The kids are gone.. and I miss them!
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
July 11, 2011 2:02pm CST
My older 3 went to camp yesterday for the week. They won't be home until Saturday morning.
We've been looking forward to this for months. I went to camp when I was a kid, so I knew they'd have a great time. They're right on the lake so they will go swimming, possibly kayaking or canoing.. they might even go on a sailboat or water skis. They're going to make new friends, try new things.. and have such a memorable experience.
I thought I would have an enjoyable week as well. I have just the youngest 2 at home, so less mess and less chaos. I thought I'd enjoy the quiet.
But I miss my kids and am worrying about them a little bit. They've never really been away from home before, so I can't stop thinking about if they're handling things well, if they're scared or nervous, and most of all if they're okay and not getting hurt or something.
I know some of my worry is natural.. my kids have never been away from me so of course it's normal to wonder if they're okay and happy.
I just keep telling myself that they're having so much fun that they probably are not even missing home at all.. I don't think they'll have time to miss home because they're days are jam packed full of activities and fun, and they're so worn out from this at night time that they probably fall asleep before having a chance to miss being home. Plus I know they're safe because there's a minimum 2 councelers to 6 kids plus so many other staff on the campsite, and their number one concern is the campers' safety (we were told about their procedures and safety requirements the day we went to visit camp for Open House a month ago). Plus all the councelors I met when we dropped them off seemed really nice and outgoing.
One of my boys was nervous when we dropped him off, he even started to cry when I was about to leave. But the councelers came over and told him all about the fun he'll have this week and tried to calm his nerves and get him excited about staying there.
They will be fine.. they probably won't want to leave when I go to pick them up on Saturday. But I still can't help but to miss them and worry about them.
Plus I'm really anxious to hear about everything they're doing while at camp!
Have your kids ever gone to camp.. or been away from you for a week?
How did you handle that time that they were away? Did you miss them and worry.. or did you enjoy the break?
10 responses
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
11 Jul 11
My oldest son went to camp one year. I never could afford for him to go to camp but one year his friend wanted him to go so bad that his parents paid his way.I thought that was real nice of them.
I was like you and was worried that he would get hurt,lost or not have fun because of not involving his self in anything.
The next year his friend wanted him to go too but he didn't sadly he told me that it wasn't that good. He was bored the year before because his friend didn't do much things because his parents were helpers as the camp and the boy helped his parents. He swam some with his friend but when his friend wasn't around he was bored because he isn't a very social person. He is very bashful.He didn't even get a group picture took because he didn't know when or where to have it done at. I gave him the money to have one took and a little bit of other extra money for other things.
They washed his shirt for him because he got a bloody nose playing ball.
I think he would've liked it more if he had more friends there or siblings there.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
Aww.. well at least he tried it.
My kids won't have any friends there (that I know of), but they usually don't have trouble making new friends. They certainly aren't shy.. but they aren't exactly outgoing either.
This camp seems pretty organized. The kids sign up for activities on the first day, then each day there is a set time to go to each of these activities. There is also a portion of each day that they call "smorgasborg" where they allow the kids to do an activity that they didn't pick to do daily. There are also set times of the day where they play cabin activities, which is just a game with whoever else is in their cabin. Then they have an all camp activity or event and there's always themes like pirates or aliens or something fun like that.
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
8 Dec 11
I didn't even notice your response before to this discussion. How did the camp situations turn out? Hopefully it turned out good. Do they want to go back next year? Thank you for the best response!
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
17 Jul 11
So? How were they when you picked them up yesterday? Did they had fun? Did they have lots of stories to tell?
My kids are also going to camp starting tomorrow. But it's the kind were I just drop them off in the morning, and pick them up in the afternoon.
I don't think I'm ready yet for them not to sleep at home.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
18 Jul 11
I should probably do a discussion about their trip to camp.. as there is a lot to tell.
I hope yours have a ton of fun! Next year I'm going to sign the 5 year old up for day camp.. he should love that! The other 3 definitely want to go back to resident camp next year!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
My oldest has spent the night with the in laws, with my mom, with my foster mom.... with his aunt a few months ago. Not really with any friends or anything, but I generally don't worry about him too much. A couple summers ago all of my kids spent the night at my mother's, and I didn't worry too much.. mostly I worried about her and how she was handling them.
Last summer my daughter spent a weekend with my mother and I freaked out all weekend.
My other boys have never been away from me (except for the once or twice I've been away from them, like in the hospital or the one time I went on vacation alone.. but each of those times they were home with hubby so I wasn't too worried).
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
12 Jul 11
My kids have never gone to camp thus far, I never went to camp, hubby did i think once or so when he was a kid. I dunno other than day camp if I could handle them going anywhere for that long w/o me. I too would be wondering if they were having a good time, what they were doing, were they thinking of home? I worried when my oldest went last year to the IMax w/ the girl scout troop in the carpool w/o us and that was only for a few hours!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
Last summer my daughter spent the weekend with my mother.. and I called over there to check on her 3 or 4 times a day to make sure she was okay. I just get a little neurotic sometimes and always imagine the worst, you know. My mom doesn't drive but wanted to take my daughter to a movie, so they took the bus.. I was a nervous wreck!!
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
12 Jul 11
Obviously as you know, I have none of my own but, many mums I have spoken to say the same thing that they look forward to some peace and then all they do is spend time worrying abou the kids or actually missing the noise! Lol
I am sure they will have an amaing time - when I was younger, I went to France as part of a school trip and we went Kayaking and visited Disney and I loved it! : )
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
Oh wow, that sounds great!
I wrote a letter to the kids last night.. they should get it today.. I hope to get one back from them. I can't wait to hear about what they're doing over there at camp!
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
12 Jul 11
Enjoy the little freedom you get LOL
My son has gone for two days with this school team and if the opportunity arises again, I’d be the first to push him out of home. not only do they enjoy themselves, they learn to be independent and about the ways of the world too. As for me, I just relax and chill out…do whatever I want to do without worrying all the time about the kid back home
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
11 Jul 11
My kids all went to camp....the worst though was when one went to Summer Science in Northern Minnesota....for a month! Yup! The last two years of the program they were gone a month and I really missed her! I think it's natural to miss them...to wonder if they are having fun...they will be just fine and like you said...by the time you go to get them they won't want to leave!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
I can't imagine one of them being gone for a whole month, I'd probably be a total mess!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Jul 11
It is quite natural to miss them - I missed mine so very much - still do. I never enjoyed the break from them as part of me felt incomplete.When they come home you may find that they have matured a bit. This happens. Am rushing. Just to let you know that I will be absent from Mylot for about 2 weeks or if I do log on then it will not be for long. My vacation begins Wednesday and wedding is on Saturday. Tennessee is here from Sunday, North Carolina arrived yesterday and U.K. comes in tonight. New York arrives Thursday with the rest from UK also coming in Thursday. Oh, Thursday is hot as Miami comes in too along with Atlanta. My daughter and her friends
Oh, I have come down with a bad cold and sore throat. But I did get the dress fixed. She brought the sleeves in a bit so not so much chest exposed. It now fits better and I am happy . Have a cute photo of twins and big sister trying on their outfits so will send it to you. Take care of yourself and try not to worry as camp is a good experience for them. Blessings
Oh, I have come down with a bad cold and sore throat. But I did get the dress fixed. She brought the sleeves in a bit so not so much chest exposed. It now fits better and I am happy . Have a cute photo of twins and big sister trying on their outfits so will send it to you. Take care of yourself and try not to worry as camp is a good experience for them. Blessings@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Jul 11
I'm sorry that you're not feeling well.. I hope it clears up before the wedding. Have fun, I hope it all goes smoothly!
@zlp159632 (5)
• China
12 Jul 11
Every parents don't like their children leave them for a long time.But this is the important process of the children becoming people.They can grow up and know many lot of things through leave their parents to join in the camp.So the parents should adapt yourself to let the children experience the experiences which is belong themselves.
