Post by Jenifer on May 14, 2007 22:55:26 GMT -5
I am struggling with sending Joy to summer camp this year. We have an excellent Easter Seals camp (Camp Sunnyside) near us, and she thoroughly enjoys attending day camp while her daddy and I work.
One week a month during June, July and August, she is able to attend sleepover camp from Sunday-Friday. This is where the problem comes in...
Joy is always excited to help me pack her trunk and get all her things ready, and she hops right into the car for the drive to camp. But when we pull up to camp she begins to whine and say no, and when we get into the lodge for check-in, she hides behind my legs and won't talk to anyone. We walk her to her cabin and try to help her settle in, but she doesn't want any part of it. She clings to me and gets very upset. The counselors are very good at distracting her so daddy and I can escape, but I feel terrible departing that way.
Once camp gets underway, she does fine. Of course there is homesickness, but she also makes friends and seems very happy on pickup day. But dropoff tears my heart out to the point that I don't even want to send her. We prepare her well in advance of camp that it's coming up and we talk about it a lot, but I anticipate that she will still react the same way when it's time to drop her off next month.
Please tell me if you think we should not send her to resident camp, or if you have any ideas for making dropoff easier on her and us. I am nervous already, just thinking about it.
Thanks!
Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy
One week a month during June, July and August, she is able to attend sleepover camp from Sunday-Friday. This is where the problem comes in...
Joy is always excited to help me pack her trunk and get all her things ready, and she hops right into the car for the drive to camp. But when we pull up to camp she begins to whine and say no, and when we get into the lodge for check-in, she hides behind my legs and won't talk to anyone. We walk her to her cabin and try to help her settle in, but she doesn't want any part of it. She clings to me and gets very upset. The counselors are very good at distracting her so daddy and I can escape, but I feel terrible departing that way.
Once camp gets underway, she does fine. Of course there is homesickness, but she also makes friends and seems very happy on pickup day. But dropoff tears my heart out to the point that I don't even want to send her. We prepare her well in advance of camp that it's coming up and we talk about it a lot, but I anticipate that she will still react the same way when it's time to drop her off next month.
Please tell me if you think we should not send her to resident camp, or if you have any ideas for making dropoff easier on her and us. I am nervous already, just thinking about it.
Thanks!
Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy