Nathan went to his first overnight camp this week away from family and friends, to Eastern Washington University for lacrosse camp. As I dropped him off I realized what a great growth opportunity it would be.
1) It gave him a chance to begin to figure out who he is separate from mom and dad.
Instead of making decisions based on what mom and dad will think, he had to make decisions as to the kind of person he wanted those around him to see. He had to decide who he wanted to be, not just who mom and dad want him to be.
2) He had to take responsibility for himself.
No relying on parents or leaders to tell him what to do. Mom wasn't there every night to tell him to brush his teeth or take a shower. He had to choose what to have for dinner. He could buy soda instead of milk. He could sleep late or get up early to work out.
3) He was able to interact with boys his age without the safety net of parents.
Of course there were adults supervising, but the group of boys did not have parents near by. They had to figure out how they would treat each other and how to react to things like teasing or trouble makers.
4) He was able to play and work hard for himself.
Instead of working hard because mom and dad would be watching, he had to work hard because that's what he wanted to do. He could decide what activities to skip and which ones were important to him.
5) It gave me a chance to trust him.
By dropping him off and driving away it meant that I had to trust that he would make good decisions without me around. His decisions were his alone.
He had a fabulous time and camp. He learned a ton of new lacrosse skills, made some new friends, and came home with a glowing report from the coaches. I have no idea if he brushed his teeth or if he drank soda every night for dinner, but it was a week of growth for both of us.
What experiences have you had sending your kids to camp?
I sent my daughter Anne Marie to BYU basketball camp. My thoughts were very similar to yours. The experience actually improved our relationship after she got back. I don't know if it's because she gained insightsvand maturity by being on her own, or if she simply appreciated the sacrifices it took to let her go. Either way, I think sending a child away to an a good, relevant camp is an important step in helping them become independent of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. It's good to know that the time and money invested can help improve your relationship.
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