The Poor Mom Revolution

For those that don’t know, I work at a summer camp. It’s the same camp that I grew up at and have been there on and off for the last almost 20 years. My kids are now finally camp age, and I’m lucky enough to have my kids join for a week of sleep away camp. This experience is one that I’ve always wanted to be able to offer them, as I know the many benefits of the camp experience.

Now when it comes to camp, I don’t feel like there’s any other place in the world like it. Kids get to meet new people and strengthen social skills and friendships, become more resilient, learn independence, responsibility, and jump outside their comfort zones. It’s an incredible opportunity that I wish more kids were able to experience. Lots of camps are also technology free, so it allows them to just be kids again without any additional distractions.

I talk about camp being such a unique place, but that’s an understatement. We’re currently in a time where the world is uneasy, parents are worried, and we’re flooded with all the terrible things going on that it causes us fear. Fear of our kids not being safe when they aren’t with us. Fear of sleeping over, or fear of playdates with people that we don’t know extremely well. Times have changed and trust is hard to come by when you’re thinking about your most prized possessions.

Now camp is a thing where you’ve either grown up with it or you haven’t. But it’s a place where you wholeheartedly, know and believe your children will be safe. Most people choose a camp based on word of mouth, the specific focus of the camp whether that be sports, activity or religion, or proximity to where you live. No matter which camp you choose, you have complete faith in the directors, owners, staff and training that your children will come back the same, if not better then when you left them. They will be learning all of these life skills that will inevitably carry with them for life. Being a mom of a child with severe allergies, I know that one wrong bite or accidental slip up can be life threatening. Knowing that the cafeteria, staff and health center are on the same page is such a comfort to know that everything will be okay.

Worldwide, camp isn’t super common, but in the United States it is a phenomenon. According to the American Camp Association, 26 million children participate in the summer camp experience, whether that be day or overnight programming. The summer isn’t just about babysitting kids while you’re at work, but learning vital traits and experiencing things they’ll need for years to come.

It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. Now I am absolutely obsessed with the camp I work at in the Poconos. Along with my team, I help to train the staff each summer on fun transition activities, behavior management techniques, signs of stress/anxiety, ADD and homesickness. There is ongoing training and reminders for the best way to improve skills and help both the kids and staff get the most out of this experience. I wholeheartedly know our staff is incredible and when I dropped my kids off at the beginning of the summer, I knew they would have the most incredible time. But so many families do this without knowing who will be taking care of their kid. There is no formal interview process like when they were little and we were looking for a babysitter. There is no big meet or greet, or technology to stay in contact throughout the day. We simply trust the process knowing our kids are in the best place for an experience they’ll remember forever.

Now as a parent, dropping my kids off and going home without them for seven nights seemed like forever. This was the longest time they’ve been away, and the house was really quiet. Just like kids get home sick, I was missing them so much. It’s nuts how we had a life before children, because honestly I don’t remember it anymore. We talked about them constantly, scouring the website to get pictures and photos of them throughout the day, just to see those beaming smiles we knew we’d see. We went on date nights we never get to go on and found ourselves missing them around our typical dinner table, talking about our day. We missed the laughs and even the bickering throughout the day, the snuggles and goodnight routines. The kids get older, but will always be our heart and soul.

While the kids were away, I did an internal deep dive. I was thinking about, once again, that I don’t have many hobbies outside of being a mom. When the kids were younger, they were it. Everything they needed was the top priority. Nothing else mattered and they were at the top of the pedestal. I had lost myself when they were babies and it had taken me a while to get it back. I began working out, making time for myself, and spending time out with friends. Once the kids got a bit older again, the sports schedule started getting crazy, and it took over my life once again. I’m now at that point where I’m back to revolving around them being the center of my universe, and my health/workout regimen, friend and self care have been put to the wayside. Don’t get me wrong I loooove being a soccer Mom and cheering from the sidelines, but there is limited time for anything else. I’m working on making a plan to bring myself back and to find a middle ground where I can do all the things from friend hangouts, hubby date nights, in addition to being the best mom I can be.

Having them back is the best feeling. We got to hear all about the incredible week they had in the best place ever. Learned all about the new friends they made and can’t wait to see next summer. They conquered fears and heights, drove a jet ski, won the campers choice award, places in rec events and relay races, rode mountain bikes, learned all about golf and pickleball, enjoyed the best food ever and spent every day in the lake running on the inflatable obstacle course. I’m so excited they got to live their best lives and love that I get to share the joys of camp with them.