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My Kids...Go To Camp? How can this possibly be? My son is 9 years old and my daughter is 5, and I've just signed them up for sleepaway camp. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was spending the best summers of my life as a camper. Could I possibly have children that are already that age. What kind of mother sends a 5 year old to sleep away camp? Mine did. How could she have done that? I guess she's smarter that I thought! After having searched and scrutinized numerous programs, I have finally found the right camp. My kids are looking forward to the summer, watching the camp video for the thousandth time, talking about all the things they will be doing. The winter months are filled with purchasing the necessary clothing and items needed, ironing in labels, and calming fears (most of them my own). It's the day before camp. I call my mother. Can I really do this? Can they really do this? "You did it," she says. That was different, - these are my kids! I drive them up on "CAMP-DAY". They look a little anxious when I leave, but so do all the other kids. I know that this is the best possible experience I can give them. Two days later, the first letters arrive. My daughter's contains a crayon drawing of her counselor, (she can't write yet). The counselor looks like something from Halloween III. It's probably just my daughter's interpretation, I say to myself. My son's letter contains a pre-stamped postcard in an envelope with a stamp on it. I thought we had gone over how postcards and letters work. What else have I forgotten to tell him? He says things are great. I write, I call, I see them on visiting day, (only to find my daughter wearing someone else's clothes, and 3 girls wearing hers). They are happy. The day has come to pick them up. They look healthy, tan, happy, and a little more grown up. The tears are because they have to leave. My son says they offered him a guinea pig to take care of. I only have to buy a cage, food, and a water bottle. On the way home all they talk about is camp, concerned with when camp starts next year. I smile. I have done well. I have raised two campers. ©1996 - 2013 National Camp Association |