when to have a "kid" trip and when to have an "adult" trip?
 
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09/13/2011 02:36PM  
I don't know. There is no real rhyme or reason to it. Trips with the kids are great, but so are adult trips. Trips with my wife are great. It is also nice to get away from ALL of it and take a guys trip. I haven't gotten to do a solo yet either. I need to win the lottery.
 
09/13/2011 04:05PM  
Well, I felt like I needed time alone. Also, I have not taken my kids by myself and probably won't. So phantom has to come along, too, and he has less vacation time than I do. Not that I've done a solo yet...it was planned but I had to cancel. This weekend I'm doing a near-home solo camping trip, but it's not exactly the same thing. Still...

I just feel like it will be refreshing and I'll be in a better place afterwards, which is good for everyone.
 
09/13/2011 11:38PM  
No argument from me that parents need alone time - and no argument from me if you make a different choice than me... Nola - woot! I can't think of anyone who deserves a break from it all more than you!!

I've reveled in a few breaks from everyone when the stars have aligned for me to either travel away, or be home as they all travel away. I've loved it. But you know, that's when THEY go to the in-laws without me, or when *I* head to Hawaii without them, hee hee. I'm not TOTALLY glued to my kids! YES, parents need to re-charge definitely.

But for me, I guess the BW (actually most camping) is such an effort and such a treat that as long as they are willing to come, I will take them and I'll have to find my solo time elsewhere.
 
northallen
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09/14/2011 08:29AM  
My boys are 10 and 12. I will camp with them every opportunity that I get. I know how fast they got to this age, and time will only start to go faster. They did great in the BW this year. I actually had significant help in paddling and portaging.

That being said, I do have a standing annual trip the first weekend after the fishing opener. The kids are still in school so I don't feel to bad leaving them behind.
 
vickieh69
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09/14/2011 08:50AM  
quote BWPaddler: "
But for me, I guess the BW (actually most camping) is such an effort and such a treat that as long as they are willing to come, I will take them and I'll have to find my solo time elsewhere."


I could not agree more!!! I had thoughts of doing a solo this year but with the addition of our new little gift that has changed. I figure I will not have an "adult" trip for at least 3 years. But I am ok with that. My two oldest are 15 1/2 y.o and 14 y.o. Last year was the first time that they went canoe camping (myself included) and while they admittingly do not like paddling (afraid of the fish in the water, lol), they really have enjoyed the 2 trips they have gone on.

This last trip we did was the first time that they paddled together (ugh, the arguments they had), so their confinence and comfort level was very low and very understandable. They did great.

My wants are put aside when they are with, as I want them to have an enjoyable time while there so that they will want to go in the future. So far they have and at the end of both trips they are already asking for specific areas the next year.....heck my son even went so far as to add on "then the year after that can we go to...."

When I dropped them off at their dads my son said "mom, thanks for the adventure." That put a smile on my face:)

Hoping for many more years of these family trips!!!!!
 
09/14/2011 01:13PM  
awwww vickie... that "thanks for the adventure" was worth it all I am sure.

northallen, yes we made the leap to them actually carrying more than just their own things some time in the last three years. In 2008 I shoved my 9 and 8 year old off on a calm lake at an EP with MY GEAR in their own boat. vickie, they argued up a storm, but I just paddled faster so I didn't have to hear it, lol.

This last month I sent my 11yo off to stash the food pack each night (paddling to a small island). It's one of my most hated chores, so it was a big help and he was tickled to do it on his own. And I didn't make a single fire that trip - he made them all.

It really is fun to see them go from an infant sitting in camp eating dirt to carrying a full pack and eyeing the canoe as their next portage challenge. Alas, still pretty narrow shoulders for that job, but they're starting to want to try!!! My knees may get a break someday soon.
 
northallen
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09/14/2011 03:13PM  
Yep. I've put them in a canoe with a paddle and shoved them out. Told 'em they couldn't come back until they paddled around that big rock/raft/whatever offshore. Amazing how quickly they get the hang of it.

Now I have the opposite problem. The 10 year old loves to take off in the canoe. So long as he has a life jacket and plenty of rocks in the front for ballast...

 
09/19/2011 05:11PM  
quote northallen: "Now I have the opposite problem. The 10 year old loves to take off in the canoe. So long as he has a life jacket and plenty of rocks in the front for ballast..."

Yes, in May 2010, I had that issue with my youngest (barely 9). Twice she just took off paddling and it was windy and NO there was no ballast. Once she made it to an island off shore and then eventually back. The second time I had to coach her through paddling only on one side until she made it to a point where the wind blew her back to us. I was imagining a long swim after her (on Polly). Works much better if we have two canoes and I know I can go find them. I had to tell two kids that headed out alone - if you blow away, just stop on whatever shore you end up at and I WILL come find you eventually. Stay there! This "independence" phase is even harder than the "clingon" phase actually.
 
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