She sent me a letter today saying she cries every nite when she goes to bed and wishes she was home. She has been there 8 days and has 5 left. Should I go get her and bring her home or have her tough it out?
2007-07-11 16:05:15 · 23 answers · asked by KhrisB 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Tell her to suck it up. I hated my 2 week summer camp until I got home. 15 years later it's one of the best things that has EVER happened to me.
2007-07-11 16:12:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Talk to the people at the camp before you do anything.They know how to tell when homesickness goes beyond normal. If she is having a good time during the day and crying at night I wouldn't worry too much. It will be a growing experience for her to be able to get through it. On the other hand, if she is so homesick that she is not participating in activities then she probably needs to come home. Don't be surprised if the situation changed from the time she sent the letter to the time you got it. She may be fine by now.
2007-07-11 16:33:14 · answer #2 · answered by EC Expert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have her tough it out. Though, maybe send her some extra letters or some pictures. Let her know you have confidence in her that she CAN get through camp. Tell her how excited you will be to hear all about everything she did. Write extra letters and send your love and let her know the time will done with quickly and that everything at home is exactly as she left it. When she comes home take her out for a special dinner at her favorite place to celebrate her coming home.
When parents make deals with kids about coming home early, it makes the kids question every decision they make. When the kids know that Mom and Dad are confident about their ability to be at camp, they will be confident. However, when parents say "Honey, you can always come hom early if you don't like it" then the kids will question themselves every day and question every activity to decide if they 'like it'.
If she truly hates it then don't send her back again. You guys can talk when she gets home about the good and bad points and why she felt so bad there. Don't bring her out early though. She will need to develop these sorts of skills as she gets older. She will need to deal with seperation, and being on her own, and conflict resolution (if someone in her cabin is bugging her) and learn decent coping skills. Next year, she does not have to go back if she didn't like it. She can honestly say she tried it and gave it her all but it just was not her thing. Taking kids out early is disruptive to the camp experience and bad not just for her but other campers as well.
2007-07-12 06:18:37 · answer #3 · answered by scottishduffy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, she has already been there through 1/2 the time...
I think that most people would say to make her stick it out, but I'm not so sure. My best response would be based on several things. Why is she homesick after 8-days? Usually, by that time, you forget about being homesick, because you're having so much fun. Was it her idea to go to summer camp, or someone elses? If it was her idea, I think I would talk/listen to her, and encourage her to stick it through the next 5-days. If it was your idea, I would still talk/listen to her, but I think I'd let her come home. In all of my experiences, talking w/ people about going to summer camp, one of the worst experiences ever, is to feel like you've been shipped away from your family, homesick, and being stuck. Your future relationship is better served by letting her come home, I think. I don't think that is spoiling, and I don't think it is a point where you draw the line....it is a touchpoint....an opportunity to connect and get closer. No point in making her stay.
2007-07-11 16:14:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Writer her letters and send her a home care package with cookies and candy she can share with her camp mates. If this is her first time at camp send a letter everyday. I sent my kids to camp from age 10 to 17. They loved it. But, not the first year. And, I had to switch to a second camp for them to really appreciate that camps are different and just because one doesn't work, the next will. I think we went to 3 camps before we found the right one
OH, I made a deal with my kids before they went. I promised a favorite toy to prove they could stick it out and do their best. Both received best camper two years in a row and they have both been asked back to be counselors in training now.
2007-07-12 22:32:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is an idea. Write a letter to send to your 11-year-old. I'm sure that would make him/her feel better and not so far away from the family. My brother is away at camp for two weeks also, he gets to come home this Saturday. My family has sent him little things like a box of snacks for him to have. I know that he has enjoyed them. I miss having my brother here, but I know that he is having a good time. I hope that this helps. Also if you write a letter be sure to say that you can't wait for his/her return.
2007-07-11 16:21:36 · answer #6 · answered by legogate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a growing experience. I think she needs to stay, if you go get her she will only learn that you will save her when she guilts you. She has made it 8 days already and only 5 left. Tell her that you will pick her up early that day and do something fun, then she has that to look forward to. I hope the camp is doing fun things, what type of camp is this? I have to admit that is a long camp.
2007-07-12 05:20:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell her to tough it out. Mom and Dad can't always bail the kids out. Plus she is 11 not 6. She will sass you and tell you that you are being mean. If you pick her up early you will teach her that if she doesn't like something to just quit. Too many people have that attitude. If she's lasted 8 days 5 more won't kill her and just tell her if she hated it that much she doesn't have to go back next year. Was camp her idea or yours? Did she beg to go? Remind her of those things if she calls you complaining.
She needs to put on her big girl panties and deal with it.
2007-07-11 16:17:20 · answer #8 · answered by Wealth of useless information 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should send her a letter back saying that if she comes home, she will regret it and wish she hadn't. Tell her to enjoy her time away and let her know that everything is perfectly fine and normal at home. If she feels like shes missing something, it will make her feel worse. Tell her when she starts to think about being home and missing her family, she should go do something and not sit around in her cabin/etc. and think more about it. If you baby her and say "aww hunny, im so sorry," this will not help. Act brave for her, and take it one day at a time. After the 5 days are up, she will feel proud of herself for sticking it out and she will feel great for accomplishing something on her own....this is what my mom did when i wanted to come home from soccer camp 7 hours away and it really did help...Best wishes to you
2007-07-11 16:15:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I just went through the same thing although it was day camp
I made her stick it out but she cried morning,noon and night. By the last day she was having such anxiety, I kept her home.
Can you call a counselor and see if they can talk to her? does she why she hates it so much? Is it friend issues or something else?
I would call there first, talk to someone-get an aduly version- and take it from there...send her a care package..that might help
Good luck
2007-07-12 04:44:01 · answer #10 · answered by Willow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends because if it's really bad then i would bring her home, but if she has a lot of friends there who can help her get through it then i would make her tough it out, because camp is a lot of money too!
2007-07-11 16:13:42 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋