"I don't need it. Or maybe I do."

Boy child went on a campout last weekend. Yes, in the rain and freezing temperatures. Thankfully they had cabins to sleep in, but there was no heat. There was also no plumbing and no electric. The boys really had to rough it that night. But it sounds like they managed to have a good time playing catch the flag in the dark, playing Risk in the cabin and sitting around the campfire warming up and drying off. Apparently boy child got his shoes too close to the fire and ended up with scorch marks. He should count himself lucky that he didn't end up putting his shoes IN the fire. It would have really been a wet, cold and miserable experience for the rest of camp!

He, however, was underestimating the cold. We pulled away from his dad's house and were several blocks away when I noticed that he was wearing a windbreaker and a t-shirt. It's daylight and rainy, about 40 degrees and that's it: a windbreaker and t-shirt.

"Where is your coat?"

"I won't need it. I have a sweatshirt in my backback."

"Are you kidding me? It's already 40 degrees and getting colder and you don't think you need a coat."

Child begin the eye roll process. "But Moooooommmmmm."

I turn the car around and take back to the house to get his coat, giving him instructions to get his coat, hat and gloves. He comes back to the car with his coat wadded into a bundle and quite put out that he has to suffer the indignity of appropriate winter wear.

Fast forward a few hours to when it was time to drop him off with the other boys. It's dark, the temperature has dropped, the wind has picked up and it's raining - drizzle really but heavy. He gets out of the car to hang out with the boys, still wearing the windbreaker and t-shirt. It doesn't take long before he's crawling back into the car, shivering and looking for his coat.

"I don't need a hat."

"But son, don't you realize that you lose a lot of heat through your head and you'll be warmer?"

"I have a hood on my sweatshirt. That will be enough."

"Whatever. When you catch your death of cold your sister and I are going to take your life insurance money and go on vacation."

"I have life insurance?" (another whole conversation ensured that is not relevant to this story)

So as he is getting his gear from the trunk and loading it into the van with his friends, he is standing there, coat gapping open, bare headed and freezing to death. Keep in mind he's still wearing just the t-shirt under his open coat.

"Dude, you'll be warmer if you zip up your coat."

"I think you're right."

Ah ha! Let's jump on this sentiment. "You know, I probably have an extra hat in the car if you want one."

"No. That's ok."

"Are you sure? You can take my ear warmers if you want instead."

"OK."

After loading his belonging and noting that several of his friends are very winter apparel dressed he comes back over. "So is there a hat I can use?"

By the end of the night he was sweatshirt under coat, with hood up over hat that had been layered with ear warmers and warm gloves. And still cold. But he was glad he had that hat!

So far he says he'll never go camping in that weather again. But he said the same thing about canoeing after he got dunked in the drink a few times in cold water. Seems he may have changed his mind about that now. He does admit that he had a good time. I guess time will tell. Next campout - winter camping. With cabins and heat and indoor cooking and plumbing.