1. Empower your camper – build confidence!
2. Trust your camper that they can survive without you – build confidence!
3. Let your camper pack for camp – it is a skill and they will know what they brought with them.
4. Expect and accept that your camper will feel a variety of emotions – excited, disappointed, included, left out, anxious, and happy.
5. Write letters (envelopes & stamps) at least 4 times in a two week session.
6. Don’t clean out their room when they are at camp. Some kids hate this!
7. Take a healthy risk yourself! You can share this with your camper upon return.
8. Recognize your own feelings – empty, alone, anxious. (Don’t tell your child.) Do something positive about it by calling another parent, going out on a date, or watching a movie.
Tell yourself that you can do it (other parents are, too)!
1. I can electronically disconnect from my kid! I can do it! I can survive not hearing my child’s voice while they are at camp. I know that camp will call me if necessary. I can let them be independent. I am building confidence.
2. I can visually disconnect from my kid! I can do it! I will not see my child in person or through pictures. I can visualize my camper smiling and laughing; wearing a dirty t-shirt, and hugging their counselor. I am building confidence.
3. I can emotionally disconnect from my kid! I can do it! I can’t tell them that I miss them. I don’t need to know about every decision they make or know what they are eating. I am building confidence.
