Not a holiday, an Adventure

Parenting in another location,
With less of our things,
More unknown
New danger,
And Excitement

Us, a Family of four,
Stitch our belongings to the land,
To another family of three,
Long loops and trip wires,
Pop up, fold out, every thing,
So smug to have a kitchen, 
A wardrobe.
Make believe and honesty boxes,
Orange fires flicker,
Smudge into sunsets,
Which slowly fade to midnight,

Pitch black, star freckled sky
Sprinkles of fairy lights,

Camping takes you back to basics,
The tables turn, 
Campsite Queen,
Has the biggest carboot,
Most willing partner,
Most well children.

Cooking with more than two pots,
A gourmet feast,
Nippers snack on nibbles,
Eat ice cream anytime, 
Refuse meals in restaurants,
More snacks.
Potty training the toddlers, 
Weaning the baby,

6months old, easy going,
Just boobs and regular naps,
Leftover toddler tapas, makes the odd snack
The toddlers share everything,
Toys, food,
one good mood between them.

Sickness moves between us,
An ocean of unwell,
Waves of nausea,
Crests of colds,
Crashing tonsillitis,
Foaming coughs,
Lapping,
Lagging

Reserves never quite replenished,
Phone juice, gumption,
All managed carefully,
A delicate eco-system,
Bats, cows and wild moorland horses,
Rumour of glow worms,
Back to nature,

Are the lives of animals also dictated by mothers, 
Managing fragile toddler moods,
And a bag of endless snacks.