Summer Camp
I think I suffered more than my kids ever did when I sent them off to camp for the first time. I lost more sleep than any kid who suffers from the worst case of homesickness. Just when I thought they couldn’t live without me; I found that they actually could (with someone else playing Nurse Ratched). Just minutes ago I was telling them to put their napkins on their laps for the millionth time and cleaning up spilt milk from the floor and now I’m sending them away for a month without me.
Is camp really that good for them? My daughter, in her fight not to go said “just look at bleep, she talks back to her mom since she’s gone to camp.” I rebuffed with “once a talker backer always a talker backer.” I mean obviously there were some issues with this girl before she packed her pistols for camp, or did camp foster her defiant attitude?
What do I know about camp? Absolutely nothing, I grew up with six brothers and sisters. Who needed camp when you could get hit in the face with a baseball at home? So this is what happened. Two weeks into camp I got my children’s call asking to come home early (my new found peace soon to be taken away, not to mention $15,000 in fees later). I considered my options. After all, camp is not punishment, it’s supposed to be fun, right?
The kids stayed the whole month and survived the experience. I think in the end it’s important to tame children in a world where they seem to run around telling the gate keepers what to do and where to go. Let someone else be the bad guy for a while. Let them learn how to live amongst their peers and pick up after them selves while you’re at it. Let them be appreciative of where they live so they can understand that one doesn’t always do what one wants, a lesson I think is important to learn. I do understand why they haven’t gone back to camp this summer. Who would want to leave this glorious zoo called the Hamptons after all?
Is camp really that good for them? My daughter, in her fight not to go said “just look at bleep, she talks back to her mom since she’s gone to camp.” I rebuffed with “once a talker backer always a talker backer.” I mean obviously there were some issues with this girl before she packed her pistols for camp, or did camp foster her defiant attitude?
What do I know about camp? Absolutely nothing, I grew up with six brothers and sisters. Who needed camp when you could get hit in the face with a baseball at home? So this is what happened. Two weeks into camp I got my children’s call asking to come home early (my new found peace soon to be taken away, not to mention $15,000 in fees later). I considered my options. After all, camp is not punishment, it’s supposed to be fun, right?
The kids stayed the whole month and survived the experience. I think in the end it’s important to tame children in a world where they seem to run around telling the gate keepers what to do and where to go. Let someone else be the bad guy for a while. Let them learn how to live amongst their peers and pick up after them selves while you’re at it. Let them be appreciative of where they live so they can understand that one doesn’t always do what one wants, a lesson I think is important to learn. I do understand why they haven’t gone back to camp this summer. Who would want to leave this glorious zoo called the Hamptons after all?
posted by LuAnn deLesseps
at
7:20 AM
3 Comments :
I want to thank you for taking on such a tremendous task of educating on class and manners. As an older NY professional who remembers what the old days were like before such liberal values developed, I am sickened by the failure of many Americans to have some simple civilized behavior. I see americans who do not cover their mouth when they yawn, chew with their mouths open, do not give their seat up for the elderly, pregnant or handicap, close door in your face, and push to get in before you. Thank you. Keep up the good work, and I hope you can further the understanding of why it makes it a better place to educate our children on simple proper behavior.
Countess,
Wow you are spot on the mark with this post! Love it, love knowing someone else is torn like me. My children are still young, so I haven't sent them to overnight camp yet but when the time comes I will feel better about it. Your last paragraph sealed the deal for me! Have a glorious summer! Dawn
As a parent and grandparent, I'd say warm kids up with few nights away from home on school trips (which have parent chaperones), and church or relatives/grandparents willing to give the experience for a few days. Then it is easier. Although it is funny that when we sent our youngest to camp one year (and gave him preaddressed stamped envelopes with funny forms to fill out about his activities and level of enjoyment), he sent a few notes home. He said on arrival home that he enjoyed camp. I asked if he'd like to do it next year. "No, I've already done it." But now he is 23 and spending a year traveling the world by himself. So it can work out fine.
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