Princess and The Rock: Packing for the Perfect Family Camp

This morning as I was folding the laundry, Princess was keeping herself busy writing some "notes". She asked me to spell a few words for her and I didn't (as usual) but tried to get her to phonetically sound out the words. After a short while, she declared that she's got her packing list for our family camp ready and proceeded to read it to me. Oh my! That was the most COMPLETE packing list I've ever heard for any trip!

Here it goes!

Packing List for Family Camp (or any Family Trip)

Mat
Marshmallows
Chocolate
Biscuits
Milk
Dinner
Lunch
Joy
Memories
Happiness
Love for Family

I was really surprised to hear the last four items on the packing list and asked her about them. She replied in a nonchalant manner, "Oh, they are important for an enjoyable camp. And the marshmallows, chocolate and biscuits are for making S'mores for breakfast!"

Her response made me wonder if these things that we adults consider as intangibles are really tangible things to children, such that Princess would itemise them and list them on the packing list. Could we have over-complicated things when really, joy is something you can decide to bring along, just like a teddy bear and memories are created pretty much the same way as art and craft (creatively and spontaneously)?

Oh, how I thank God for my little Princess, who teaches me something new everyday (much more than I can teach her)!