The trials of being a virgin machaneh mom

When I signed my children up for camp this year, I was excited for them. But I had no idea what was in store for me as a virgin machaneh mom.

Call it an initiation, baptism of fire, or even hazing, it was one of the toughest challenges I took on this year. I was spurred on by the fact that I knew my kids were going to have a phenomenal experience, but there were numerous times that I almost fell off the preparation wagon out of exhaustion.

All my Jewish mommy sentiments were challenged because the idea of my children being the only ones not having something made me tick all those damn boxes. This included going on a hunt for kosher biltong and two-minute noodles – lots and lots of them – to put in the trommels, among other tasty morsels. G-d forbid my kids went hungry or, worse, had to be the only ones who couldn’t offer others. I know, I know, it’s a Jewish thing.

Don’t think for a minute I wasn’t fully aware that this is a Jewish camp and, as such, no-one would go hungry. There would always be enough food to feed double the amount of children.

Let’s go back to the moment I went into shock. It was the moment my sister – who kindly lent me two trommels – started telling me what packing entailed. Bear in mind, I went to numerous machanot in what my kids tell me was “the olden days”. We would pack a suitcase of clothes, some soap for washing, a sleeping bag and a ground sheet, and got dropped off at Park Station. We and our bags then travelled by train to Hermanus, Mossel Bay, or wherever camp was. We and our bags were put in tents that became our homes for three weeks. No mess, no fuss. I do recall once or twice getting peckish between meals at camp when we would go raid the mitbach for snacks – should I be admitting this?

Back to my sister who saved my buns because she had two seasoned trommels I could use. But, while standing there, she told me about a few things I would need to put in the trunk for my kids.

First off, I needed to get double-sided tape and reinforced duct tape. This was for putting up shelves, sticking battery operated lights, mirrors, and a pack of tissues onto the trommel. The trommel was to be their cupboard for three weeks. So, of course, they would need lights, shelves etcetera. I mean, how could they live out of a suitcase?

Then, there’s always a real chance that the trommel gets wet, and what happens to all the clothes then? Simple, you buy zipped plastic bags of all sizes and proportions that will fit in the crevices and shelves of the trommel so that your clean and dirty clothes, as well as your wet, dry, smart, messing around etcetera clothes have their own bag in the trommel.

I understood I needed to send lots of bags – for toiletries, the beach, packing your stuff in before the end of camp when your trommels are on the truck home. There needs to be a bag for every occasion, and I don’t mean handbags as in what women carry around.

Then, if you have a look on the camp packing list, you’re told to bring a top and undies for every day on camp. Now, bear in mind, camp is three weeks long. My children would have to have something to wear while the other clothes were in the washing. In other words, we either did a huge shop or they learnt what it is to hand wash their socks, jocks, and t-shirts. While I must admit, I did stock up on some new gear (thanks to Black Friday), I made it clear that they were going to be doing washing and gave them a handwashing lesson that I hope will stand them in good stead. I also sent rope for a washing line and pegs, which were on the packing list.

Then, I can’t forget that we had to get stretchers and mattresses to go with the groundsheets, blankets and sleeping bags, in a huge separate bag (that fortunately we could buy from the youth movement). Ever priced a camping stretcher and mattress? Just saying…

Now, we’re a camping family and my kids have had their fair share of holidaying in the rough, so I wasn’t sure they needed the stretcher and the mattress, but no way I was sending them without that. My poor deprived darlings!

I could go on and on because packing those trommels took up every waking moment, that is, when I wasn’t working on this newspaper, but I’ll spare you all.

Suffice to say, we got those trommels off with as little pain as possible, and we’ll be a little more prepared for next year’s machaneh.

• Peta Krost is the editor of the SA Jewish Report.