The Dilemma of Refreshing the Camp Photo Page When Your Kids Are Away at Summer Camp

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As a child, I was completely captivated by the classic version of The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills. In my eyes, it was far superior to the Lindsay Lohan remake—though I may be a tad biased. The idea of having a twin sister, preferably one living on a California ranch, was a dream I held close. I also found the thought of spending an entire summer at camp both thrilling and a little scary. However, aside from a disastrous week at a Girl Scout horseback riding camp in Florida, which involved an ant invasion in our cabin, I never experienced sleepaway camp myself. And I certainly didn’t end up with a surprise twin sister either.

Fast forward to when my kids reached elementary school, and I was determined to send them off to camp for at least a week or two. I envisioned them enjoying the mountains, waterfalls, campfire songs, and harmless pranks—definitely no secret twin sibling surprises! The thought of sending my little ones off on their own was intimidating at first, but my independent firstborn convinced me he was ready before I could overthink it. So, I found myself packing shower shoes and labeling socks with a Sharpie, and off he went.

This summer marks the fifth year I’ll be sending my boys to camp in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, and I know they’ll have a blast. But I also anticipate the inevitable: Parent Refresh Button Syndrome, subtype Sleepaway Camp.

If you’ve ever sent your child to sleepaway camp, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sure, we put on brave faces and feel a little giddy when we drop our kids off, watching them settle into their cabins with their eager counselors. We leave the parking lot feeling free, dreaming of solo trips to Target, manicures, and uninterrupted date nights. The world feels like our oyster—at least for a week or two. But here’s the reality: we end up glued to our devices, obsessively checking for updates from the camp.

Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. REFRESH.

When those new photos finally appear, heaven help us if our kids are missing from them. Is that a glimpse of his sleeve in the corner of yet another picture? I could swear I packed that tie-dye shirt from the last Lands’ End sale—surely that’s my kid! But no, it turns out countless other moms had the same idea, and that’s not him after all. Panic sets in. Where is my child?

I won’t lie; I’ve emailed the camp a couple of times, asking if my kid is even still there since he hadn’t made an appearance in any photos for days. My finger was sore from refreshing. I imagined all sorts of disasters—what if he fell off a cliff during a hike or got lost during a campfire?

Refresh. Refresh. Refresh.

But the truth is, he was there, happily engrossed in games like Predator/Prey and Capture the Flag. He was learning survival skills, engaging in camp activities, and living his best life, blissfully unaware that his mom was anxiously waiting for a glimpse of his smiling face through a screen. Did he not realize I was waiting for him to pop up in front of that camera? I should probably have mentioned that it was all about me!

In the coming weeks, I’ll prepare for camp again, packing up duffels for my three boys, labeling everything in sight, and deciding which clothes I’m willing to sacrifice to the mud and chaos of camp life. I’ll drive them up the rugged road to their camp, give them reminders about sunscreen, clothing changes, and deodorant (for the love of all things good!) and assure myself they’ll be well cared for.

And yes, I might even bribe them with treats if they can just jump in front of the camera for me at least once a day. My finger is already twitching in anticipation of the refresh button.

And just so you know, I still want to experience summer camp, Hayley Mills-style.

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Summary

The article humorously explores the anxiety parents experience when sending their kids to summer camp, highlighting the obsessive need to refresh photo updates and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. The writer recalls her own childhood dreams of camp and the reality of preparing her children for their summer adventures, all while navigating the emotional challenges of letting go.