just a big ol' bawl baby

[unavidanueva]

Oh, my. I dropped my oldest daughter (13) off for the bus to summer camp early this morning. Her first time away from home, so it's also my first time without her for any significant length of time. She will be gone for twelve days, and she knows absolutely no one at the camp. She was excited, and scared, and brave, and insecure, all at the same time. When I got into the car, I burst into tears, cried my way home, and have been crying off and on all day. I'm so proud of her, afraid for her, excited for her ... and it is so hard to have such a big part of my heart 330 miles away from home.

So today I'm just a big ol' bawl baby. :'(

 

[southernlady]

Oh, my. I dropped my oldest daughter (13) off for the bus to summer camp early this morning. Her first time away from home, so it's also my first time without her for any significant length of time. She will be gone for twelve days, and she knows absolutely no one at the camp. She was excited, and scared, and brave, and insecure, all at the same time. When I got into the car, I burst into tears, cried my way home, and have been crying off and on all day. I'm so proud of her, afraid for her, excited for her ... and it is so hard to have such a big part of my heart 330 miles away from home.

So today I'm just a big ol' bawl baby. :'(

Completely understandable.

But one thing I DO know from all my years past of being a camp counselor...if you get a call/text/ whatever from her telling you she is homesick, DO NOT jump in the car to go get her. By the time you get there, she will be fine and look at you like "why are you embarrassing me by showing up". Almost EVERY single time I had a camper tell me that, the next day they were JUST fine and having a blast.

 

[DianaCox]

 

[unavidanueva]

Completely understandable.

But one thing I DO know from all my years past of being a camp counselor...if you get a call/text/ whatever from her telling you she is homesick, DO NOT jump in the car to go get her. By the time you get there, she will be fine and look at you like "why are you embarrassing me by showing up". Almost EVERY single time I had a camper tell me that, the next day they were JUST fine and having a blast.

We discussed this before she left. She understands that camp is a huge investment and a huge privilege, and being trusted with that privilege means she will have to work through whatever emotions come up, because the only way she is coming home is on that bus when camp is over.

I don't know if all camps have this policy nowadays, but she is at HoneyRock (Wheaton College's camp ministry). The kids are not allowed any electronics. Old school all the way. I think it is a great idea.

 

[unavidanueva]

LOL @DianaCox!! I played the song for my son, he loved it!

 

[southernlady]

I don't know if all camps have this policy nowadays, but she is at HoneyRock (Wheaton College's camp ministry). The kids are not allowed any electronics. Old school all the way. I think it is a great idea.

I don't know either cause at the time I was a camp counselor, the ONLY options were the camp phone (and there were only two extensions...one in the main office and one in the health room) or SNAIL mail.

In fact I was a camper when man first walked on the moon. They did find A TV (B&W) and we all sat outside watching it as a group.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Completely understandable.

But one thing I DO know from all my years past of being a camp counselor...if you get a call/text/ whatever from her telling you she is homesick, DO NOT jump in the car to go get her. By the time you get there, she will be fine and look at you like "why are you embarrassing me by showing up". Almost EVERY single time I had a camper tell me that, the next day they were JUST fine and having a blast.

OTOH...if you get three letters a day saying, "Come get me NOW," and you drive through mountains and fog to get YOUR kid (my niece)....at least FIND your niece (MY KID) and ask her how she is doing...or else your sister (ME) will still think you are an idiot three decades later.

(Camp was "tent cabins," horrible series of storms, no dry places to sleep, clothes came home growing mildew, power failures, backed up sewers...etc. They should have closed down that week and moved everyone to town.). All of her other camp experiences were fine...but there ARE times. Just keep an eye on weather.com! Lol

Most likely, she will be crying when you pick her up...because she wants to stay with them...not you.

 

[k9ophile]

Most likely, she will be crying when you pick her up...because she wants to stay with them...not you.

That was me every time I went to camp. I had so much fun.

 

[Jen-2]

This sounds so familiar. I have 4 daughters (ages 15, 13, 10 and 6) and I can relate. First time off to "sleep away" camp; first time one flew alone, etc... I'm sure she's having a great time. Hang in there!

 

[unavidanueva]

The countdown is on! Younger brother and sister are keeping me updated ... three more days until she comes home, Mom! Only three more nights I have to sleep in my room alone, Mom!!

 

[kirmy]

I met my oldest transgender friend at camp. Jason now Jaye was the weird effeminate kid with wild hair and silk shirts and I was the weird fat kid with separation anxiety and propensity for public displays of calisthenics. We bonded over our misery. Our friendship endured for decades until I wasn't miserable any more. Jaye still to this day has better tits than I'll ever have.

I still suppress the urge to cartwheel and demonstrate my back bend.

 

[DuodenalSwitchaRoo]

I had never heard the original before lol, I only know the drug version hahahaha