Camp Cloverleaf: My Son’s First Sleepover Summer Camp

Camp Cloverleaf: My Son’s First Sleepover Summer Camp

 Many times parents have a very good idea of what their children would like in a camp.  So, all the parents really need is a list of sleepaway camp features and activities to review which camp would be the best fit.  That coupled with a list of what to pack for summer camp and off they go. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck when the day finally came to drop James off at Camp Cloverleaf.  Although he is 10 years old he hasn’t really ever stayed away from me for longer than a night and those times have been few and far between. I was worried that he wouldn’t know how to take care of himself, seriously….that is what I was worried about.  I labeled his clothes.  I labeled his personal articles.  I went over all the gear I packed and told him what camp would be like and he pretty much blew me off (not in a disrespectful way, but he wasn’t worried or at least he didn’t show it).

Another fear I had was that he would not listen.  My parenting skills were going to be put to the test.  This would be the deciding factor of how I did raising my son.  I made sure they had every phone number so they could call if he misbehaved and reminded him to be good.  We walked him to his cabin, met his counselor and bunk-mates  and we left him before we embarrassed him too much.  He was two and a half hours away and I was sure I would get a call before we made it home.  But the phone didn’t ring.  And when it didn’t ring the next day I got a little suspicious. But it wasn’t until I visited their Facebook page and saw photos of the kids enjoying themselves that I got petrified.  He was not in any of the photos and immediately my heart sank that they had him locked up in some sort of holding cell.

I called the camp director right away and asked him how my son was doing.  He assured me that all the kids were having a blast and that no one has had to be disciplined so although he didn’t know which of the boys was my son in particular he let me know I didn’t need to worry.  He also let me know the photo I saw was not a mandatory thing and only a few kids wanted to be in the picture.  I told him not to worry about connecting me with the counselor and that I had faith that James was behaving.  I waited out the rest of the week and stopped worrying.  I never got a call, even when we were 40 minutes late to pick him up.

When we got there James was sitting with all the counselors, hanging out.  He looked so grown up and mellow (not something you see much around here).  He was excited to see us, but he was quick to ask if he could stay.  I asked the counselors how he did and they all said he was great and he was a good kid.  It’s hard to put in words what a good experience summer camp was for James but even harder to say what a great experience it was for me.  Apparently I’m doing a good job at raising him.

Now that’s something.  (insert proud mama emoticon here)