[angelkisses0102]

DD wants to go to an overnight camp (four days and three nights) this summer. ACK! I am so not ready for this!!

DD will still be 7 when she goes (a month shy of turning 8) and will, of course, be one of the youngest kiddos as the program is for kids entering 3rd through 6th grade...and she is entering 3rd grade in the fall.

There is absolutely no reason for me to say no...it is through our church's children's ministry (of which I am a volunteer and know everyone)...they are traveling about three hours away to participate in a well known 'Rockin' Christian camp. It is a Christian camp...a religous camp for goodness sakes...they do this every year, the kids love it, it reinforces our spiritual beliefs, so why am I so nervous about saying OK? Besides the camp people, there will be one adult from our church per seven children and there will only be one other little girl rooming with DD. I've checked out the program and find no issues with it.

Of course DH has no problem with letting her go...and I have no reason to say no...she is doing so well and has worked so hard this year...and she will have a blast...and it church related! I should be happy she wants to do this, right? I guess I am struggling with my baby growing up.

Thoughts?

[sheababy]

It sounds like you should let her go. Are you able to communicate with her while she is there? A nightly call perhaps? I don't know if you've left her overnight much but if not she is still young enough to get homesick. If she gets really upset would you be able to go pick her up?

I went to camp for a week when I was around 9. Our parents sent us letters (no cell phones then). I remember a few kids-so excited to be there-crying to go home once bedtime rolled around.

I would let her go but be prepared if she doesn't like it and wants to come home.

[MamaS]

It is time for little birds to try their wings. But it is hard on mother birds. Encourage her, sound enthusiastic, and plan things for yourself that week. I always tried to arrange my two to go to camp at the same time -- I called it "my week of vacation".

[GCS]

I can't see any reason why not. You mentioned some attachment issues last year but you seem to have a good sense of where she is there.
I assume all the adults are known adults who have references and have taken some kind of class (we do Protecting God's Children) to watchguard for inappropriate behavior.
Honestly, that is always my biggest concern for my kids. Are they mature enough to let an adult know if something inappropriate is happening.
If your gut is saying no because you are worried she is not ready then let her know she can go next year and find a golf day camp in the area instead, something she can be excited about.
If you think you are just not ready, well that's another story. I don't think we're ever ready to let them go.

[kretzklan]

DS1 went to overnight camp (7 nights) when he was 7. It went well. They did allow any contact - that can make it much worse for both kids and parents. It really allowed him to spread his wings and he went back for the next three years - at some point it wasn't worth missing baseball to go...
It sounds like she is ready! Enjoy the alone time with DH and DS!

[beckyww]

You'll be fine, Mom. She's plenty old enough for this. And really - think about it - you don't want to rear some whiny, clingy shrinking violet. She needs to be trying her wings a bit. Rejoice - you've given her confidence enough to do that!!

Becky
free web log diary blogs at blogddrive.com

[amy126]

My oldest daughter was 7 when she went on her first trip as well and I had a hard time letting her go. I believe she called the first night and then after that she didn't have time to call, they were always so busy and she came back and felt wonderful about herself, her friends and her faith. I felt a little better once I knew who the chaperone's were and I had their cell phone numbers and they had mine just in case she needed it.

Hope this helped some. I know it's hard, but I think she would enjoy it.

[Pinkie]

Angel, IMHO four days and 3 nights is a long time....A letter came home from school in December for Antonina inviting her to take part in a school trip for 3 nights. As I was reading the letter I was thinking what a long trip it seemed, that said, I would have let her go but once I got to the cost of the trip the decision was made for me!!....Seemed the trip has been shelved so I wasn't the only parent struggling with the price.

Just a few weeks ago another letter came home, this time a two day,one night trip which I didn't hesitate for - She's going. I know she will have a blast and I feel happier that its a shorter trip.

Just a thought, can you go as one of the volunteers??

[maricela]

I personally would not let me 7 y/o child go without me. I am always the parent who volunteers to go on trips, that way my kid go but I'm there to watch them. If either my DH or can't go, they can't go.

My DS is now 13 so he's gone but 7 just seems still so young to me. JMO

[angelkisses0102]

Originally Posted by MamaS

It is time for little birds to try their wings. But it is hard on mother birds. Encourage her, sound enthusiastic, and plan things for yourself that week. I always tried to arrange my two to go to camp at the same time -- I called it "my week of vacation".

You (and others who posted the same theme) are so right!! This is my first baby bird and letting her out of the safety of my nest...well it's just tough on this old momma bird...LOL!

Once DS is older, he could go as well...but I have a feeling I will have to push that one out of the nest...he's my happy home body. However both of them gone for that long would be quite a mommy vaction!

Now to answer the questions...

*Yes we can communicate through the cell phones of our church volunteers but their days are jam packed.

*It's only about three hours away, so DH or I could go get her if we needed to.

*Due to the size of the church, security is great. Background checks are done for all volunteers and more for the actual church employees..like the youth pastors who would be on the trip. You should see the security on the weekends...we 'lockdown' the school where the kids are during service and all kids/parents have matching, numbered wrist bands (tags for the school age kiddos) that are required for pick-up. I'll ask about Protecting God's Children...I volunteer in the the 3-4 year old room (and sometimes the 6 week to 12 month room) for one service so I did not have anything like that...maybe for the bigger kids they do.

*DD would certainly speak up...about anything. Of course we'll discuss right before but that is not a concern...thankfully.

*Thanks to the book Beyond Consequences Logic and Control...DD is in a great place attachment wise.

*Yes it is ME...not her. DH told her yes without even thinking it may be a concern of mine...gotta love that communication with me before answering. LOL!

Thanks again.

[votemom]

my older kids all went to summer camp (christian, like yours) the summer after they finished 3rd grade. wait, now that i think about it, my middle son waited until he had finished 4th. anyway, it was a full week camp about a 4 hour drive from our home. they all went thru middle school, and they all went back to the camp during high school to work. it has been a fantastic part of their lives and they made some wonderful memories there. this camp also has family camp that we have gone to, and retreats (father/son, father/dau, mother/dau, grandparents, marriage, etc.)

the first time is hard. no way around it.

from all you have shared, it sounds like it would be a great thing for her.

[Javalita]

Gosh Karen. That seems so young to me. If she is asking, she must feel ready though. I'm not sure I could do it though! I'm feeling your pain!

[snow princess]

Sounds like DD is ready to go, don't think Mom's are ever ready for them to go.

It also sounds like you have done a ton of research on the camp and it does sound like a safe and fun camp.

And as mentioned, it's only 3 hrs away so if DD gets homesick you can be there the same day/night to get her.

Really sounds like a great experience for both of you

goodluck deciding, although it sounds like you have, so good luck not missing her so bad that you don't sleep while she is gone

[momraine]

Every kid is different! My oldest was ready early and has gone on more trips and camps and mission trips than I can count. He was I think 11 when he went to Europe. Number two child was not ready as early. He did not do scouts and so didn't do camp with them, didn't do church camp until after fourth grade and then it was with his big brother. Did fifth grade school camp though and loved it. Now he is fine going. DD on the other hand did one church camp she did not like, but then we changed and now she loves church camp. She went last year before fourth grade. Other than that she only goes to a special camp for the disabled which she loves. She also has been going to amputee camp since before K, but I always go with her. M has his attachment issues and went once to the disabled camp, last year he was having problems so I kept him home. However, this year he will go probably with his sister so I won't have a full vacation, but I will have time with just my teens. He will probably never go to any other camp without one of us because of his pysical issues.

[Drazil]

Well karen, you know me well enough to know that I would be freaking out and trying to find all kinds of reasons not to let DS go ! Should you let her go, probably BUT maybe you could volunteer to go as well??? I would be so volunteering for this trip but that is my own issue with letting go but a good compromise for me. Good luck and I feel your pain as I know my day is coming .