It’s summer break so lots of kids are gone to camp. Thank the heavens mine are too. Our kids’ church camp is a full week, Monday through Friday. I’ve looked forward to this week. Counted the days on the calendar.
Then rain hit last weekend and pushed our baseball tournament a day later. Daddo and I just looked at eachother. We knew this meant one less day of camp. One more day of them at home. They played their game Monday night. Camp started that afternoon. I sent their stuff with another parent to make sure it got there and was sitting on their bunk. They were going by golly. We planned to transport the ball players to camp immediately following their game no matter how late at night it was. Then the lightening hit. We had 6 delays in the first 2 innings. Finally we got through the game in 3 hours, got the win, celebrated on the field and quickly loaded the campers in the car to transport. It was only a 45 minute drive to the camp. The other mom and I quickly delivered them to the front gate around 10:45 pm, called the counselor and dropped them off safely at their cabin. This was my younger son’s first time ever away from home this long. I tried to catch him outside the car for a hug goodbye but was relieved when he was walking much too fast down the sidewalk to the cabin for me to act concerned. I yelled ‘have fun boys and behave!’ I heard an ‘ok’ and ‘bye!’ from the darkness then heard the door close to their cabin. {And that is why there’s no cute heading-to-camp picture to add on this post.}
And that was it. Back in the car and down the road with just the other mom and I. We laughed and chit-chatted. Talked about how our kids reacted to certain situations and would all have a great time at camp.
In the back of my mind, though, I silently listed my mental notebook of projects for the next three days. I was excited. I couldn’t wait to wake up the next morning with just two kids in my home. I could imagine the quiet; the lazy snuggles while sipping coffee and watching Disney channel; the mid-day run to Lowes with just the two littles and a list of materials for our ‘projects.’
Camp week = Project week. {this is where I’d like to thank the camp counselors who give up their own project week at home to work camp and stay with my kids so I can have the week ‘off.’ Thank you. I love you all.
I also realize that having two kids still at home is not easy by any way of the parenting world. But when you usually have double that number {and even more on most occasions due to neighborhood friends and kids who stay over} then yes, two is a dream world of quieter, calmer, and less everything. {which means more everything of what I can get done}
It happened. I got stuff done. All the laundry from the weekend was put away. I de-cluttered places in the house. I dressed ‘Rapunzel’ in her costume and watched Tangled with a third cup of coffee. I downloaded and printed off pictures from my phone dating back to April. I hot-glued a wreath and rug and anything else that needed a ‘fixing.’ We had our run to Lowes and actually played and laughed in the aisle with the kids. Those paint stir sticks make great hiney poppers. {you can’t do that with 4 or 5 kids in a store. Just can’t.}
I napped with my 3 year old. I watched a movie with my 5 year old. I pressure washed anything on the exterior of my home that looked like it needed it {everything}. My favorite cleaning tool is now the pressure washer by the way.
We swam and ate fajitas by the pool. And that was just the first day! Amazing! If only all my kids would be able to go to camp at the same time. But as I told 3 year old Cora over and over Monday morning as the boys were packing; sadly it’s just for bigger kids. Cora kept saying ‘I wanna go to camp! I’m a bid durl!’
If only.
At 9:20 that first night, I got a text from a parent who had sat behind my two boys at the evening service at camp and commented how well they behaved. I thanked him and was suddenly reminded where my kids were and I should probably check on them. Right? So I texted the counselor who stays with them and asked how they were doing.
Then Daddo and I decided what better time to paint the back patio than 9:30 at night?! The littles were happily finishing a movie so we took our opportunity. An hour later it was done. We smiled with a feeling of accomplishment and proud of the finished product. Then I stepped in to check my phone. An hour earlier I received a message from the counselor that the boys were going strong, having fun and if I wanted to talk to them I could call. Haha guess they decided I wasn’t calling.
Day two continues with a couple more projects, lazy breakfasts and cartoons, playing dress up and a trip to the ‘boring zoo’ according to my bigs who just happen to be GONE for two more days.
Thank you church camp. Thank you counselors. I’ll never forget the feeling last year when my oldest returned from his first week-long stay away and I knew that the next time camp came around, I’d have TWO kids old enough to go. I also remember when my shy oldest son told Daddo in his soft voice that he had accepted Jesus into his heart while at camp.
I know that the mom’s Project Week is also the camp’s Project Week of helping kids grow their personal relationship with Christ. While I’m home getting things done and spending time with my two younger kids, I know my older ones are being taken care of and loved by other Christian men and women. Honestly, that’s the only way I can feel as good as I do about my week of projects.
As I head out to paint the front porch, I might send a quick text to check on my boys…… Nah, I know they’re in good hands. And I really want to get this job done before lunch time.
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