She’s Gone – Now What? My Daughter Left for Summer Camp
June 30, 2014
Blog post by Maine Camp Experience Guide, Laurie Kaiden. The new normal (or so we’re pretending) is just the three of us here at home, while my firstborn is at camp. I can’t decide if I should be opening and closing the blinds in her room each day and night? I have; however, definitively decided that her empty bed is a convenient staging station for the pile of swim towels for my younger daughter’s day camp, as well as laundry to be folded. But – back to her being away … I thought I would be sadder as she headed off. However, at the airport, I shed just a single [dinosaur-egg] tear. I guess I feel like she was psyched and ready and she’s in the hands of the capable directors of her Maine Camp Experience camp. (Note – No judgments here - I know other parents who cried a lot, which is obviously fine too.) She did great and only got a second sad as we hugged goodbye before she was quickly and efficiently whisked off by counselors. Hopefully the forecast is blue skies ahead for 7 weeks of fun. Here are things felts/seen/heard as many other families may be experiencing:
- I DID feel good to receive the recorded voice mail letting me know the campers had arrived.
- I DID have some drinks with friends Saturday at the pool and a BBQ at night.
- I DID NOT check for camp pics (though when my husband saw/showed me one of her setting foot on the camp grounds - I was happy to see she looked good); I will not be obsessed with the online pics. I truly want my daughter to have the authentic camp experience like we had when we were younger and I don’t want to obsess if she looks happy or sad, with friends or not, etc. For families at camps that do not post pictures – enjoy!!! I’m most psyched to receive letters from her to hear in her words what she’s doing and how it’s going.
- I DID wind up with an extra kid here Saturday night. At a friend’s BBQ, I wound up picking up a sleepover date for my younger daughter. I think that she, who was sooo excited to be the only kid home, is already bored and whiny.
- I DID finally start to think about what the rest of us here should be doing this summer for holiday weekends and the like; I DID NOT yet get any further with making plans. Let’s see what the summer brings. I’m curious to hear about her favorite activities, about her bunkmates and counselors, about her camp “big sister,” and all the other traditions and happenings. Hopefully it’s a great summer for all the kids at camp, and their parents and siblings at home. We’ll see what’s in store … Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools
Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful new tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (2-7 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth.
Next, be sure to to discuss these camps as well as for year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.