My daughter Summer is missing her big brother Cooper while he’s at sleep away camp, though let’s be clear, she’s certainly loving all the attention from Darren and me. Now that she’s in the spotlight, she has emerged from her shell and grown so much in such a short amount of time. Meanwhile, Darren and I are so excited about the first of Cooper’s 5-minute phone calls he will be allowed to make to us throughout his 7 weeks away. It’s tomorrow, Thursday, July 10th, between 5:15 and 7:30p.m EST, so T-24+ hours, but who’s counting?! It’s all we talk about. We’re sending Cooper letters every day, and so far we received two, both of which were positive, after we analyzed them! So we’re glad to know he’s healthy and working on making those memories of a lifetime. (Bill Murray’s summer camp movie wasn’t famous for nothing!)
The pictures the camp posts say it all. I made a deal with my son just before he left for camp, “For every picture you get in, you will get $1.” Now I know that bribery is not the best thing to teach a 9-year old, however he’s doing the math because in 9 days, my son has made $30! Camp runs through mid-August, and the fun is just beginning.
Regarding that first phone call, though, it’s safe to say the parents are even more excited than the kids. What will they tell you about what is really going on? I’ll hold the phone tight to my ear and listen to his every word and intonation. We have to remind ourselves not to talk the whole time so we can let Cooper talk. While I always insist on going first, trying to hold back my tears and not show any emotion, Darren patiently waits his turn to tell Cooper “hello” and how much he misses his pal. After those phone calls we dissect every moment, analyzing and discussing, “Did he sound different?” and “Do you think he’s okay?” and “Was that really him?” Camps are smart, they know how to organize these things – they have a water fun fight immediately following the phone call so the kids won’t wallow in any sadness over missing their parents.
Just before Visiting Day at the end of the month, I’ll ask Cooper what he wants me to bring from home, what color balloons we should hold up so he can see us through the running of other parents (we always dress very casually, and without my high heels, I’m the size of a peanut!), and what snack we should bring – this year the request is apple cider donuts from the farm behind our home out east. Inevitably, this list of requests will grow right on up through the last letter I receive just before Visiting Day. We always make a point to arrive well ahead of time so as not to disappoint, and to meet his counselors, new friends and let Cooper lead the way. We’ll also be sure to bring his Color War gear so he’ll be well suited up for the week-long contests, challenges, tournaments and games at camp.
I know Cooper is having a great summer, and then when he comes back home in August he’ll be missing his second family, the friends he made at camp, but it won’t be long before he starts lovingly picking on his little sister again and snuggling up for a hug before bedtime. Darren calls it “muscle memory.”
For any mom who is sending her kid off to camp for the first time and needs a little reassurance, please feel free to EMAIL me for support! This summer was a hell of a lot easier the second time around!
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