About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
What Do Your Kids Look Like After a Week at Camp?
eckler plus one: summer camp canada
(Aug.09.11)
I packed my daughter off to her first weeklong overnight camp, Camp Timberlane, following the list given out by the camp. I, of course, being a neurotic mother, added a few extras, like extra T-shirts, a couple extra pairs of running shoes, and a couple extra bathing suits.
Nothing excessive. But my goodness was I shocked when my daughter came off that bus, running into my arms, when the week was over, and I went to pick her up.
First, her T-shirt was inside out. No big deal. It was also on backwards. No big deal. It was also covered in chocolate. I mean, really, really, covered in chocolate. She was wearing the same hoodie she left in when I dropped her off to go to camp. Her hair was still in the SAME braid I had done the day she left. Oh, did I mention that her zipper on her shorts was also undone? Of course, I found this hilarious. So hilarious I had to take a photo and send it to her father. She was like the messiest kid in the world.
On the car ride home, I couldn’t help but ask, “Did you shower at all while you were there?”
“Of course I did mommy. We showered every day!” she said.
“Did you wash your hair?” I asked.
“Of course I did mommy. I washed my hair ever day!” she said.
“But you’re braid is still in!” I said.
“Yeah, I just shampooed my hair around it,” my 7-year-old explained.
Which means she hadn’t brushed her hair in a week! Also, not a biggie.
I also mentioned that her shirt was inside out and backwards and she laughed. I asked her how it was possible that she had chocolate all over her face and clothes.
“The counselors made us eat ice cream with our faces,” she laughed.
Make no mistake; my daughter had the BEST time at camp. We unpacked her duffle bag when she came home and I was shocked at how neatly the clothes were folded.
Well, actually I wasn’t THAT shocked because it turns out she maybe changed her clothes once her entire time there. She clearly just grabbed whatever was on the top in the duffle bag and that was it.
Which got me thinking that I have a lot of things to teach my daughter before next summer rolls around. For example, I need to teach her, in my absence to change her clothes every day, take her hair out of the braid before shampooing, make sure the tags go at the back, perhaps make sure her zipper is always done up, and also to brush her hair.
All of these things, the inside out/backwards clothing, the non-brushing of hair, the non-changing of clothes really is NO biggie. Because when I saw her smile and heard all her stories and her saying, “I had the best time ever,” well, who really cares if your hair is brushed or your clothes are on backwards?
What did your kids look like getting off the overnight camp bus?
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