Darren and I have been busy preparing our 9 ½ year old son, Cooper, for sleepaway camp. No phones, televisions, or videos, just sports, games and a whole lot of fun without his parents around! It’s a mixed bag of emotions on our end as parents. Sending a nine year old with two duffle bags away for seven weeks might sound mean and uncaring, but it’s healthy! As Michael D. Eisner, the former CEO of Disney, said, “Camp is a guide to growing up, learning to rely on yourself as you work as a team, developing tools for leadership, competing to win but finding pride and growth in defeat.” Cooper will be able to express himself amongst his peers daily, have total freedom from his little sister, and make memories that will last a lifetime!
The packing list is pretty crazy – I have packed his bags with everything he needs to stay clean, warm and happy. Since I can’t pack his food while he’s away at camp, I have helped him to understand that he needs to make healthy choices. We’ll wave goodbye to him on the bus this Saturday. Darren and I will be sad but excited for him, and I’ll probably be holding back a few tears! Stay tuned for a camp update in a couple of weeks!
In the meantime, if you are a mom who sending her kid off to camp for the first time and need a little reassurance, please feel free to e-mail me at sha@dashawellness.com for support!
DASHA® wellness & spa is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
