Last summer, my son, Max, embarked on his very first adventure at summer camp. At just eight years old, it was the longest he’d been away from home. An hour after I dropped him off, I felt a wave of longing wash over me. By bedtime, I found myself sneaking into his room, just to breathe in a bit of his presence.
As the days dragged on, I penned him a letter every day, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the mailman. With each passing hour, my anticipation grew. I imagined that when he finally wrote back, it would be something like this:
Dear Mom,
Thank you for letting me come to camp! I’ve learned so many amazing things. I’ve mastered taking fish off hooks, tying sailing knots, and even grooming a horse! And thank you for the sunscreen—spending time on the lake has been fantastic. You really think of everything! I’ve been drinking so much water, just like you said.
The boys in my cabin are super nice, and I’m making friends that I know will last a lifetime. We’ve been singing camp songs, playing card games, and catching frogs during our free time. I even read that book you sent! Great choice!
I’m trying new foods too, just like you suggested. The oatmeal isn’t too bad with raisins! And don’t worry, I’m using the manners you taught me!
Tonight, we are camping under the stars. I hope to see fireflies!
Love you tons,
Max
P.S. Tell my brothers I miss them!
The next day, I finally received a letter from Max. It was a bit different from my daydreams, to say the least:
Dear Mom,
Good thing you packed extra underwear—had a bit of diarrhea. It got on my shoes but not my pillow. Camp is fun, and I’m learning stuff. I’m awesome at windsurfing and kayaking! I’ve eaten 23 push pops since Monday. I’m gonna break the record of 37!
Went horseback riding, and the horse in front of me took three HUGE dumps. Smoke came off the poop. It was epic!
I used my toothbrush to dig for worms. Don’t freak out! The kid in the bottom bunk let me borrow his. It’s safe, I swear. I don’t know his name, but he can burp the alphabet! A kid named Zack can even burp it backward.
We put oatmeal in the counselor’s baseball hat. It was hilarious! Oatmeal is the worst, even with raisins.
I shot a rifle. I’m a great aim-er! Can we get one when I come home?
Oh, and guess what? You can light farts on fire—can’t wait to show you on Saturday!
Love ya,
Max xoxo
P.S. Your spaghetti is way better.
P.P.S. Tell my brothers to have lots of farts for Saturday!
This year, I’m sending a whole book of stamps with him—I’m excited to see what he’ll come up with next!
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In summary, summer camp letters can be a delightful blend of heartfelt sentiments and unexpected hilarity. They capture the essence of childhood adventures, from learning new skills to navigating the little mishaps that make these experiences unforgettable.