The Millers are going camping this weekend.

Now before any of you outdoorsy wilderness survival experts get too excited, you need to understand something very important about my family.

We are not camping people.

We are **indoorsy people.**

We enjoy air conditioning.

We enjoy comfortable mattresses.

We enjoy refrigerators.

We enjoy being able to charge our phones without needing a solar panel and a degree in engineering.

Yet somehow, this weekend, we will be voluntarily sleeping in tents.

Outside.

With bugs.

And the dog.

This should be interesting.

Before anyone starts picturing us completely roughing it, let me clarify that we do have access to modern bathrooms and showers. I may be camping, but I am not a savage. Our campsite has electricity, water, a picnic table, and a fire pit, which means we’re basically living in luxury by camping standards.

We’ll be gone from Friday until Monday morning.

This is my low-budget family vacation for the summer.

And honestly?

It’s not really about the camping.

It’s about time.

Because my oldest child is about to start her senior year of high school.

I don’t know if you remember your senior year, but I do.

It went by so incredibly fast.

One minute I was walking the halls of high school thinking I had my whole life figured out and sooooo much time ahead of me. The next minute I blinked a few times and somehow became a 40-year-old mother of three teenagers.

How the hell did that happen?

I have genuinely loved every stage of my kids growing up.

The toddler years.

The elementary years.

The awkward middle school years.

Even these moody teenage years that involve eye rolls, sarcasm, and the ability to consume enough groceries to bankrupt a small nation.

Every stage.

Because I know how quickly they disappear.

So before senior year starts , graduation plans, college applications, and all the chaos that comes with that final year, we’re loading up the family and disappearing into nature for a few days.

Well…

“Nature” with bathrooms.

Let’s not get crazy.

Preparations are currently underway.

I THINK I have enough food to get us through the weekend.

Hopefully.

I’ve got bug spray.

I’ve got sunscreen.

I’ve got enough non-electronic entertainment to remind my children that human beings survived for thousands of years without Wi-Fi.

Jaxin is excitedly organizing fishing gear like he’s preparing for the Bass Pro Tour. Asking every 3 minutes if we can actually leave today instead of Friday….no bruh i’m not insane!

Savannah has gone full scientist mode and is researching fishing poles, fishing line, fishing techniques, fish species, and probably fish psychology at this point. She also is researching the lake we are going to so she is in the know for where everything is at the lake!

Lily’s camping goals are significantly simpler.

She wants a tan.

And maybe some cute boys to look at.

Honestly, I respect her commitment to staying focused on what matters! ( I expect we will be playing dad or daddy with every single vehicle we see this weekend!)

As for me?

I have one goal.

One.

I want to sit in my hammock with a cup of coffee, a damn good book (send me your recommendations) , and absolute silence for at least two hours.

No one talking to me.

No one asking questions.

No one yelling “Mom.” “babe” “Heather” “Heather Joleen” “Jamal”

No one informing me that the dog found something dead.

Just me.

Coffee.

A book.

And peace.

As for meals, I’ve planned this camping menu strategically.

Hot dogs.

Walking tacos.

Hamburgers.

Things I can throw on a fire and pretend I’m some kind of wilderness chef.

Quite honestly, I think we could survive entirely on s’mores if necessary.

Would it be nutritionally balanced?

Absolutely not.

Would anyone complain?

Also, absolutely not!

The only mystery remaining is Matt.

I have no idea what he hopes to accomplish this weekend.

Relaxation?

Fishing?

Napping?

Escaping work stress?

Avoiding all of us?

Your guess is as good as mine.

What I do know is this:

When we first decided to go camping, the conversation went something like this:

“We don’t need much.”

“It’ll be simple.”

“It’ll be cheap.”

And technically…

It IS cheap.

What nobody told me is that camping apparently requires bringing every possession you’ve accumulated since 2007.

How are we sleeping in tents but somehow packing enough equipment to survive a six-month expedition across the Oregon Trail?

There are coolers.

There are totes.

There are folding chairs.

There are blankets.

There are fishing supplies.

There are cooking supplies.

There are dog supplies.

There are emergency supplies.

There are backup supplies for the emergency supplies.

I swear if I find a covered wagon wheel in our garage, I’m not even going to be surprised.

At this point it feels less like we’re going camping and more like we’re moving.

But despite all the chaos, all the packing, all the bug spray, and all the inevitable moments where someone forgets something important…

I’m excited.

Because these moments matter.

My kids are growing up.

Life moves fast.

Way faster than any of us realize while we’re living it.

And years from now I probably won’t remember every detail about this camping trip.

But I’ll remember being together.

I’ll remember laughing around a campfire.

I’ll remember fishing stories.

I’ll remember s’mores.

I’ll remember the dog being ridiculous.

And hopefully…

I’ll remember getting at least two uninterrupted hours in that hammock peeps!!

Wish us luck, friends and family!!

If you hear someone yelling, “WHO’S IDEA WAS THIS TRIP!!!???”

It’s probably me.

I swear I am having fun and relaxing during this all!!!

Happy camping from The Millers.