What I'm Learning About Summer Camp…

My children are leaving for summer camp on Sunday right after church.  In preparing (and not on the night before — PROPS for mom!) I've come to learn a few things…

• It cost almost as much at Wal-Mart tonight in gathering items for them as it did for the actual price that I am paying to send them to church camp.
• One of the biggest reasons is that I needed two of everything.  Typically, when we travel I throw the kids' stuff in one bag.  They've always gone together and while they technically are going together, they won't be together.  So we needed two cans of sunscreen, two tubes of toothpaste, two things of soap, etc.  Two of everything.  I felt like Noah the whole night.
• Another reason that it was a little on the pricey side is that we didn't have much of what they needed.  Like sleeping bags.  Or extra bedding.  Because I'm a goober and when I cleaned out the linen closet, I got rid of all the old sheets.  So we needed sleeping bags, and they both needed a duffel bag to carry this crap in because I didn't have two of them that were large enough… and one suitcase, as previously mentioned, wasn't going to cut it.
• I should learn to keep items like flashlights in a central location.  They both needed one. I know we have two in this house.  But now we have two more, appropriately labeled.
• And then there was the issues of towels.  I didn't want to send my good towels (good = towels that match and are 6 years old).  I was afraid they might not come home.  So I picked up cheapy towels for them.  In hindsight, I should've let them take the good towels, lose them, so that I would have an excuse to go and buy new towels.
• Then, let's talk about beach towels.  Our beach towels all have characters on them.  Characters such as Big Bird, Batman, Rescue Heroes, etc.  Can I send my middle schooler with one of those towels?  Uh, no.  So we needed non character beach towels.
• My son could care less what he wears as long as he has clothes.  I told him he needed six outfits.  He pulled six shirts and six pairs of shorts from his drawers and threw them in the bag.  Added six pairs of underwear, six pairs of socks, his swim trunks, pool shoes, and he was ready to roll.  I'm not sure he'll match, but he doesn't seem to care.
• My daughter, on the other hand, treats everything like a fashion show.  Whereas it took Matthew six minutes to pack, it took Samara two hours.  We had to go through all her clothes.  Then we had to pick out which shirts we had to wear.  Then we had to find matching shorts.  We also had to pick out our best underwear and the proper "bras" because heaven forbid the mosquito bites she's sprouting would go "unsupported" for the week.  Additionally, she is highly upset that I will not allow her to take more than one pair of flip flops (rubber ones at that) for the pool and her sneakers.  When I checked her bag she had SIX pairs of shoes and three purses.  I am now the "meanest mom in the world" because I won't allow her to take them.
• We folded laundry tonight and packed while watching the new Disney movie Camp Rock with the Jonas Brothers.  Samara now thinks that she will be experiencing the same thing next week.  I assured her it would be nothing like that.  I think she was disappointed.
• If you purchase items of clothing for your daughter to wear specifically FOR summer camp, you should put them away until it's time for summer camp and not let her "break them in" because they will be no where to be found the night you are packing and a meltdown will occur and it will be YOUR fault that they are missing.
• The same goes for the one piece bathing suit, her FAVORITE bathing suit, even though three weeks ago, I was the "meanest mom in the world" because I made her purchase a one piece bathing suit as opposed to a two piece.
• Dealing with two children who are excited about summer camp and trying to make sure you have everything is an awesome way to distract your mind from your upcoming date.  Although, I still don't know what I'm going to wear.  I have 13 hours to figure it out.
• But my biggest lesson?  The 5 days of peace and quiet is well worth every.single.solitary. penny I paid.  I'll miss 'em, but I need some space!

Until next time…