My 15 yr old is sleeping outside....

[CapybarasAreJustGuineaBigs]

... in a hammock tonight 😂

He can't decide whether to hang his stocking up next to his hammock or leave it in his room. He'd bloody better choose his room as Father Christmas doesn't fancy trekking down to the end of the garden to deliver gifts.

(He isn't alone, his dad is out there with him in his own hammock, the pair of mad bastards )

If they are waiting for Santa, he’ currently headed for Firesign in Germany.

Friesing.
no edit button.

They've got flasks of cocoa and a packet of lebkuchen. I did briefly consider delivering the stocking to the hammock when I saw how excited he was, but then had second thoughts as there's lots of edible stuff in it and I fear that the squirrels might get there first!! So it will be waiting on the end of his bed indoors.

Sounds like a safe plan although to the squirrels disappointment

Ah stocking to hammock would be amazing - but being woken up by squirrels scrabbling all over it less so!
Sounds great though. I love this sort of thing.

The night sky is beautiful on a winters night in Wales ⭐

Yes we are very lucky, I've just let the dogs out and can see the Milky Way 🌌

Honestly, I think they're mental, but it's made me smile. DS2 - seasoned camper - would be 100% up for this, what kind of hammock do they have? We have one with a frame (that is solely used by DS2!)

They've got DD hammocks with alllll the accessories - DP has had the full kit for a while and DS got it for his last birthday. Underblankets, flysheets, tarps, the lot. We are lucky to have a huge garden (more of a sort of field really) with a patch of young woodland at the very end, so they've put the hammocks up between some hazel trees.

Marvellous, he's 18 in a couple of months so that'll give me loads of ideas!

I think that sounds wonderful. A marvellous bonding experience between father and son. A memory to treasure forever.

My partner went wild camping on Dartmoor last night! I would have gone too but currently on chemo.

we camped out on Christmas before and woke up in a forest that looked like narnia!

Are hammocks comfy to sleep in?

When DS was in his teens he and a bunch of his friends decided that they were going to spend the night outside on the trampoline. My only stipulation was that they would use sleeping bags, not duvets. They seemed to enjoy themselves!

There are times I wish we still had the laugh emoji. 🤣🙄😵‍💫

One of our older DC tried that once with friends (in summer) and was absolutely freezing due to lack of insulation. They all came in at about 1am. If only the adults in the family had warned them that they'd need plenty of layers underneath and suggested they get the roll mats and thick woollen blankets out...

Ah this sounds fun!! Fair play to his dad for joining in.
Do update us .

Every Christmas we go for a walk round the local Christmas lights and DS has made it a tradition that he goes in shorts and t shirt . The rest of us have declined to join in

I love sleeping in a hammock! Even better on a boat with the motion rocking you

What wonderful memories he'll have of him and his Dad camping out at Christmas. Good job it's not as wet as we've had lately.

How fantastic! If they’re going to be warm it’ll be the best Christmas Eve ever. It’s so special that his dad has joined him and I hope they really enjoy it! What a way to get the magic back and have some son/dad time together. Amazing, I love this!

Note to self: be more adventurous in ‘26 and sleep out in a hammock!

Have they got a tarpaulin over them?

DS did this with army cadets in January. They had tarps and I'd bought him a sub zero sleeping bag. He got too hot 😂. He said it was a really good night in the woods.

Bonkers!

But you’ve reminded me I haven’t sorted DS’s stocking…. Thankfully he’s 24 and I’ll be up first tomorrow so I’ll do it then.

My daughter did the same when she was about 12.

Fairy lights, snacks, blankets and cuddly toys and a sleeping bag. I expected her to come in after an hour or so but she stayed out until she woke at around 7am!

Me again - this is the just the loveliest thread, I’ve read it all now and it’s heart warming. All the super memories others have shared. I hope you’ve time tomorrow @CapybarasAreJustGuineaBigs to update.

I’ve been so uplifted reading this - what your DS and DH are experiencing is priceless. With all the ‘spend, spend, spend’ and Christmas related stress in some other threads it’s a valuable reminder that the best things really are free and the memories will last a lifetime (I know there’s the initial cost of all the gear, but I hope you get the gist)

I’d be tempted to take them a couple of hot water bottles, such a treat when camping in colder weather! ✨