Needy Parents

This morning, I opened my email first thing while still laying in bed. There were three emails (each progressively more hysterical) from a mom who was dropping her two daughters off today. Last year, when she dropped off the older of the two, she cried (a lot), so I wasn't surprised she was feeling nervous again. I emailed her back and then we exchanged 5 more emails over the next half hour. The younger daughter had been nervous last night and started to cry so she was panicking.

When she arrived at camp, as they all got out of the car and she already had tears in her eyes. The older daughter ran off immediately to her three friends who were already at camp. When the younger camper started crying, the mom wrapped her in her arms, and was crying above her head.

Eventually I managed to separate them and distract the camper enough to get her over to the opening program. I was surprised when, as we introduced the staff, that the mom drove away. She hadn't actually left though. She had just driven down the road and around the corner to finish writing out notes to attach to the care packages she'd made for each day.

An hour later, I drove the golf cart down to check on her. She wasn't crying and we talked for a while. She eventually finished and left nearly two hours after she dropped off the girls. I emailed her this morning and let her know the girls were doing well.

In addition to that needy mom, there was another that I emailed with in the days leading up to camp. This is her older son's third year of camp, but her younger son's first. Her husband died unexpectedly two years ago and she has had some health problems, so I know everything is just a bit more dramatic, but she was very worried. When the younger camper took the swim test today, he didn't pass. Later, he re-took the test and when everyone in the group found out her was taking it, they started cheering him on. By the end of the two minute swim, they were counting down 10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8, 7... and when he passed, they all cheered. The lifeguard told me that when he finished and everyone cheered, he raised his arms above his head and his face lit up with a huge triumphant smile.

I emailed his mom to tell her that story and encourage her.

Today there was a sick camper. He and three of his siblings are at camp this week. When I called the parents to let them know he was sick, the mom's first question was, "yes, but how is Harry?" (Harry is the youngest of the 4 kids).

I think my week is going to include a lot of hand holding with the parents, but we're off to a strong start.