My Little Man Is Off To Camp Thunderbird...

Well, I'm posting this entry after Josh has already left for camp and has been gone for a full night - succesfully, I might add. We didn't receive a phone call and we all slept through the night.

Josh left Wednesday morning from school at about 9:30am. On Tues night when I put Josh to bed he seemed fine until we asked him to brush his teeth. I think at that point he realized there was no turning back...he would soon be on his way.

So, we head upstairs with our dog and I get him all tucked in and walk out of the room after he has talked my ear off. When I got downstairs I realized he had left his Allegra (allergy medicine) on the countertop. I asked Dave to take it up to him in hopes that it would ease his anxiety. Dave soon came downstairs and said "Josh needs you, he said he wants to ask you something." So, when I walked in his room he said "Mom, do you think you could come to the school when we load onto the buses for camp so you could say goodbye to me again?" I replied..."well, Josh I don't think I can." From that point on he began to talk through all of his anxiety. He told me that I should know that he won't be jumping out of the car in the morning when we pull into the school cause he's not going to be really excited about leaving me. He then shared how he was afraid we wouldn't get a parking spot so I would be able to walk him to his room etc. So, I soon realized that he had some anxiety about going and just needed to be reassured etc.

The more he talked though the more he was breaking up and shedding tears. So, I told him that it was okay to be sad that I understand why he's sad. But, then I began to talk about all the good things he would be doing and how the time at camp will go by so fast that when he gets home he won't remember the times that he's sad just all the fun memories he will have. I reminded him that he probably won't be the only boy that misses their mom and that it's okay to miss your mom. I told him I will miss him too but I don't want him to miss out on this great experience. Well, our conversation lasted only about 10 mins and he began to crawl further back into his bed and under his covers. I told him I loved him and I would see him the morning.

I left the room and heard nothing more from him..phew! I came downstairs and shed my tears away from him. Not that I was not comfortable with him going but I remember being homesick as a little girl. Gosh, I couldn't even go spend the night at Diane McCrory's house which was behind mine without getting homesick! So I totally felt his pain. The thing is that the more I did stay overnight the stronger I got and I knew this experience was going to be really good for Josh.

Well, once we got to the school we wheeled his suitcase and sleeping bag sack to the designated area for his class and we walked to his classroom.

I gave Mr. Hayden his medicine (gallon size) ziploc and taught him how to use Josh's Epi-pen (just in case) and before I knew it Josh was off chatting with his friends. There was an excitement chaos atmosphere in the room. The kids weren't out of control at all they were just talking and slapping high fives etc.

So, I walked over to Josh and hugged him and he said "bye Mom" and I immediately turned and walked out. I know from my own experience that once I felt okay I was okay and I didn't need anyone messing with me.

Dave has been delivering Josh's food each day and when he got to camp this morning he said Josh was with Mr. Hayden and they were getting his breakfast.

Dave asked Josh if he was having fun and Josh replied "YES!" He had a necklace on that he was telling Dave all about making. Then, Dave asked Josh if he slept good and Josh said, "yes, I slept all night" YEAH! As you can imagine, I was thrilled to hear that and Lord knows I'll sleep even better tonight knowing he's sleeping well at camp!

They arrive home tomorrow about 1:00p and I'm sure I'll have lots to post about after Josh shares all this "camp stories" with me.