Summer camp -- parents get "kid-sick"

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts) Jul 24th 2008 3:00PM

Categories: Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Fun & Activities, In The News

A friend recently sent her 11-year-old off to camp. "I'm really going to miss him," she sniffed. I tried to be empathetic, but I was too busy daydreaming about what I'd do with seven whole days to myself. I knew that if it was me putting my kids on that bus, however, I'd be more than a little sad and worried as well.

Camp organizers and leaders say that they've seen a huge increase in what they call "kid-sickness" in the last 10 years. Though kids are eagerly looking forward to the many adventures camp brings, parents feel sad and worried when their kids go away. It's another reflection of our generation of parenting, says CNN, one that is far more anxiety-ridden than the parents that came before us.

My friend recovered from her angst by day two, I think, and says she's now looking forward to her week long break every summer. More importantly, she's celebrating the fact that the experience was a success for her son. Camp, for kids who want to try it, can be a confidence-building activity that creates memories to last a lifetime.

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Comments (1)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justin 7-24-2008 @ 5:03PM

God what a perfectly timed post!

My two boys have been gone now for 4 days total out of a 2 week trip. I have trouble even sleeping at night just because it's so different around the house. It's so quiet and still it's totally nerve wrecking. I'm not worried for their sake or scared that they'll have some accident or something... I just miss them dangnabbit!

I'm used to being woken up by someone jumping on my bed in the morning gleefully explaining to me that since the sun is up (regardless if it's 5:30AM) that it's time to wake up and make breakfast and get the day started... I'm used to trying to convince a sour faced, cross arms, grumbling boy, that no matter how much he protests, he must get in the tub and get dressed and get to school and eat his breakfast and play nice and don't forget to brush his teeth and remember his toys and clean his room and sit up straight and not sit too close and for god sake, keep it down in there!

Ahh man this sucks!
When is summer over?

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