My oldest child went away from home for the first time this past week. She went to a sleep away camp several hours away. Even months before camp started, it was really hard to get used to the idea of my little baby growing up and going away. She was incredibly excited to go, however, even though it got harder and harder for me to bear the thought. In fact, she was so excited, that she literally counted down the days for months before she was going to leave.
Fortunately, the time while she was gone was not totally unbearable. We did get a postcard from camp, and even better, her campsite posted pictures of my girl and her cabin mates on their website during the week while she was gone. Seeing her HUGE smile while swimming, making s’mores, and hanging out with her cabin mates made the separation a little easier to handle.
Even before she had gone, my wife and I had already planned her welcome home celebration. We would take the family out for dinner, and she would tell us everything that had happened to her as well as all of her favorite camp stories and songs.
We thoroughly, enjoyed the dinner, but midway through, the prodigal daughter turned somewhat serious. She turned to me with a solemn face, and said, “Dad, sometimes going to camp changes a girl.”
My mind was racing. What did they do up there at camp to my little girl? Was she traumatized in some way? Will she need therapy?
Completely deadpan, she then continued, “I take my grilled cheese sandwiches cut into triangles now, instead of squares.”
My heart started beating again, and my wife and I exchanged a bemused (and on my part relieved) glance at each other.
It sure was great to have my little girl home again. I’m glad that all I have to worry about for now, is grilled cheese sandwiches. I can definitely handle triangles.
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