Lessons from a weekend away

Toasting marshmallows by the campfire (on another camping trip)

As we drove towards the weekend Steve asked, "Did you pack the camera?" No, I'd forgotten. Being a writer and a blogger, I never usually leave home without a notebook and camera, so I thought about asking him to turn the car around. But I didn't.

The place we camped was nice enough, but not somewhere I'd write about, making this an actual holiday from writing. Rare for a travel writer!

What is worth writing about, though, is the time we had.

We went away with some new friends: three other families from Abbey's preschool. The eight adults set up camp, cooked together and chatted, watching the seven children play all weekend.

I learned a lot. Like...

If you choose the right people to go camping with, everything just falls into place and it's really easy - and fun.

A baby is happiest when watching others, crawling in the dirt, eating leaves and having funny faces pulled at her by other kids.

You can't hide your real self when chatting around a campfire; it removes all guards to reveal genuine souls.

Toddlers can be gentle and gorgeous and my heart has melted away from the dreading of going through that stage again.

Hanging out with people who are all about their families inspires me. We talked about the dreams we have - as individuals and as couples - and the fun times and tragedies that have passed by us. It all came back to now, to our kids, to just doing the best we can. I found that really grounding, and it refreshed how I see my little family.

Sometimes you need to stop taking photos, trust your memory, and let kids play without being the paparazzi. I soaked in the joy on Abbey's face, watched her caring nature when another child was hurt and enjoyed getting to know her friends and their families, all of whom are genuinely good people.

When no one uses technology all weekend there becomes a time to really connect and be a part of life.

And when you come home from a weekend like that, the only things that remain are those that are important. Perspective and clarity find a home and you know that where you are is exactly where you're meant to be right now.