1. If they write “I hate it here, pick me up” you will likely find that was one moment of difficulty/ homesickness in an otherwise perfect experience.
2. When they cry when they hug you at pick up it is not because they have missed you or are happy to see you but rather that they are devastated to leave camp.
3. The first layer of everything will be sopping wet and filthy. Everything else in the trunk will be bone dry and untouched.
4. Socks will be dirty on the inside of the socks as well as the outside, proof that their feet were dirty the entire time.
5. No they did not brush their hair.(11 year of age and under) And no they did not die from this.
6.Because of #5 you may have to cut out tangles that cannot be combed through.
7. If they love camp they will not love you or the way you do things for at least 12 hours after pick up.
8.If you have ever wanted to have a beach area, just shake all the sand from their belongings on return and you will have a nice one.
9.They want you to cook like they do at camp. Try not to be insulted by this.
10. You are bugging them. Back off a little.
They speak a language you will not understand, they break out into song suddenly, there are inside jokes and code words. Camp is a fully sanctioned, expensive and legalized cult. And you will send them every year.
oh yes stupid photos
Must … stop … laughing ….
The other missing tip (for moms of teens) is that their Facebook friend list will triple in their first two days back, and they will look at their (and their newly-expanded FB friends’) 9,873 camp photos, most of which feature them plus said friends making stupid faces at the camera, non-stop for the next week. I HEART CAMP!!!!
you were a good sport, mom!
I’m seriously counting the summers until my daughter is ready for camp. I LOVED it somewhere in that time between 8 and 11. Best. Summers. Ever. And, yes, my mum did have to cut the knots out of my hair. More than once 🙂
how many loads of laundry did we do – I said 25 but I tend to exagerate!! Love having them under the roof again even if they did bring alll their friends dirty clothes too. xxgran
I cannot wait until the boy child wants to go…
my older brother went to camp with straight hair and came home curly with a new voice! I hear you!
you forgot to menation that the boys also come home with mandatory facial hair – looking about 25 years old!!