As a parent, you quickly learn that life is filled with unexpected twists—children wake up early on weekends, stomach bugs seem to emerge right before vacations, and messes appear just when you manage to clean the house. Recently, I stumbled upon another parenting truth: the child you send off to overnight camp will exhibit exemplary behavior in the lead-up to their departure, complicating your emotional response to their absence.
In my case, I would have welcomed a bit of defiance—perhaps some door slamming or an eye-roll or two. Instead, my daughter, Emma, has been nothing short of delightful. Just last night, she proclaimed that I was her best friend, which only amplified my reluctance to let her go.
Now, as I find myself repeatedly refreshing the camp website, I can’t shake the feeling that overnight camp is one of the least appealing concepts ever devised. Independence? Highly overrated. Fun? She can experience that right here at home. Memories? I still need to finish her baby book. All I want is for her to be back, even if it means hearing her tell me how embarrassing I am.
Is that truly too much to request?
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In summary, the experience of sending a child to overnight camp can be an emotional rollercoaster, especially when they are on their best behavior right before the big departure. Balancing feelings of longing and the desire for independence can be quite challenging for parents.
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