Now that Pearl is 14 and Abe is 12 (nearing 13), the more I'm second guessing this whole idea. If they can't be relied upon to do simple household chores, how are they going to help around a campsite?
Normally, asking the kids to help around the house has been easy. "You have a number of things that don't belong in the den." Stuff is moved. "It's your night to do the dishes." Done. No questions asked. "Your bike is outside the garage." Seconds later, it's been wheeled away. Yeah, those were the days. Now that they're getting older, such requests are not so easy. My poor tongue is puffy from having to bite it so many times. Really? How many times must I ask for one of them to clear something off the kitchen table? I'm trying so hard not to nag, but it's getting increasingly difficult. The teenage eyes stare at you (or at their phones), no response is given, no action is taken.
So, as much as we're planning the activities we know we want to jump into, we're thinking that perhaps we should also be realistic in case we need to plan a trip without the kids:
1. Where are the nearest bus stations along our route?
2. Do such stations have buses that travel to the northeast?
3. What about airports?
4. What would it cost us to mail, uh, I mean, fly a kid back home?
5. Who will be around to collect any kid, should we need to resort to such drastic measures?
6. How much money could we save traveling with one or two fewer teens?
Such questions need to be asked....just in case.
