Yesterday I was out with my daughter, and we passed a summer camp bus. She said- in an accusatory tone of voice- “Remember when you used to put me in those random summer camps just so you could go to work?”
Okay, let’s be honest. ISN’T THAT WHY MOST KIDS GO TO CAMP? I mean, parents work, the kids are too young to stay home alone… off you go!
Looking back, I was so, so lucky as a kid. First of all, I grew up in the 70s (best decade ever to be a kid) AND my parents were both teachers, so we all had the summers off together. I never went to camp (until middle and high school, where I went to a music camp for a few weeks each summer). Instead we spent the summers playing outside, riding our bikes to the library, and going to the pool. So. Much. Fun.
I was home with my kids when they were little, and let me tell you, summers were hard. There was no going outside to play- no one plays outside all day in the Florida summers. It was always me planning an activity, to a waterpark, pool, splash pad, or indoor, air conditioned activity (Monkey Joes, kid museum, Barnes and Noble, etc.) Oof.
When I went back to work, we tried to patch together child supervision for the summer. My husband is a teacher, so is technically off for the summer, but he does a lot of extra things, like teach at band camps or private lessons. I would sit down with a calendar for the summer and try to figure out how many days we would need child care, aka summer camp.
My daughter did the (cheap!) camp at her school for a couple summers, which she had mixed feelings about. Then there was the week-long computer camp where- weirdly- she was literally the only girl. But the “best” was gymnastics camp.
One summer- she was probably 7 or 8- almost old enough to stay home, but not quite- I just needed random days here and there covered. I discovered a gymnastics camp that was RIGHT NEAR my work, the drop off/pick up hours were perfect, and best of all, you could pay by the day. The only snafu was, my daughter had no experience or interest in gymnastics whatsoever.
I called the camp and they said that was fine! Anyone could come! So that summer she got dropped off at gymnastics camp on the days we needed it.
I guess the thing is- most people who go to gymnastics camp DO have some aptitude for it. My daughter is not athletic and she says at this camp, even the lowest level of kids were doing cartwheels. She said one day they told everyone they were going to “warm up” by doing the splits. Luckily she was not scarred for life by this experience, and we still laugh about it to this day. We just chalk it up to a slightly bizarre babysitting choice on my part.
Fast forward to today (my day off of work). I was sitting at the kitchen table, lingering over a late breakfast, when I noticed my daughter, fully dressed and ready to walk out the door. Wait- where are you going???
She explained that her friend was coming to pick her up, they were going to the school to help the band director with something, then they were going out to lunch and then the gym later on. Um, okay… bye!
All this is to say… boy, does this parenting thing get easier. I do NOT miss the days of packing up a zillion supplies to take a toddler to the beach. I don’t miss the days of scrambling for childcare on days off of school. Now when I have a day off work, I can spend it as I want.
On that note- I’m off to the gym, and then to Starbucks to read! (If you’re in a phase of life with young kids, don’t worry- you will get here as well).
Did you go to summer camp as a kid? Did you like it? – I liked being able to be lazy if I wanted and set my own schedule, but I know that’s not for everyone.
Top photo by Jubéo Hernandez on Unsplash
