Yes, my daughter turned twelve last week, and she’s heading up to Girls’ Camp as a yearling tomorrow. I believe I’ve been exhibiting some signs that may be typical of other mothers in my position.
1. Following her around the house, clutching her in my arms, and wailing, “My baby! My baby!”
2. Lying awake at night three days before the fact wondering if I shouldn’t throw an extra three or four pairs of underwear in her suitcase.
3. On every visiting teaching visit to the Young Women President’s house for four months previous, peppering her with so many questions about camp, I almost didn’t get to the visiting teaching message at all.
4. Also while lying awake in bed, reliving every bad camp experience I ever had and praying she won’t encounter the same things.
5. Sitting her down repeatedly in the weeks leading up to camp and making sure she knows how to do everything from change the batteries in her flashlight to how to introduce herself to the other girls to how to properly climb into her bedroll.
6. Practically memorizing the list of items to take and then double-checking it every thirty seconds while packing.
7. Putting not one, not two, but three tubes of lip balm into her bag.
8. Volunteering my husband to go up to camp one night as a priesthood representative so he can check on her and make sure she’s all right.
9. After asking my husband to give my daughter a blessing of comfort and strength, asking for one for myself, too.
10. Wondering if it’s too late to get our camp fees back and tell her she can’t go at all.
I know she’ll have a wonderful time, but I can’t help but feel nervous. After all, she’s my baby! My baby!
Related Blogs:
Young Women: The Benefits of Girls’Camp