I’ve been sending my boys to summer camp every summer since they were three.
They would prefer to stay at home, but what would they do for two months? Play video games and fight?
I wouldn’t be able to get any work done or even go for a walk. How would I get groceries when they hate running errands? And frankly, I don’t have the energy to entertain them from morning until night.
But lots of parents do it. They call it Camp Mom and they plan outings and make play dates with other kids also attending Camp Mom.
Isn’t it better for kids to have structure? To be organized, meet new people, try new games or sports? Mine will be going to sports camp. I think they are lucky to spend their days improving their skills and being active with other kids.
Yet the concept of Camp Mom is also sort of intriguing. How fun would it be if you had total freedom to do whatever you wanted every day? After 10 months of structure and classroom learning, maybe kids need free reign to sleep in, learn to entertain themselves and determine their own day.
At the same time, I’m in awe of these Camp Mom parents and perhaps even jealous of their energy and initiative. My kids exhaust me plenty in the hours we have after school until bedtime.
As I write this in the dark of night, they are still awake. They can’t sleep. The day never seems to end. I don’t think I could survive a summer of Camp Mom. Camp is the only possible choice for me.
Is day camp the way to go or is Camp Mom what kids really need?
