My dad worked 2nd or 3rd shift while I was growing up. As soon as he got off work Friday morning we’d head out of town in our two door lime green truck with the camper in the bed and our bikes on a rack in the front.
We’ve camped everywhere; all summer long.
It’s interesting the things you learn as a kid camping. You can learn how to build a shelter (tent), start fires, fish, cook, all the basic necessities of being an adult human. You’re also tasked with making friends on the fly OR worst comes to worst sticking up for your archenemy (brother) when strangers decide to pick on him.
I wanted that for my kids BUT I married someone that thinks camping should be done in the comfort of a hotel room.
THAT.
HAD.
TO.
CHANGE.
We have boys. Little men, that need to learn how to be MEN. They will not be put into the boy scouts, although my grandfather spent the majority of his life with a tribe, I just can’t commit to that much after school / weekend activity. But camping? Camping is without a doubt needed.
Since I’ve convinced him of this we’ve been camping quite a bit. Usually with our tribe of experienced campers. My brother can cook anything with the bare essentials. My bestie Steph, can start a fire, chillax and brings the entertainment every year.
We have a yearly tradition of the six of us getting together at least a weekend or two each year and it’s been great. Hiking, swimming, camping, laughing and leave the campground exhausted and filled to the brim with memories and joy.
This time was a little different.
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Memorial weekend started as a typical camping weekend for us. We camp close to my work so I can pop down, work my Sunday shift and head back to the campground. Luck was on my side because a co-worker traded shifts with me and I had the weekend to camp without any responsibilities.
My husband and I set up camp which consisted of our tent and Steph’s tent. After we moved the picnic tables and arranged the site our newbie family campers also showed up. While all of our little men saddled their freedom machines (bikes) and took off to explore, we helped her set up their tent. Beers were cracked by 6pm and on a holiday weekend, that’s pretty dang good.
The rest of our entourage showed up when they could get there. We spent the rest of Friday night having some brews, chatting, laughing and planning our hiking trip the next day.
Saturday we left the site to go hiking in the pothole glacier park in Taylors Falls and hoped to walk the river front. With all the rain and snow this year, the shores of the St. Croix river were high and charging south. We decided for safety reasons were weren’t going anywhere near the river.
Sunday we went to the Franconia Sculpture Park. It’s an amazing place to go to and it’s FREE. They take donations and the artists on site give tours or you can go explore yourself. Most of the exhibits are hands on. It’s perfect for kids. They can climb and be one with art. Some of my favorite exhibits are the boom box wall, it makes me feel straight out of the 80s and the graffiti art.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it was WARM, it made being pool bound so much more enjoyable than the previous day. We took some drinks and headed to the pool.
The pool was crowded on this perfect sunshine day. My men swim best with their goggles on and they were particularly really good fish that day. I was in the pool with them, while they were trying to drown each other. They set their goggles behind me while they were play fighting instead of making new friends.
Swimming wasn’t really an option for an adult, there were bodies everywhere. Instead I stayed by the edge, watching kids be kids. Considering this day in age, when everyone is attached to some sort of electronics, watching kids be kids and playing has becoming an enjoyed pastime for me.
Some time later, the splashing and screaming became a little unbearable and watching from a distance like my bestie and hubs were doing seemed genius.
I didn’t see it happen.
I didn’t even notice until my friends kids joined them and they asked me, “mom, where are my goggles?”.
The goggles weren’t where they left them, where I had been just minutes before. I couldn’t find them anywhere, which is weird, they were JUST there. I walked around the pool thinking someone had moved them and couldn’t find them anywhere. I looked under the surface of the water, maybe someone had kicked them in, I mean, there were kids EVERYWHERE anything is possible.
Then I spotted them.
On the faces of two preteen girls.
I’m not a confrontational person. I don’t like drama and I live on the brighter side of things.
But I had to ask. So I went up to the two of them, and asked the meeker one if those were her goggles. She didn’t speak but her assertive friend took over the conversation. “Oh those goggles, we found them here yesterday after the pool closed, no one claimed them so we took them home.”
Me: “I see.”
Her: “are you missing googles just like these two? Same color and everything?”
Me: nodding.
Her: “oh well, we can look around when everyone leaves and then turn anything we find into the front desk, you know, if we find anything.”
Me: thinking – you little liar you. I’ve watched enough cop shows to know your GUILTY AS FUCK. I didn’t say anything about missing TWO pairs of goggles, but the THIEF WOULD KNOW.
I walked back to our group and told them what she said. All of us were shocked, this 12 year old effortlessly lied to an adults face. What else is she capable of?
At the time, on of my boys friends was their listening in. He went into his special Ops mode and when the older sister of the lying thief went to the bathroom he moved in and took back one pair of goggles.
I left the pool shortly after that. Disgusted by her behavior and the fact that she could straight face lie to me.
You would think the drama would end there. But you’d be wrong.
She started screaming at me.
“Ma’am…MAAAA’AAAAMMMMMa!”
It went on and on with each step I took. I didn’t turn around or look back. For a couple reasons. 1. I’m not a Ma’am. I am not old enough to be considered a ma’am. 2. Regarding the first reason, why would I turn around? She couldn’t possibly be talking to ME. 3. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t steal them in the first place and I didn’t steal them back in the second place. I was merely walking back to our site with my goggleless fish.
What does she do? She has the audacity to put shoes on and chase me.
I’m not kidding.
The thief was coming to STEAL THEM FOR A SECOND TIME!!!
That’s when my husband approached her, he was leaving as well, but due to a kettlebell incident (another post) I needed the head start since I could barely walk.
He told her that he couldn’t believe her gull. Not only did she steal the goggles, but she had the nerve to chase me and try to take what wasn’t hers in the first place. He then told our friend that apparently anything is up for grabs so if you find something that isn’t yours you’re welcome to it.
She stopped screaming for me and stopped trying to come after me.
I’m still in shock over the entire ordeal. Who on God’s green Earth is teaching this felon in the making the difference between right and wrong? Normally I would blame parents on this learned behavior but I can only imagine that this is ALL her.
That wasn’t the last time we’d see the thief. She was camping 2 sites down. She didn’t say anything to us and we didn’t say anything to her. She walked away with a pair of our goggles. I hope that they bring her joy every time she wears them and I hope they make their way to someone else because she doesn’t deserve them.
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Parents, please, lets teach our kids that they are not entitled to something because they walked past it. Things don’t become yours because they are around you. Things become yours when you work for them or when you save your money or perhaps a gift. I am all about empowering kids, but lets show them to be respectful, hardworking individuals; not lying thieves.
I’m concerned for this little girl. I think that she’s got a lifetime of hardships if she continues on this path. Her lies were stated so clearly and believably that I can only think we weren’t her first victims; she must be a regular at this type of work.
I am beyond grateful that she is not my monster to deal with.
Besides waking to the rain on Monday it was a successful camping trip! We can’t wait to get out in nature again and the PLUS is the kids didn’t even ask for any electronics all weekend long. I take that as a MOM WIN.
Namaste, Jes xoxo