Yesterday we dropped Bear off at band camp. It was more than a little weird helping my 13-year-old move into a dorm room and get settled, then climbing into the van and making the 75 mile drive home without her. This is her first sleepaway camp, her first time being away from home for longer than one night. Two nights ago, she got nervous. "I'm really going to miss you, Mom," she told me at bedtime and confessed that her secret fear was that she'd be too homesick and have to come home.Flash-forward to Camp Day, and this is what she was saying: "Boy, I can't wait for you and Daddy to leave, so I'll feel like I'm really at camp!"
And that evening? When she called home for the first time? "I'VE FOUND MY PEOPLE!" she announced triumphantly. She chattered about how as they finished their auditions, kids were sent into a mini-auditorium to wait. A sports movie was playing, and kids were largely ignoring it to read or talk. But then ... the movie was switched out for a Blue Man Group concert DVD, and the room fell raptly silent to watch. Bear couldn't get over this.
I can't wait to hear what this week holds for her, and I have a sneaking feeling that I'd better start saving up for next year...
11 comments:
WOW! She already looks like a collage freshman. This brings memories of the day when we dropped Daddy Shortbread at the university for a week of photography camp. This was also his first week away from home and he was at around the same age as Bear. We agree about the mixed feeling on your drive home without your loved one. Yikes, time is going by tooooo fast!
Aw man, good for her. Glad she found her people, glad she's not homesick (at least not yeat) and I hope she has TONS of fun!
My sons never went to band camp, but they've traveled a lot and never got homesick. Too busy! Me, on the other hand, missed them a lot...
Scary times for you I'm sure. It's so ironic that we raise them to leave and then we have to struggle with ourselves to let go. Be proud she can do this!
I LOVED summer camp as a kid--some of my best memories. My hubbie is a HUGE Blue Man fan, and my girls are too now. Guess they'll fit right in at band camp too. :)
Save up for TWO weeks, if my experience means anything!
My fingers are crossed that feelings of homesickness will be mild and completely gone by Wednesday morning. At that point, she'll be past the halfway mark and only have a couple of days until she sees you all again. Sending positive vibes Bear's way.
Oh, good for her! I can guarantee that she is having a blast! She's probably so busy and so high on the immersion in music - with so many people who feel the same way! - that she doesn't have time to be homesick.
I went to music camp 3 summers during high school and those weeks are still some of my best memories.
I hope she has a great week!
I'm so glad she found her people. I'm sure she's going to have a great time!
This sounds like a great camp for her! I loved music camps. I played in band and sang in choir - I was a "Gleek" before Glee, and camp was a place where I fit in beautifully. I'm glad she's loving it!
Post a Comment