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My girls and I just returned from our first camping trip of the summer. It was a nice way to kick off our first weekend out of school (or at least their's, I still have a final and a paper to write) Anyway, there are two kinds of people in the world. Those that love camping and those that hate it. I am the former.

Some may think I'm crazy, because not only do I camp, I go solo with two kids. I take my girls camping at least once every summer and this year we already have one trip under our belt and one planned for July.  Why do I do it? Because I decided a long time ago that we weren't going to miss out on the fun stuff just because their Dad isn't around.

I took my first solo camping trip when my oldest daughter was a year old. I wanted to take her to the trees she was named after, so I drove up, put her in the pack and play, set up our tent, and that was that. Okay, well, to be fair, my friend was working as a ranger up there at the time, so he came and stayed the night with us. I am mostly fearless, but not completely. But two years ago, when my girls were 1 1/2 and 6, I did do it entirely alone. Luckily we ended up in a site next to a large, loud group. This was preferrable to being next to some scary loner sharpening his pocket knife. I figured worse case scenario, we get in the car and leave. But we managed to spend two nights by ourselves, and even cooked over the campfire I built.

I get more savvy as time goes by. I'm not afraid to light the camp stove and lantern any more, so we have expanded our camping menu from hotdogs and marshmallows to things you can't cook over a fire. Ultimately, the point is, if there's something you want to do, do it. Don't let circumstances stand in your way. I have taken more trips alone than I have with a co-pilot, and we have been fine. Of course, I stick to places I know, I carry a cell phone, and I always tell someone where I'm going and when I'll be back, just in case.  The way I see it, life is short and I am creating memories for my girls that will last a lifetime.  And we are having a lot of fun along the way.