A few months ago, we had our very first camping experience in the desert with friend, at the Moreeb Dune, which is somewhere between the Saudi Arabia border and Abu Dhabi.  The biggest sand dune in the United Arab Emirates.

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We set up camp right next to the biggest dune as the men had made a strategical decision that the dune would provide:

• shade 
• shelter from the wind; and
• privacy from campers on the other side

To the ladies it meant, something for the kids to do, as in the desert there is , of course, nothing to do for them except to swim in the sand perhaps.  No swimming pools, play areas or any type of amusement really. The kids can climb up and down the dune, slide down, race their remote control cars and if someone were to have an accident, we would be close by to help. We do not think about all the other strategical things. 

(My photo)

On the second day, we got ourselves some neighbors. Yup! I guess the desert wasn't big enough to find another spot, because one of their tents was set up right next to ours. Anyways, they came in a rather large group. I think it was about 6 or 7 Indonesian families, so there must have been about 4 to 5 children per family, well I didn't count them, but that is my estimate. The point is, there were MANY!

That evening, while sitting around our campfire to barbeque, our husbands were having deep discussions about manly things, leaving us ladies to keep our eyes on our children, sorting out the "Mommyyy, he took my flashlight... Mommyyy, I have to pee" problems.   After putting our kids to bed and having a break to just sit peacefully after an exhausting day, my friend noticed that our neighbors were doing things differently. In their circle, the dads were the ones running after the children, wiping noses, keeping them entertained and sorting out whatever problems they were having. The women were the ones who were relaxing, laughing, having deep conversations, telling jokes, and just minding their own damn business. The kids did not even go near them, didn't bother them with petty problems, nada, nothing, zilch! 

Think about it, really. Moms are NOT the only ones who can look after children. 

Fathers tend to spend more of their time with children in leisure activities like watching TV, whereas mothers’ time with children is more often spent doing tasks like serving dinner, grocery shopping, or ensuring they get to soccer on time.

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We all know the gender stereotype saying that women should look after the children; that it isn't a man's job; that looking after children would make a man look less manly, etc.

I SAY BULLDUST! 

1. You look EVEN MORE manly doing it!
2. It WILL score you some brownie points!!
3. I will even go so far as to say that that's the way turn her ON!

What a lovely way to spoil your queen. Keep the spark!

You see, women also have some form of strategical thinking...

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Belinda