We post this every year, but here it is again. Cue the tough love…
It’s incredibly natural to go into apocalyptic mode in these next just under two weeks. You know what we’re talking about:
What do you want your last meals to be in the next week?
Do you want to go see a movie tonight or just relax and hug at home? We may not have another chance!
Would you like to take Fluffy with me to the park since it could be the last opportunity until August!
How about Grandma and Grandpa? Let’s give them one final visit and extra Facetime! You won’t see them for months!
Hey, this is your last shower at home until August! Make it count!
Give your brother one huge final good kiss goodnight! You won’t be able to all summer long!
We know you’re well-meaning, we’re all well-meaning, and we do it too, but we have some advice for what it’s worth: stop. STOP! It’s dramatic! You’re freaking her out! You’re freaking us out! You’re freaking yourself out! Let’s all try to remain normal and happy and calm. Play it cool! Let’s enjoy final pre-camp moments while trying not to belabor or draw attention to them. Let’s focus not on what your daughter will be missing, but what she’s about to embark upon. In our experience, end-of-world conversations, conversations focusing on last moments-at-home breed anxiety for a number of reasons. Here are a few of those reasons, and here’s what your daughter might be thinking: I don’t know what I want my last meal to be! Oh my gosh, but what if I pick the wrong one and I want mom’s mac & cheese tomorrow and I can’t have it! How can I live with that regret! I hadn’t thought about seeing a movie or walking Fluffy, and I’d sort of forgotten that I wasn’t kissing my little brother goodnight all summer. AH! That’s scary! Am I SURE I want to give all of this up?
Of course the answer is a resounding “YES!” The gifts of camp are immeasurable and what she’ll be experiencing in a few days is life-changing. So let’s not focus on a final tuck-in or that one last hug. Keep your daughter happy and focused on moving forward towards camp. Will you treasure those final moments? YES! Should you talk about them with your daughter? Probably not. We’ll say it again. Play it cool.
Smile, keep calm, talk about the great adventure she’s about to have. “Goodnight, Honey. I love you, and I’m so excited for you” works. It’ll make it easier for your daughter to get out of the car once she’s down the winding road at Camp Timber Tops. We’ll take it from there!