Sleep-away camp when friend cancels -- WWYD?

[Anonymous]

DD (10) is scheduled for Girl Scout sleep-away camp next week and we've just learned that her friend/buddy who was planning to go with her has to cancel.

This would be her second year of sleep-away. She attended last year with the same friend (although a different GS camp) and had a lot of fun but did get homesick. The homesickness issue already had her wavering a bit about this summer but she agreed to give it another try.

Now that her friend can't make it, she really doesn't want to go and I'm not sure what to do. Obviously we stand to lose some money if she doesn't go but I also don't want her to be miserable. She's not an introvert and usually makes friends pretty easily, so I suspect she'd have fun but I also hate the idea of forcing her. There's also the possibility that she'll be one of the only ones (if not the only) without a buddy.

Would you make a kid go who really didn't want to in this situation?

[Anonymous]

"Sorry, it's too late to cancel without us losing a lot of money. It's only one week and you're GREAT at making new friends."

[Anonymous]

Only a week? I’d make my kid go.

[Anonymous]

I'd make her go, but I'm a hardass.

[Anonymous]

I'd let her skip, assuming you're not out a substantial amount of money. Frankly, kids have been through enough stress during the pandemic; I'm not adding to that if I can help it. I'm reasonably strict as a parent, but I'm not mean.

[Anonymous]

I would really really try to get her to go. Emphasize how good she is at meeting people. Council her on what to do if she is homesick. Leave a package or letter there for her everyday and tell her they are coming (if they still do that at GS camo). If you were literally going to have to leave her there screaming and clinging then I would relent.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't make her go but I am one of those who only sends kids to sleepaway camp who really want to go. (I have one kid in that category and one not.) I think the downside of forcing her is bigger than the upside but I know others see it differently.

[Anonymous]

Is this one of the local GS camps (May Flather )? I doubt she'd be the only one there without a buddy. My kids went earlier this summer and were in separate units/programs without knowing anybody (I guess they saw each other sporadically in the dining hall, but otherwise knew nobody else at camp), and they had a great time.

I would strongly encourage her to go, although I probably wouldn't force her if she was really adamant. As somebody else said, you can drop off mail and packages for her. Are there specific activities there she's looking forward to? If it is one of the local camps, are you on the parent Facebook page? If so, you could show her some of the pictures from earlier this summer and try to get her excited about the fun things to do.

[Anonymous]

My introverted DD who doesn't make friends easily went without knowing anyone went to sleep away camp and had a fantastic time.

It wasn't GS camp. The schedule was so busy and the activities allowed for socializing . I was hoping that she would make a friend, but she didn't and still enjoyed it and wants to go back.

I would encourage DD to go, but not force it if you think it's just too much for her to handle.

[Anonymous]

This happened to my son last year. He still went and had a great time

[Anonymous]

Maybe talk to her about how it’s ok not to know anyone? Too many kids are only willing to do things if they “know someone.” I would hate for her friend’s cancellation to ruin a potentially good time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd let her skip, assuming you're not out a substantial amount of money. Frankly, kids have been through enough stress during the pandemic; I'm not adding to that if I can help it. I'm reasonably strict as a parent, but I'm not mean.

It's ONE WEEK.

[Anonymous]

How far away is it? Instead of cancelling, I’d ask my kid to give it a fair shot but offer to the camp director / counselor that I will come get her if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd let her skip, assuming you're not out a substantial amount of money. Frankly, kids have been through enough stress during the pandemic; I'm not adding to that if I can help it. I'm reasonably strict as a parent, but I'm not mean.

It's ONE WEEK.

+1 Resilience, people. A little grit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd let her skip, assuming you're not out a substantial amount of money. Frankly, kids have been through enough stress during the pandemic; I'm not adding to that if I can help it. I'm reasonably strict as a parent, but I'm not mean.

It's ONE WEEK.

+1 Resilience, people. A little grit.

Lol, yeah. Is that what you tell yourself?

God, I am so, so tired of people who throw around the term "resilience" when it comes to kids, who clearly have no idea what it really means.