My 9 Year old daughter went off to an overnight camp today—no hesitation, not even an inkling of doubt. I, on the other hand had my usual parental concerns: Did she follow the packing list? Did she pack warmly enough? Will she be safe? Should I pack her a method of communication? Then it hits me—this is her first overnight camping trip without Daddy present. She’s not scared, she’s not clinging to me, she’s more concerned that her gear works—batteries in her flashlight and backup flashlight (and 3rd backup flashlight), full water in her camelbak bladder (with ice),  toiletries all stowed, camping pillow packed. She’s more upset that they won’t let her pack her pocketknife on the trip: “Daddy, it’s one of the 10 Essentials! Why won’t they let me take it on camping trip? It’s a basic tool!!”

How did this all happen so fast? She was just my little shadow a little while ago. Hoping that whenever I went on an overnight truck camping trip, that she could tag along. At night, she would sit on my lap, wrapped in the folds of my jacket, listening to the sounds of the fire and trying not to be scared of the shadows beyond the firelight. Happy that it was just “Daddy and Daughter Time” without my work, without chores, without distractions; just paying attention to the basics: set up camp, make a fire, make sure theres room in her tummy for s’mores after dinner, read by firelight, and just play in between.

It is those moments that I treasure the most!!