Last year was the "Pandemic" year and we had stopped daycare in March when the world shut down.
We never reinstated daycare after that.
We juggled last summer (no camps were opening due to COVID) and then I lost my job.
So it kinda worked out in that sense.
From July 21 - September 7 I was home with the girls.
Even though it was nerve-wracking not to know about my employment, it was 7 weeks that I know I'll never get again (or I hope not to get again, unless it's by choice!)
I got to spend time with them at an age when they love spending time with me and doing things.
My mom was also home (in town) so we spent a good portion of our time with her.
However, this summer is different now that I've landed an amazing job.
We didn't want to do full-time care...well, because I'm still working from home. And it's fucking pricey.
And if it's not "camp-like" I feel like my kids won't LOVE being at someone's house or whatever at their ages.
So I'm grateful that our community has opened up summer camps again! As soon as I received the first email in May, I signed the girls up for 2 weeks.
It's not expensive, $100 per week per kid. So $400 total for the summer. Not bad!
Except that I'm an idiot and did the most embarrassing thing ever on the FIRST DAY.
Steve dropped them off Monday, July 12. We had their bags packed, lunches ready to go, medication forms, etc. All the things.
But, for some reason, my work and personal Gmail calendars were not syncing and one calendar said they started this week and two other calendars said next week.
HM.
I checked the online community recreation page and OMFG.
I did NOT sign them up for this week!
HOLY SHIT.
We literally dropped our kids off with people who have no record of them needing to be there.
CUE PANIC.
I called and emailed the recreation supervisor immediately and apologized and then went online and paid for this week. Thankfully they had enough spaces this week to include both girls.
I did get an email back and they apologized as well for not catching it at drop-off. I'm not at all mad at them, I'm sure they saw their names SOMEWHERE on paperwork and thought they looked familiar - they wrote their names down and that was that.
OMG. Mortified.
ANYWAY.
Other than that, Day 1 was great and they had a great time.
Except for the fact that there is one little girl at camp who is a bully.
She took beads off of a bracelet Ava was actively working on (there were other beads available) and then when they were standing in line, she apparently dumped some of her drinking water on Ava's head.
Ok, so we let the girls deal with it with their camp counselors.
Day 2 (Tuesday) - great day! But again, little bully girl was still being really mean. Not just to my kids, but to other kids as well.
They told Steve when he picked them up and boyfriend turned the truck around to talk to the camp counselors. He told me he said something along the lines of "listen, I get it, kids are kids, but this is the second day in a row that my kids are saying one girl is being mean. I don't want to pick them up tomorrow and have the same thing happen. It's not fair to my kids to have this experience."
If any of you know us IRL, you know Steve is not that guy. It takes a LOT for him to say something.
So we'll see how Day 3 goes. In the rules that all parents are given, it clearly states that if a child cannot be at daycamp, they will be removed. This isn't school. They don't have to keep her there if she's causing too much trouble.
I told my kids that perhaps she's dealing with stuff, although they tell me her sister is very nice. I still tell them to stay away from her and if she touches them, hurts them or whatever, to say loudly "LEAVE ME ALONE AND DON'T TOUCH ME"
Other than this little girl - it seems like they are having a good time.
Monday they made slime.
Tuesday was slip and slide day.
Wednesday is "Wacky Wednesday"
Thursday they go to the beach.
Friday is tie-dye day!
So because of MY goof up with the dates, weeks, whatever, the girls are now going to 3 weeks of camp instead of 2.
Then my dad comes for 10 days, then we have a break of nothing for two weeks before school starts.
Holy shit summer is going to fly by!
Wednesday when they got home, I was curious to know how the little Bully was doing. Ava reported that it was a "much better day, but she's still mean".
Progress, I guess?
Steve again spoke with the adult in charge and they informed him that she did in fact have a better day and they are keeping a CLOSE EYE on her. So that's 3 days (the only 3 days my kids have gone to camp) in a row that this little girl is being mean. And not just "words" mean, but like physically touching my child.
Ava also did say that she yelled back in her face to get away from her, but the Bully just ignored her. I told her that's fine, she still said what she had to say and regardless if Bully reacted, she heard what Ava said. And hopefully realizes that Ava is not afraid to yell at people. Ava confessed that he had pincher the girl after she was being mean on Tuesday. We told her that was NOT ok, because then she'll get in trouble. It's never ok to pinch or touch anyone in an unwanted way. (Although in my head I was saying "yeah she probably deserved it and yay Ava" but I didn't say it out loud.)
Thursday was my first time doing camp drop off. Today is going to be a gorgeous day - sunny and 85 degrees. It's the perfect day for the camp kids to go to the lake!
So instead of the normal drop-off location at the park in town, drop off was conveniently located about 5 minutes from our house, at the park right on the water. They would have choices of beach, hiking (to a beautiful waterfall) and games.
It was a little hectic at drop-off, but only because the turnaround lot for parents was teeny-tiny and we all had to figure out how to turn around with so many cars. It wasn't SO bad, but some people just can't drive. lol.
Anyway, I'm excited for them!
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| Summer Camp Drop Off |
Their first week of Summer Camp was a success. Even with having a bully around for a few days. They were still happy at the end of each day and were excited to go back the following day.
The Bully also wasn't there on Friday, so that helped.
I reminded the girls to have compassion too.
This week they are doing Puffy Paint, Olympic-themed activities, and the beach!
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