The first year I went to summer sleepaway camp, I didn’t take a shower, change my underwear, or brush my hair for two weeks. I ate Tang straight out of the canister and wore the same outfit every single day. As a special bonus, I got heat stroke after running the marathon during Camp Olympics and had to stay in the infirmary for three days. But I also stayed up late into the night telling ghost stories, attended my first “dance,” starred in many a campfire skit, and made friendships that have lasted to this day.
This year the little V-meister has the opportunity to also not brush her hair or change her underwear for a full week in July, but I am not sure if my nerves can take it. The camp is three hours away and has a strict policy against mothers staying on the premises to stalk their children. Rigging up a video monitor feed in the barracks is also out of the question, as is the possibility of hiring a drone to fly over the beach during swim time.
Do you see my predicament? I want the V-meister to experience the thrill of not having me following her around 24/7 with a brush and a bottle of sunblock, but by the same token, I want to follow her around 24/7 with a brush and a bottle of sunblock.
And those are the least of my concerns. Because based on my own experiences as both camper and counselor, I also have the following possibilities to worry about:
- The V-meister might not make any friends because everyone will already know each other.
- The V-meister might get horribly homesick.
- The V-meister might get a blistering sunburn.
- The V-meister might get heat stroke.
- The V-meister might not eat anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Kool-Aid, and pudding for a solid week.
- The V-meister might try to bait a hook without supervision.
- The V-meister might contract lice.
- The V-meister might get stung by a bee.
- The V-meister might succeed in her goal of swimming in a lake without me standing on the beach with a pair of binoculars trained on her head.
- The V-meister might have a few beers and decide to sneak the boat out into the middle of the lake at night with her best friend, cast the anchor, forget about it, and try to row the boat ashore.*
- The V-meister will get her ass kicked in dodgeball.
In her defense, my daughter is a very careful and responsible kid, plus she’s been to the camp before with our entire family. Summer camp is right up her alley, and Lithuanian summer camp especially would be a golden opportunity for her to learn about her heritage and make friends with kids whose parents also make them wear an undershirt and go to language school on Saturday mornings.
So I guess the question is not so much whether the V-meister will survive summer camp, but rather, will I?
Should I let her go?
Here is a photo of me, aged 9, at the end of two weeks of summer camp in the 80s. Thankfully, I’m wearing a “Lithuania” visor to shield me and my black eye from the harmful UV rays reflecting off my pink satin Members Only jacket.
* In all fairness, this might not happen until the V-meister is 18 or 19.
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I let Justinas go last year for the first time and felt the same way. My son looks like an Ethiopian because he basically refuses to eat anything. I thought I was sending him to his death. When I went to pick him up I was pleasantly surprised to find him alive. He was completely filthy (even though they had “duso pamokas” – a block of time set aside for mandatory bathing). He lost all of his towels and only three pairs of underwear were in his laundry bag. He also slow danced with a girl. And learned some really bad words (rhymes with “hunt”) from some of the more unsavory characters there. His feet smelled so bad that on the drive home we made him sit on them and had to double bag his smelly Keens. And he had an absolute blast. He can’t wait to go back and this year Adomas is going too. Maybe A and the V-Meister can slow dance together?
I love your pink jacket.
Andrea Memenas´s last [type] ..To the Mom Who Films Every Single School Performance
THE “C” word Dainavoje??? OMG, what’s next? Crack/cocaine?
I am sure the V-meister would luuurve to dance with Adomas
I’m letting mine go this year. Gah. I just said that out loud for the first time. What are we thinking?
OHmommy´s last [type] ..All about Easter koszyki baskets
I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m thinking, “let’s have margaritas!”
And my only question is–do they take 4 year olds, 2 year olds, and babies? I have great memories of camp too!
Becca´s last [type] ..Zzzz
They probably would, if you agreed to come along and teach a physics class.
Yes, absolutely all those things CAN happen to your child at camp. A few of them WILL. She will survive no matter what and come home to tell you all about it in great detail. Even if it is a horrible experience, it is still something to be able to say you have done. I know as protective as you are, you also want her to experience as much of the world as possible. I think she’ll have a swell time but worse case scenario and she makes no friends? She’ll have something to blog about in the future. :-O
I went to a 2 week French camp when I was 14. It was in another state and I went with a penpal I had never met. She was a year older and in another cabin/group and I only saw her in passing. 2 weeks was a long time BUT I wrote home daily (reading the letters recently was a HOOT), I waitressed at the small cafe and just having the experience was priceless. Your daughter may be too young for that long away but a week would be fine.
Chrisor (ynotkissme)´s last [type] ..Bridal shower or bath
It is hard to let them go..to sleepaway camp. I haven’t taken the plunge, would love to send both of the girls but….you know, who would apply the sunblock:-)
what a priceless recap of summer camp
. You are going to let us know your final decision about your little girl going to camp, right? Promise not to tell about the drone 
Oh my. I never have to ask myself this question because I’d never be able to get my screaming kids off my thighs and into the camp gates. So I’m afraid I can’t give any advice either. Also, I’m woefully overprotective, so there’s that.
Whatever you choose, I’m sure it’ll be the exact right decision.
Thanks everyone, for your advice! I think she’s going to go.
Strangely, she didn’t seem at all concerned at the prospect of me not being there.
I want to comment and be all soothing and tell you she will do great (because she will). BUT I am so distracted by the fabulous rainbow t-shirt on the person behind you. I miss mine from the 80s sooo much!
Jen M´s last [type] ..When You Have the Writing Bug Children Can be Like a Can of Raid
It sounds like the question is more whether you will survive her time away. Chances are you will.
feefifoto´s last [type] ..I Am Mossier
Oh gosh, just the thought of this one day in the future and I have tears in my eyes…man I am a sentimental fool since the birth of this baby! I know you’ll let her go and she will have a wonderful time. It’s something I have always wished I had gotten to do as a child!
Yuliya´s last [type] ..Saturday Surf and Turf
Your jacket is totally Pink Ladies from “Grease” which, incidentally, was the movie I was obsessed with the summer of 1978 while I was at Camp Johnny Appleseed — all of us girls acted out the musical numbers from the movie pretty much nonstop the whole two months I was there. Non. Stop.
Stephanie Smirnov´s last [type] ..Family Vacation- The Final Chapter
MQ is going to camp this summer, too, but the great news is her daddy will be there, too. in a different part of the camp, leading confirmation classes in the morning for the junior high kids, but he’ll be able to check on her, and be there if there’s an emergency.
but i still bet no one will apply any sunblock. I’ll send a bottle of the spray stuff, because at least the counselor MIGHT do that. rubbing on sunblock is probably the sort of thing all the lawyers train them NOT to do “you could get sued for inappropriate touch!”
Painted Maypole´s last [type] ..Much Ado about Cyber Bulling