Summer officially pops off for us on Friday.
We’ve officially decided to start acting like it now.
I’ve completely given up on checking their back packs for homework assignments (shhhh, don’t tell the teachers).
I’m not really caring what they wear to school anymore (this week they both went in basketball shorts with shirts that didn’t even match a little).
Bedtime has turned into a complete and utter farce (pretty sure #1 was awake last night when I went to sleep at 11pm with the dog and the baby brother tucked in his bed with him).
#3 has given up on wearing underwear and shoes entirely; his feet look like he put out fires with them (thankfully his, um, “junk” remains relatively clean).
And, we’ve already spent a hot day or two chillaxin’ at the lake (yeahhhh boyeeeee said-all-Flavor-Flav-like every time I set up my chair and my umbrella at the lake)…
I guess you can say I’m done.
Done with the rushed mornings and the crazy after-school-activity-filled-homework-laden-everybody-is-crying-and-hungry-and-tired schedule.
Done with constant demands on our time and our inability to just have a lay-about-in-our-jammies-and-scratch day.
But, don’t let my done-ness be confused for readiness.
I am NOT ready for summer.
I am not sure one can ever really prepare for the fighting, whining, crying, complaining, and various other child-grip-infused days I sense are coming.
They will be intense. At least at first. Until we get used to each other’s funk again.
In a rarely seen effort to be prepared, I’m proud to say that I’ve actually made some plans to help focus some of their energy during this transition period from school to home. These are including but not limited to the following:
- A cool list of activities to keep kids from getting buck when school is out (I will share soon!).
- A Made in America Challenge that will include awesomeness these Dudes better not even consider being annoying during.
- A number of new mom-sized hiding places with secret chocolate stashes the children can not now and will not ever know about.
- An emergency list of friends who have made verbal agreements to come get at least one of the Dudes when things do in fact get buck.
- An extended trip or five to Mimi’s house.
- A pool, a lake, and park all within a 5 minute driving distance.
- Summer camp. Booked and paid for months ago to ensure these Dudes a spot.
- Television. Um, yeah,don’t even play games with me, we watch the heck outta some TV in the summer.
And, there is a remote although entirely possible scenario wherein I may find myself agreeing to send #1 to a four day sleep away camp this year.
I’m freaking out a bit about it.
One of my personal best summers of all time was when I went to 4-H summer camp between my 6th and 7th grade years (this is my cousin & I, before I shipped out).
Please note a few things. One, I didn’t even know what 4-H was before I signed up for this camp. Honestly, I’m not even sure I know now.
Two, it was a week long camp featuring middle school aged boys and girls in cabins with camp counselors that seemed old at the time, but were probably not even 20. Every single person there was ridiculously horny awkward.
And, three, I hated being outside for more than 15 minutes on a hot, sweaty, summer day. Especially if it’s a Kansas day, which all of these days happened to be (we lived in the Sunflower State at the time).
Basically, this camp ranks as one of the best summers in my human history simply because of the fact that it ended and I returned home alive without contracting scurvy, dysentery, or Ebola. My most discomforting ailment was that I was sunburnt to a proverbial crisp (and yes, I DO get sunburns in case you were wondering).
In all fairness, when I wasn’t being shunned by the girls and ignored by the boys, attempting to stay out of the direct sunlight, away from the horses, and covered in DEET to ward off the flying canines they had for bugs, trying to make archery look and feel cool, or desperately looking for a safe and semi-clean place to poop, I had an okay time.
I learned a lot about myself and how not cut out for outdoorsyness I truly am, and I also learned that I really don’t give a care about peer pressure (I swear, Mom and Dad, I didn’t sneak out of that cabin even one time. The dark combined with the wildlife and the fact that the dudes really weren’t that into me made it not worth it.).
So, I would like my Dudes to have similar experiences when they are ready.
He says he is ready.
I say I don’t know.
So, what do you say?
Is 10 too young for sleep away camp? What about 20? Fine. 18.
Help!
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- Now that’s what I call a field trip!
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**pBd Admits She Works With These People: Today’s post was brought to you by my awkward middle school years, my Dude’s ever approaching tweendom, and my pals at Hallmark as part of their Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I really wish my children would skip the cruddy preteen years and go straight into being normal-ish again. Also, I wish babies did come with a handbook. I feel that was a big oversight by the big guy.
Stimey says
My 10-year-old is at sleep away camp AS WE SPEAK. I’m completely freaking out. He is probably totally fine. He left Monday. He comes back Friday. It is WEIRD.
Marta says
I had an okay time at sleepaway camp too. Apparently everyone knows everyone and I didn’t know anyone. So that kind of sucked being the outsider. But yes I think 10 is good for going to sleepaway! Good luck!
Galit Breen says
1. I’m done, too.
2. Your lake pictures are fabulous.
3. How cute is young you at camp?!
4. I’m *so* not ready to send my kids away yet. Maybe never. Hold me.
girlymama says
10? I don’t know. I keep SAYING 10 is old enough but now that my daughter is 9, I think its too young! It really depends on the kids – my older daughter would be TOTALLY fine with leaving us for a week, while my younger one will probably have a hard time even when she is 18!
Dana @ Bungalow'56 says
Youngest went to horse camp last summer for four days. She was only nine. It just about killed me, but she really wanted to go. There was a letter system where we could email them and they email us back. She went with a cousin. She wanted to go again this year, but the dates didn’t work. I still don’t like the idea much. Entrusting my kids to complete strangers just feels so strange? She loved it though, so I would let her go again for sure.
Dana
Alexia @ Babies & Bacon says
Yea BOY!!! That’s hi-larious. And totally caused me to spit juice out of my nose. Thanks for that ;)
And I was shipped off to Girl Scout camp at age 6 for a whole week. I was homesick for all of half a day and then suddenly, thought it was the coolest thing ever to be away from my parents and siblings. I think this is why I love to travel so much and would love to see the world. From a very early age I was out the door and loving how much I independence my folks gave me to explore my world. I think the Dudes are gonna love it!!
Jennifer says
I’m not a good advice giver on this whole appropriate age for sleep away camp thing. I went to church camp, but I don’t remember what age that was 5th to 6th grade ish. I’m more like you in thinking that they should just stay home with me until they are grown.
Mindi says
No idea when is the right age for sleep away camp and not ready to think about my boys doing that sort of stuff just yet! I went to sleep away camp when I was in 6th grade. It was the most miserable experience ever. I had a huge fear of swimming and was a horrible swimmer. I recall being tortured with the canoe tippy test where you sit in a canoe, tip it over and then have to swim out of it with your “teammates”. ah, yeah I was terrified of this! I am pretty sure I cried every night that I wanted to go home and yes my mom eventually picked me up a couple of days early. I was such a big baby! I’m hoping when my boys are old enough and if they want to go they have a blast. It sounds like a good time in theory.
Arnebya @whatnowandwhy says
Our oldest is 11 now, so that means she was 9 when she first went. She stayed a week: Friday to Friday. While she thoroughly enjoyed the days (she became more comfortable in the water, learning to swim shortly thereafter after having been incredibly fearful before) and learned to ride her bike. She said the food was spectacular. Yet. The evenings, with the teen counselors…they told ghost stories. And even though she’s not easily afraid (usually) and she KNOWS Old Man Clutch is not real, I’m guessing it’s different when there’s a dilapidated shack next to the cabin you’re in and people are telling you that’s where he killed his wife and children, and now he’s headless and wants to eat children. Scared her so bad the night before they left that she threw up. In her bed. Outside of nighttime, she had a stone cold blast.
She’s refused to return but she did express interest in going to sleep away camp with Girl Scouts this year. Unfortunate thing about that: they start registration in (scream idiocy with me!) January and it’s like parents must sit at their computers ready to hit enroll the minute it opens.
Teresha says
NPR just did a story on this very subject on camps and how important they are to developing a child’s independence. only the parents can assess a child’s readiness for sleep away camp. if you think he is mature enough to handle it, I say go for it!
Maggie S. says
You tell a great story.
Sleep away camp? Depends on the kids. We have friends whose kids went as soon as they were allowed by the camp.
Kimberly says
No underwear eh?
Kid must be on to something.
I never attended a camp…well scratch that…I did do camps through brownies and girl scouts but they were more like weekend getaways and they sucked because they made us work to get those damn badges.
I mean like do we really need to learn how to start a fire? No.
Anyways, I’m nauseated thinking of my son starting school in September.
I’m not sure I could handle the camp thing.
Kmama says
I used to go to a church camp in the summer. It was a week long camp, and I loved it. I mean, I could have done without sleeping in a rough cabin, and peeing and showering in a community bathroom, but overall, it was fun.
Pat says
My girls have gone to church sleep away camps every summer since they were right about 10. They are 16 and 18 now. The camps all been very organized and extremely structured. The best thing is that I had personal references from moms that I could trust whose kids had gone there previous years.
My son, on the other hand, has not been to one yet (he’s 13). He does not like the idea of more than one night away from home with people he doesn’t know.
So if dude is ready and you’ve done a crime/FBI/America’s most wanted check on the camp :-) then go for it.
BTW, the girls have always had a blast. I’ve always been beside myself with worry the whole week though.
Kat says
I feel like i missed out on the whole ship off to camp thing – day camp just doesn’t compare.
Amy @ Love Bug says
I always thought of 4H as some agriculture club. From your photo it looks like it might’ve been fun!
You know, as far as camps, I loved them growing up. Misty Meadows camp was my favorite where we rode horses all day long! I think camps are a great idea. Maybe not constantly…lol. But yeah, my son will for sure be doing them. Maybe when he’s like 8, or 9?
Run DMT says
I’m the wrong person to ask because I don’t do any camps with my kids.
I never did away camps but my sister did and she loved it. I’m sure she had similar experiences as you. I don’t think 10 is too young. My oldest is 10 and I think she’s old enough and mature enough for it. I’m just too cheap to spend the money on it.
Jennifer says
Sleep away camp? As in sleep-away-from-Mom-and-her-protection? Uh, I would say 20 is good. And even still, 35 doesn’t sound too bad either.
Parenting Tips says
I went to a sleep away camp some time in elementary school…maybe like 4th or 5th grade? As well the boys photo adorable.
stacy says
oh my goodness, what a great photo of the boys — love the flashback photo too. They are going to love it
It Feels Like Chaos says
I don’t know, my 9 year old was invited to go to a 2 week sleep-away camp with his best friend. I wasn’t sure what to think about it, so I asked my son if he wanted to and he said, “How about just those camps where you go for the day and then come home and sleep at home?” Yeah, that’s my boy! So, not sure when we’ll do the sleep-away camp, but I agree it seems like a classic childhood experience.
MixedMolly says
Schools been out a couple of weeks and I’ve heard my limit of “but it’s not fair.” I can totally relate to this post :) My son will be nine next summer and he will be going to a 3 night camp close to our home. 10’s not too young. He’ll love it!
bcIMthemommy says
I had NO idea you lived in Kansas. I’m shocked! Here I thought you were strictly a Cali girl. But I love that we share that “connection”. And I find it very amusing that you attended a 4-H camp. I did too but that was because I was totally IN 4-H. I can tell you what the Hs stand for and everything and how to saddle a horse and grow stuff and stuff….
Krystyn says
Isn’t it crazy how easy it was for you to want to go, and now that your are the mom, it’s like a million times harder?
I went to a sleep away camp some time in elementary school…maybe like 3rd or 4th grade?
Karly @ Three in Three says
I went to a sleep away camp between 4th and 5th grade to train to be a Crossing Guard Captain. It was so much fun, I was gone for one full week. I was hooked on camp after that!