In past summers we’ve loaded up the kids with 1/2 day summer camps they were interested in so that I could work part time. Some of the time I would have a young girl help me with the kids while we were all working at home. This was especially tricky because having me at the house was hard on the kids – they wanted to be with me – or have me answer a question, or I knew where the one lunch item was, or they would fight and I had to intervene.
That new office of ours sure has taken that away. This summer we have a lovely young woman who is about to go to college in the fall watching the kids so that we can work. They are in two day camps, totaling two weeks each and then they have The Big Camp. The overnight camp that is offered through the children’s hospital and courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation. We’ve been calling it Camp Kidney. Although that is not the official name.
The kids are going to an overnight camp, FOR A WEEK. The camp is for kids age 6+ who are sick and/or transplanted (all organs). Nurses, Doctors, Social Workers, Child Life Specialist are the counselors. The schedule looks like fun and I’m hopeful the kids will have a great time.
This is the only overnight camp that Gage and Quinn can go to without us. There is a boy scout camp that Julian can take Gage to and I’m sure there is a Girl Scout camp that I can take Quinn overnight, but honestly, where is the fun in that? There just isn’t an organization that will accept the responsibility for the dispensing of life and kidney-saving drugs. Nor the special requirements for a behaviorally challenged 9-year-old rising 3rd grader. So…we find a couple of day camps they will enjoy and we will send Gage to see his cousin Andrew for a week (Camp Auntie) at 1/2 day science camp (the science of dams) and the kids will have a fun summer, never knowing that they aren’t able to participate in a basic summer activity through normal channels like church or the Y or scouting.
Sometimes (it makes me feel sad that) it feels normal for our family not to do things like the majority of people because we are doing it around the kids’ diagnosis, treatments and abilities (to cope). It is the reality though. And we’ll play up the camps they are in, and they will enjoy being with the lovely young woman, and I hope that Camp Kidney is all that it can be for them. Because it’s their one shot.
Don’t worry, fun is fun, no matter the packaging! Plus, they will be safe, and you can relax a bit, you need a break too!
Camp Independence, your two will love it. This year will be Jon’s 6th year attending & he can’t wait. My hubby & I wait each year until this time so we can have some time alone together. Jen is too old to go as a camper and would love to return as a counselor but she’s taking classes this summer.
Plan on some alone time with hubby. You can relax they will be taken care of very well.
Now I am kind of glad my kids will be on a year-round school schedule. Payton will start kindergarten on July 15 and they get out the end of May. It is the same number of school days but they have break in Oct, longer spring break in March and break in April. But having to plan for only 6 weeks of summer vs 12 doesn’t sound too bad. We have the issue that camps are for ages 3-5 or 1st – 2nd grade. He is almost 6 so probably does not want to hang out with 3-4 yr olds but does not read yet to go to the older camps. Enjoy!
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