My DD is at sleepaway camp and I miss her terribly - how do I get through the next few weeks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. And by the way, you don't sound very rational to say "why don't jewish parents want to spend time with their kids?" do you realize what a ridiculous, dramatic, overgeneralization that is? (are you also somehow unaware of the stereotypes of jewish mothers and their bonds with their kids?!?!)

If you send your kids away, you are not bonding with them. Sorry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. And by the way, you don't sound very rational to say "why don't jewish parents want to spend time with their kids?" do you realize what a ridiculous, dramatic, overgeneralization that is? (are you also somehow unaware of the stereotypes of jewish mothers and their bonds with their kids?!?!)

If you send your kids away, you are not bonding with them. Sorry

IMO, being a good parent is letting a child have independence and new experiences/adventures when you feel it is the appropriate age for them (similar to going away to college when they graduate high school.) You cannot judge another parent's decision when to send THEIR child to sleep away camp because everyone's individual circumstances are unique, and each child is different. It is "natural, normal, healthy" to let your child go to seep away camp for part/all of the summer. Sleep away camp is something to look forward to, not a punishment... Camping, friendships, swimming, nature, art, music, and SO much more. Visiting day is when you can "bond," along with the other 10+ months of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. And by the way, you don't sound very rational to say "why don't jewish parents want to spend time with their kids?" do you realize what a ridiculous, dramatic, overgeneralization that is? (are you also somehow unaware of the stereotypes of jewish mothers and their bonds with their kids?!?!)

AGREE, you do not sound too rational....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: this is not being snarky, I am genuinely interested. The only sleep away camps I know are for Jewish girls or Jewish boys. OP, is this a Jewish camp? And do you think there are other sleep away camps that are not just for one (any) type of group? I just wouldn't want to look into something and show up and have her/him feel left out. I am curious if there is a more mixed camp, by gender, of course. Thanks.

What rock do you live under? There are girl scout camps, boy scout camps, YMCA camps, nondenominational church camps, Jewish camps, fat camps, cheer camps, soccer camps, miscellaneous sports camps, nerd camps, etc.

Band camp!

[Anonymous]

"If you send your kids away, you are not bonding with them.

Farm Mom!

[Anonymous]

Refresh refresh refresh

http://youtu.be/-qnY6XIFDjI

[Anonymous]

10 Yo and three weeks is a good length of time. My DD (11) would love to go to sleep away camp. But, for various reasons, it has not happened.

I, on the other hand, am reluctant to send her to camp. At 10, my parents sent my 12 yo sister and I to camp, and it was a very bad experience.

[Anonymous]

It is very hard to send your child away to camp. But they get a lot out of it. Our camps give guideline as to what to say in letters. I wrote a LOT of letters! (Email). Missed mine a lot, but got a lot of much needed rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: this is not being snarky, I am genuinely interested. The only sleep away camps I know are for Jewish girls or Jewish boys. OP, is this a Jewish camp? And do you think there are other sleep away camps that are not just for one (any) type of group? I just wouldn't want to look into something and show up and have her/him feel left out. I am curious if there is a more mixed camp, by gender, of course. Thanks.

Seriously??? Sleep Away Camps are where upper class WASPs have been spending a portion of their childhood summers since the 1900s. There are hundreds of these camps, on the East Coast they are mostly in North Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. They are fairly expensive and many have long legacies.

This is also a tradition among upper class AA's and Jews. And the really prominent WASP camps are in Michigan and upstate New York; MA is more AA (Camp Atwater) and Maine (Camp Modin) more Jewish.

Wrong. The most prominent WASP camps are in North Carolina and Maine/New Hampshire. No self respecting East Coaster sends their child to Michigan for camp. Ugh. Midwesterners love to send their kids to the East for camp. The adirondacks are lovely but not a top chilldhood camp destination.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Sending a 10 yr old to camp for 3 weeks is very typical/normal, PP. you must be one if those parents who can't let go of you child. You need to learn how to do so. It is key.

I went away to camp for 5 weeks a month after I turned 8. I LOVED it. It was in 1976. Best thing my parents ever did for me. It was an all girls camp in Brevard, NC. I went until the summer I was 17. That summer I went to Greece. Now my daughter is at the same camp and also LOVING it. I sent her for only 2 weeks and she is dying to stay longer. I should have signed her up for 4 at least but there is next year.
[/quote]

I am sorry but it is not normal for a 10yr old to be away from their parents for weeks. Why don't Jewish parents ever want to spend time with their kids? Most of them around my way send their kids starting at 8yrs old and go for 4-8wks and occasionally the whole summer. They count down when their kids leave and go on summer vacations without them That is just sad.[/quote]

Good Lord, you are a bigot AND pathetically provincial. Many posters have told you firmly that sleep away camp is not a " Jewish thing". Yes, there are camps specifically for Jews but, there are many camps for Gentiles too.

Sleep away camp is not "sending your kid away". You just don't get it. It is about helping a child learn self reliance, resilience, confidence and the ability to grow as a person in a very safe environment without an overprotective parent hovering. Read a bit, PP, much has been written in the benefits of sleep away camp. Children reap the benefits of going away to camp, not parents. Every parent I know finds it difficult but they know their kid(s) love it and it is the best thing for them.

Egads!! What must you think of boarding school? And will you have your kids live at home and go to a local college?

If you just can't afford it, fine. The best camps are quite expensive, but don't try to denigrate those who can afford it. You just sound pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. And by the way, you don't sound very rational to say "why don't jewish parents want to spend time with their kids?" do you realize what a ridiculous, dramatic, overgeneralization that is? (are you also somehow unaware of the stereotypes of jewish mothers and their bonds with their kids?!?!)

If you send your kids away, you are not bonding with them. Sorry

IMO, being a good parent is letting a child have independence and new experiences/adventures when you feel it is the appropriate age for them (similar to going away to college when they graduate high school.) You cannot judge another parent's decision when to send THEIR child to sleep away camp because everyone's individual circumstances are unique, and each child is different. It is "natural, normal, healthy" to let your child go to seep away camp for part/all of the summer. Sleep away camp is something to look forward to, not a punishment... Camping, friendships, swimming, nature, art, music, and SO much more. Visiting day is when you can "bond," along with the other 10+ months of the year.

One WHOLE day of the summer you can bond with your kid! Fun

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
One WHOLE day of the summer you can bond with your kid! Fun

Probably more fun for the kid that two days with PP.

Most kids love camp. Jews, Gentiles, AA's, even Catholics.

My DD would love to be at a sleep away camp...

[Anonymous]

OP: I understand now. You are part of a group of parents that this represents only the beginning of goodbye for the summer. This year 3 week, next year 4 and so on. It is great for most kids, but it is tearful for the parents. I understand. BTDT. It is a very sad thing for the parents. Mine are gone now...I really MISS them. I know they are having a great time, but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's hard for me to sympathize. Be thankful you have a child who is developmentally able to go to sleepaway camp. My DS is 9 and nowhere near ready even though we think it would be a great experience for him.

I'm sorry for your situation. But, please, stop with this bullshit. You sound like such a martyr. Your remark wasn't germane to this thread and is highly insensitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
One WHOLE day of the summer you can bond with your kid! Fun

Probably more fun for the kid that two days with PP.

Most kids love camp. Jews, Gentiles, AA's, even Catholics.

My DD would love to be at a sleep away camp...

"Most" kids love camp but there are weekly camps, day camps, even 2 weeks. But this sending your kid off all summer or even half the summer? The parents could give two hoots what their kids are doing. They just don't have to deal with them. Believe me, I was sent to them, every summer. If you only knew what the kids do at those co-ed camps all summer long. The counselors were worse than than the kids. Of course they liked camp. There is no way I would send an elementary school child away for months. OP, if you weren't ready, there are plenty of years ahead. I hope your child had fun but if they did not, don't feel pressured to do it. Not everyone likes camp or wants their kids to go to camp.