Why Sleepaway Camp Was a Must for My Boys
My three boys and I were a real team. With their dad traveling four to five days a week, bringing home the bacon, I worked part-time and took care of the gold—three incredible young boys. I took them to every ball game, sitting on the sidelines, cheering them on, and wishing for their success.
We ate dinner together almost every night of their childhood. I still remember the red clay dust settling into our makeshift TV dinners at the baseball fields, where we’d gather to support whichever brother was playing. With three boys in three years, our lives were filled with togetherness.
I was good at just about everything they needed. I could throw a ball, help with homework, cook and reheat meals (earning my title as the Queen of Reheat!), enforce discipline, and, most importantly, love them unconditionally.
But there was one thing I could never handle—I hated when they wrestled.
The Chaos of Wrestling and the Language of Boys
The sight of them tumbling, tackling, and shrieking in pain and outrage drove me crazy. I was convinced someone was going to snap a neck. But to them, this was pure joy. Their roughhousing was their love language, and as a mom, I just didn’t get it.
I knew I couldn’t be everything for them, and I desperately wanted them to have healthy male role models who could engage in the pushing, shoving, and competitive play that I found unbearable. So, I recruited.
Why Sleepaway Camp Was the Answer
Every summer, my boys went to sleepaway camp—not just for the sports and adventure, but to learn how to be good guys (I could teach them how to be good people, but there’s a slight difference).
Through their male counselors, they learned more than just sports skills. They learned how to fall, get up, brush off the dirt, and jump back into the game. They learned how to stand up for themselves, push their limits, and embrace the camaraderie of being a boy.
The beauty of camp is that these lessons didn’t come from their mom but from young, well-trained counselors—role models close enough in age to understand them, yet old enough to inspire them. As parents, we can guide our children, but after a while, our voices become background noise. However, when a respected older peer offers advice, it’s solid gold.
Psychologist and camp expert Michael Thompson, Ph.D., author of Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, captures this perfectly:
“Children love to learn, but they get tired of being taught by adults. They want to learn from older children, and at camp, that means older campers, C.I.T.s (counselors in training), and camp counselors. They want to live with them, emulate them, absorb them. In our age-segregated society, camp is the only place in America where an 11-year-old can get the sustained attention of a 19-year-old. In return for the attention of these ‘older children,’ campers will make sacrifices. They will follow all kinds of rules and adhere to all kinds of rituals that they would likely fight at home. There’s just no contest between parents and counselors. The college students are vastly better looking than we are; they are truly cool and they have dazzling skills. When children need a summer filled with growth and change (not to mention fun and glory), I tell their parents to give camp a chance.”
Camp Was a Game-Changer
For my boys, camp wasn’t just a fun getaway—it was an essential part of their growth. It gave them the space to develop independence, resilience, and friendships outside of my watchful eye. They became stronger, more confident, and more capable young men.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Sending them to camp was one of the best decisions I ever made. And today, I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible men they have become.