A camping first

I grew up going camping every summer up at Browne Lake.  I have continued this tradition with my kids.  Here is the thing about Browne Lake, there isn't much there in the way of facilities.  Any outhouse sums it up.  But, this year they were spraying for some beetles and everyone had to leave the camping area for 24 hours.  So, we moved down the road where we had to truly camp, including using the woods as your bathroom.  I had never done this will the girls before.  It was a first, but I figured it was a skill that needed to be learned.  Right?  Well, Dad was going to take the girls fishing, so we took a walk out in the woods to take car of business before they left.  Allie was a pro ( I have had to help her do roadside pit stops before), totally expected.  Hannah was a little concerned, but we finished with dry cloths.  Then came Madi.  Madi is one of those people who cannot pee under pressure or with an audience.  I wasn't sure what to do with her.  We tried squatting, holding onto a tree and leaning back, propping herself on a rock, sitting over a dead log, leaning over a rock.  I mean everything I could think of, we tried it.  At this point she is crying, thinking she isn't going fishing because she can't pee in the woods.  So... I let her go fishing.

Well, they come back from fishing and she really needs to go.  She went back into the woods by herself and a few minutes later she comes and whispers to me, "Mom, I need to tell you something.  I went back into the woods and tried to go again, but I couldn't.  Will you take me to a bathroom noooow?"

I looked at her and said, "Madi, it's not that I won't take you to a bathroom,  there is no bathroom.  There is nowhere I can take you."

So, we went on another walk out in the woods together.  We tried everything again and finally I didn't know what to do.  So, I looked at her and said, "Madi, people have been peeing out in the woods for thousands of years.  If you really need to go, I'm sure you'll figure it out.  Just stay out here until you go."  And with that I walked back to camp.

Well, about 5 min later Madi comes walking into camp.  Her eyes are a little red from crying, but she has this hug smile on her face.  I said to her, "So, did you go?"  She said, " I sure did."  I asked her how she finally did it.  She said, " I built myself this toilet thing out of rocks back there."  Needless to say, the rest of the time we were there, we didn't have any more problem with her needing to go.

Dear Mom & Dad,

I'm so sorry for all the complaining, tattling, hitting, screaming,  and "woes me" moments.  I now know why you sometimes just lost it.  I have a new found respect for you.  Thank you, I love you.  I now ask that you pray for me every moment of this summer vacation because, frankly, I'm on the verge of losing it most of the time.

With love,
Jenny