She Forgot the Tent for Her Daughters’ Girl Scout Camping Trip, and Got Upset When Her Husband Wouldn’t Wake the Kids From Their Naps to Bring It
A dad stayed home with his two youngest kids while his wife took their two older daughters on a Girl Scout camping trip. About an hour after they left, she called to say she’d forgotten the tent in the garage.
She wanted him to wake the little ones from their naps and drive it out right away. When he asked for a little more time, she went to Walmart and bought a new tent instead, then told him she was upset he didn’t help.
A Girl Scout Camping Trip
His wife and their two older daughters were heading to an overnight Girl Scout camping trip. The campsite was about 30 to 40 minutes from home.
Trips like that take a lot of planning and packing. Between sleeping bags, food, gear, and supplies, it’s easy for one big item to slip through the cracks.
Home With the Little Ones
He stayed home with their two youngest kids. About 15 minutes before his wife called, he’d finally gotten both of them down for naps.
Anyone who’s cared for little kids knows how valuable nap time is. A short or interrupted nap can throw off the rest of the day.
A Forgotten Tent
His wife told him she’d remembered everything except the tent. It was still sitting in the garage.
She needed it as soon as possible. Everyone at the campsite was already setting up.
A Request to Wake the Kids
She asked him to bring it right away. That meant waking the kids up just minutes after they’d fallen asleep.
He asked if he could bring it in a few hours once they woke up. She said she couldn’t wait because everyone was setting up at that moment.
An Hour He Asked For
He asked if she could give him about an hour so the kids could get at least some rest before he woke them. She said no and told him to wake them and leave immediately, or she’d go buy a tent.
After they hung up, he looked up tents on Walmart’s website. He sent her one he thought might work.
A Tent Cheaper Than the Drive
He told her that buying a tent might be cheaper than him driving 60 to 90 minutes round trip. Gas, time, and wear on the car can add up quickly on a drive like that.
A basic tent can cost anywhere from about $40 to over $100, depending on size and quality. For a family, that may not be a huge expense, but it’s still money spent on something they already owned.
She ended up buying the tent. Shortly after, she texted him to say she was upset he hadn’t helped her when she needed it.
A Text Saying She Was Upset
He replied that he didn’t mind helping. He just didn’t want to wake the kids after such a short nap and make the rest of the day harder.
He understands that partners should help each other, especially when they can. Still, he wondered whether he’d made the wrong call.
Stink Eye and Smiles
When his wife and daughters came home the next morning, the two of them shared a goofy stink eye for a moment. Then everything was fine again.
They both decided neither was completely wrong. She could have double-checked her packing list, and he realized he’d rushed her out the door to the community event, leaving them with a forgotten tent, an extra purchase, and a story they’ll probably laugh about later.
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