Off To Camp They Go

The first time I sent the kids to sleep-away camp I wanted to make sure that they were fully prepared with everything they could possibly need. I followed the packing list the camp provided and made sure they had everything on the list, and it was all expertly folded and labeled. When we picked them up from camp Dane was wearing the same outfit that he was wearing the day he left. In his suitcase everything was still neatly folded. I learned several lessons from that experience;

1. at camp boys don't change their underwear everyday
2. packing lists are guidelines, not rules
3. no matter how much preparation I do I can't control everything

I was much more relaxed getting the kids ready for camp this year. In fact, I even let them help. That's personal growth. One of the things that helped me be relaxed in my preparations and also have less anxiety about them being gone, is knowing that they are going to SDC. The first camp I sent the kids to a few years ago was a disaster, it was the wrong place for them. We chalked it up to a learning experience (they learned things they shouldn't have, and I learned how to pick better camps) and moved on. This week they will be at the perfect place for them, I feel very lucky to have found it. It has all the quintessential outdoor summer camp activities, but it's actually a performing arts camp. It attracts talented, interesting kids and gives them an opportunity to learn and perform in a fun, supportive atmosphere. I'm not worried about them at all, Dagny and Dane are going to have a great week. Now that they're gone I can concentrate on the child-free week ahead. My mind reels at all the possibilities...