Linus goes to Camp

This week I sent my firstborn to sleepaway camp.  It was a big deal.  Kids just don't go to overnight camp as often these days.  When I was young, I dreamed of going to camp.  My family could never afford it.  I was so excited to send Linus to CYO camp, where his dad and I first met.

I dropped Linus off at Camp Don Bosco on Monday.  His friend, Bennett, joined him.  Linus has been to Bosco for family camp and other functions so he was acting like Mr. Cool.

I admit I was nervous.  Considering I used to work at the camp and had a pretty good idea of what his week would look like, I can only imagine how other parents must have felt.  Linus is a picky eater.  Would he eat?  Would he remember to wear sunscreen?  I decided to just trust that everything would be okay.

Life was eerily quiet without Linus.  Eileen and Robin are generally best friends, so they basked in each other's company.  Eileen slept in Linus' bed.  They played with all of Linus' toys.  We went to the Point Defiance Zoo and the taste of Edmonds.  Many many blanket forts were built.

When you are in the having babies stage, people ask you if you are done.  After Linus we knew we weren't done.  We felt incomplete.  Then we added Eileen.  Things felt more whole, but I still felt incomplete.  After Robin things felt complete.  This was my family.  With Linus gone, there was a hole.  Life was quiet and easier in a lot of ways.  But it's also like someone of the vibrancy, color went away.  Linus often makes things harder, but he also makes it better.  We missed Linus.

I was excited to pick him up.  I wanted to hear all about his adventures.  It's been 2 hours.  He hasn't stopped talking.  I've heard all about hikes, kitchen raids, capture the flag, building a waterproof fort, and the gaga pit. Linus and Bennett weren't the biggest fan of foil dinners.  Dave and I correctly predicted that Linus would choose Archery on choice day.  On the drive back home, Linus treated me to a recitation of a poem about bagels.

The boys were happy and dirty when I arrived.  Linus was sad to leave, but so very proud of his Eagle and beads.  The counselors said they were awesome friends during the week.  Bennett took on the challenge of waking Linus up every morning.

You know it was a good week when the counselors ask to take a picture with your kids.  Linus' cabin leader, Thomas, hurt his knee during soccer yesterday and got to go to the ER so he wasn't around.

Lodge Leader Meghan, Crafts Riley (loyalty), Linus, and Bennett in front of Tonga Lodge.

I just unloaded all of Linus' gear.  I threw all the socks in the garbage.  You can learn a lot about a kid's camp experienced based on the contents of his bag.  Things I gleaned:

1. Linus did not brush his teeth the entire week.
2. When he did shower, he did not use shampoo.
3.  He changed his clothes a total of 2 times during the week.
4. He used bug spray, but not on his body.

I asked Linus what he would miss most about camp.  His response, "Just playing." I get it kid.  Linus also informed me he is going to go to camp until he is 23 so he can get a 5 year bead, 10 year bead, and 15 year bead.

Right now Linus is regaling Dave with tales of camp, singing camp songs, and teaching him how to play the handgame, cowboy.    Linus had a great week.  It was worth a little anxiety on my part to see Linus grow as a person so much in one week.