One thing I discovered this past weekend is that even teenagers need a little peace and quiet. While I had been looking forward to our annual trip to “Camp Tranquility,” it proved to be just as therapeutic for my teens.
Camp Tranquility is the name of the property that my father and stepmom own. It’s about 3 hours from our home, deep in the heart of the woods and beside a river. It truly is tranquil.
I had been especially looking forward to going since the kids had been on their first week of summer vacation and my husband had taken off a week as well. However, I still had to work all week. So it was going to be nice to finally disconnect from my work and get away with family.
Of all my children who benefited from time away, I think my youngest won out. We had been struggling with him all week to get him out of the house, instead of wanting to be in front of his video games. There was no choice this past Saturday when we took our trip, and he had a wonderful time.
He climbed trees, went tubing in the river, took a canoe ride and made up adventures in the woods with his cousin. He was…a boy. He was a boy doing boy things and it seemed to fuel the fire when we got back home for him to continue to want to be outdoors.
My daughter had a little more of a struggle because she was greatly lacking in sleep. She brought along her best friend, which helped because otherwise she would have been stuck with her brothers and their male cousins. So she did get to enjoy some lazing in the hammock with her friend, walks in the woods and time in the river. Her friend really enjoyed herself and I could tell was hoping we would invite her again next year.
My oldest son enjoyed playing his guitar for most of the time. He and his cousin (who is also in high school) spent a lot of time strumming their guitars. He got to enjoy music in the great outdoors and also went on a couple of canoe rides.
I’m so thankful for the chance to get away. But I am most especially thankful for my children to enjoy this annual tradition. I think it’s important that over the summer they get to enjoy activities which force them away from their world of technology, social media and all of the other distractions of life.
What do you plan on doing this summer with your teen that will help them to disconnect from all of the distractions that pull at them?
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