Okay, camping doesn't suck. But I'm sure you'd like to know why, even though I went camping last night, I'm waking up in my bed this morning. Here goes.
First, despite having them on three different lists, I forgot diapers again. Not a huge deal. I had enough to make it until morning, but still.
Secondly, Celeste through a huge fit when I tried to put her down. And I didn't handle it very well. She eventually went to sleep with a smile on her face asking for more "brown bear brown bear book", but still. I think she may have been frightened by the tunnel nature of the tent. A larger one is probably a good idea.
Third, because I was so busy trying to get her to sleep I didn't straighten myself out until it was cold, dark, and quiet. So, in between tossing and turning, I was doing it as quietly as possible so as not to wake Celeste or my campmates.
Fourth, I forgot to bring a sleeping pad or air mattress. Not a big deal either, in the summer. The people we camped with lent us an extra, but it didn't work with only one because there wasn't enough room for Celeste and I. Sleeping pads serve a secondary function: they insulate you from warmth sapping ground.
Fifth, without a sleeping pad my -10F rated sleeping bag wasn't cutting it. It was beyond cold. I kept checking Celeste to make sure she was okay, and she was. But between the worry and the cold itself, it was hard to sleep.
Sixth, I finally got up and put on two long sleeve shirts and a jacket. My legs would still be cold but at least I could probably sleep that way.
Seventh, when I got back in my sleeping bag, the zipper broke. Mummy bags do not work without a zipper. I ended up exposed to either the cold ground or the cold air.
Eighth, at 1am I decided that if I didn't get some sleep I was going to be horribly grumpy all day and that wouldn't be good for Celeste or I… so we left.
Lessons learned:
1. Get a bigger tent. Not huge, just bigger.
2. Mummy bags suck and have a single point of failure. When possible, bring blankets.
3. Always bring a sleeping pad, cot, or air mattress. At the very least, bring extra blankets or find a pile of leaves and pine needles to put under the tent.
4. Never trust equipment you haven't used several times. Bring a backup plan.
5. Never trust the packaging any product is in.
6. Never go camping with a toddler and only 45 minutes of both planning and packing… unless you're camping nearby and can go home if needed. :)