And...Their Off!

Today I sent my two sons off to camp. This is the first year they have both gone. Our church goes to a camp with many other churches and the JR High and SR High are together. This gives me some comfort that my boys will be together. I know they don’t care. They have great friends and are not at all shy. They’ll get along fine and probably not miss me at all.

It is hard, especially as a homeschooling mom, to watch the most precious things to you on this earth, get in a van and drive away, I’m just not used to it. The mom in me conjures up all the horrible tragedies that can and have occurred in just such a situation. That is when I have to remind myself that they are not really mine anyway, they are Gods. He loves them even more than I do (hard to imagine) and he holds them securely in his hands.

It will be really quiet around here this week. I am so used to having my young men around. They are so good about doing that guy stuff I don’t want to do; like take out the trash, make the VCR work in the back room, fill the bird feeder, fix the broken stuff, carry the heavy stuff and generally do all the manly things when D is gone.

I did stay until the vans pulled away, and waved. I did not take any pictures, even though I wanted to. I hugged them, reminded them to brush their teeth and shower. I did not run behind the vans with my arms outstretched crying and yelling “Come back! Come back!” I didn’t want to embarrass them.

I sent B off with a bag full of liquid food. I can’t believe I’m sending my son to camp with his jaw wired shut. Seems that there must be a rule in the parenting handbook that states “Thou shalt not send ones offspring off to camp with his jaw wired shut”. But I was outvoted by D, B and the youth pastor, who assured me he’d make sure B got enough food.

Actually, I’m sure he’ll be fine. He is not in any pain, his activity level is back to normal, he is acting totally fine, except for that pesky liquid diet thing.

Right before the van’s pulled out and all the kids were loaded, the youth pastor came over to us parents. We all held hands as he prayed for the kids and the trip.

Then he told us that he’d be checking his messages every night around 5 or 6. We could call his cell if we needed something. (We do of course have emergency #’s for the camp as well) He did say please not to call if you don’t need to, the kids really will be fine (he said this laughing not meanly) and then he looked at me and said, “Any parents who are sending their child to camp with a jaw wired shut may call as often as they like.” We all had a good laugh at this one.

I know he was kidding, but I’m thinking a twice daily call from mom in is not too much to ask? But I don’t want to embarrass the boy or anything.