Parenting is a wild ride filled with unexpected twists and turns. Kids have a knack for waking up earlier on weekends, stomach bugs seem to strike right before vacations, and of course, messes pop up just when the house is spotless. Recently, I stumbled upon a new parenting truth: the child you send off to overnight camp will magically transform into a perfect little angel in the days leading up to their departure, making it all the more difficult to let go.
That’s exactly what I experienced with my daughter, Emma. Just last night, I found myself wishing for a bit of sass—a door slam, an eye-roll, anything to remind me that she’s still my spirited child. Instead, Emma has been nothing short of delightful. Sweet, helpful, and even proclaiming that I’m her best friend. Can you believe it?
As I sit here, hitting refresh on the camp’s website like a worried parent cliché, I can’t help but feel that overnight camp is the worst idea ever. Independence? Overrated. Fun? She can have all of that right here, with me. Memories? I’ll finally tackle that baby book I’ve been meaning to finish. All I want is for her to come back home, if only to tell me how embarrassing I am and how much she dislikes me. Then maybe, just maybe, I could let her go back. Is that too much to ask?
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To sum it up, while overnight camp might be a rite of passage for some kids, for me, it’s a time filled with mixed emotions and a longing for my little girl’s return.