There are some parenting milestones you expect to feel emotional. I feel like I usually keep it together for these. I don’t generally get over emotional on birthdays or first days of school, etc. I definitely did not have “three-day mini camp” on my list, but apparently that is where I found out I am not nearly as cool about independence as I imagined. For me! Kate was cool as a cucumber.
Kate went to her first overnight camp this summer, and in true me fashion, I approached it like a project. Naturally, I started with the trunk. I bought the cutest pink wooden trunk for her things, only to discover it was too small and not at all the right choice for actual camp life. And I wanted her to be able to use if year after year so pivot.
Allyson had shared this perfect plastic trunk from Academy and I guess everyone seemed to buy them all and didn’t leave any for the people trying to buy one at the last minute! After searching, I finally tracked ONE down in Sherwood, and one night after dinner Kate and I made the drive over to get it. I was thrilled when it was actually there. Blue, not pink… but we have a trunk. And Kate leaves in three days.
Once we got it home, I spent the next two days painting it. We also made a special trip to hunt down stickers because, of course, when we actually needed the stash of stickers we had saved, they had vanished. We found new ones, painted the trunk, and made it hers. It ended up looking exactly like a camp trunk should, colorful, a little overdone, and full of personality. You can read more about the trunk HERE!
When drop-off day came, we carried everything in, made her bed, got her settled, and she seemed happy. Excited! Not sure if she was more excited or Emily was since she would be the only child for a few days. I left feeling proud of her and honestly pretty good about the whole thing.
What I did not realize, somehow, is that when you send your child to camp, it’s not like going to your grandparents’ house where you get phone calls or facetimes. I received exactly zero communication for three days. No update, no quick text from a counselor, no “your child has showered and consumed at least one vegetable” confirmation. Nothing. They uploaded about 20 pictures and I could see Kate in two. It is a very specific kind of modern parenting torture to send your child off and hear nothing! We live in a digital age! Isn’t there a live streaming camera where I can check in on her? SOMETHING?!
We had sent notes for her to open each day, and I wrote out a prayer on a little card and tucked it into her trunk for bedtime. Emmy decorated the inside with pictures of the two of them, which was so sweet. I could picture Kate climbing into bed at night, with her bunny, and saying her nightly prayer. It made me feel better when I was laying in bed, wondering what she was doing, if she showered, does she like the food? Is she making friends? Did she like the horses? So many questions.
As it turns out, she was doing just fine. More than fine, actually.
When Brian picked her up, she was happy! She said she had so much fun and can’t wait to go back next year, she wants to do an entire week! I am sure having Nora Grace there helped. Kate said they got so much time together and had the best time, which feels like exactly what you want camp to be at that age. A little freedom, a lot of fun, and a best friend by your side.
She also casually mentioned that they stayed up until 11:00 one night, independence at its finest. I was proud of her before camp, and even more proud now. Proud that she walked into something new and loved it! Proud that she was brave enough to be away from home and confident enough to enjoy it. Proud and a little sad that she is growing up, even when I would prefer that process slow down just a little.
It was only a few days, just a first little overnight camp, but it felt like one of those quiet markers that tells you childhood is moving right along whether you are ready or not. She came home tired, the best kind of tired and (I think) a little more sure of herself.
And I was reminded that sometimes the hardest part of parenting is letting them go do the very things you’ve worked so hard to prepare them for. Love you, Kate-Kate!! XOXO
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