For Quinn, this summer was his first time to experience camp without us with him. For years, we've attended Family Retreats, even when Knox was 18 months old and sleeping in a pack-n-play. Only during the last family event we attended (February 2020) had Quinn slept in a bunk away from us, and on the first night, he cried and had to have a staff member help him get to sleep (by making him laugh while singing "Fudgy the Whale"). When it came time to decide if Quinn would be attending, I was reluctant. Because COVID shut camp down for over a year, there hadn't been any fall or spring camp experiences for him, nor had there been the family experiences we normally would have attended. But, I went ahead and asked Quinn if he wanted to go to camp. Without pause, Quinn immediately said, "YES!" When I said, "Okay, but I don't think little Levi or Luca are going. I don't know anyone else your age going," he replied, "That's okay. I'll make friends." And I knew he was ready. As the summer approached, I was nervous for Quinn to go because after so many months locked down at home and learning virtually, he had spent very little time away from the house or from us. But, we prepared as best we could - having sleepovers with cousins in the early summer, returning to school for the final 9 weeks of the year, and talking about how to handle homesick feelings. Each night at dinner the week before camp, we also talked about the "What ifs" to prepare for what to do when we weren't there to solve all the problems: What if you lose something? What if you can't poop? What if you want to sleep but someone else is being loud? What if someone is bullying you? What if your butt itches? What if you're mad at someone? What if someone touches you inappropriately? And so on...
So, for 10 days, I wondered how Quinn was doing. 10 days can be a long time to not know. Our letters from Quinn were about being upset or angry (he couldn't find his water bottles and thought someone stole them on the first day of camp... he later found them on the last day!) or about missing us and crying (he only cried on the first night, but wrote about it 4 days later and we didn't get that letter until day 8). I was so worried he was having a horrible time. But, when I picked him up on day 10, he said he had so much fun and wished he had 5 more days to stay! His voice was entirely hoarse (he has vocal nodules, and I knew to expect this) and he was congested, and he gave me the best squeeze!! He told me about his amazing counselors (Eden, Mason, Seth, and Gal). He told me about three new friends he made (Myles, Greyson, and Asher) and where they live (all out of town). He told me about the new foods he likes (grilled cheese, jelly, beef stew, and peaches). He told me about his favorite thing (zip line), learning to do a flip off the diving board, when he cried (only the first night), how loud everyone always was, and that his tongue bled when he ate too many sour Skittles. He told me about the kid who passed out from sniffing the Havdalah spices too many times. (?) He told me about some of the naughty kids in the bunk who never listened to the counselors and the kids who used bad language - including Banner (he said the "a-word," and when Quinn told him, "You're not allowed to say that," Banner replied, "Mom's not here, Quinn. We're at camp, so we can say whatever we want.") He told me how they had to be asleep ("not just in bed, Mom, but asleep!") by 7:25. When Quinn got home, we went through his things, and I realized how much he needed me to be there to set him up with all his belongings (parents weren't allowed to due to new COVID protocols). He never found his masks (the 60 required masks that were to be sent to cover 6 mask changes a day), so he borrowed every day. He never found the letter I had written to him and put in his bag for the first day. He didn't know he had extra batteries for his flashlight (yes he did, I showed him!). He didn't know he was supposed to unpack his shower caddy so that the only things in there were what he needed for the shower (yes, he did... I told him!). He didn't know his fan clipped on to his bed (yes he did, I showed him!). He didn't know he had a laundry bag for his dirty clothes (yes he did... I showed him!!). Yet somehow, he survived and thrived and wants to go back!
For Banner, this was his first long summer. He'd gone to camp for the 10 days like Quinn before, but he'd never been for 3.5 weeks, nor had he been during a COVID year. The letters and pictures of Banner all indicated he was having a great time. However, the most recent photos we got last night had us worried he was very sad. He had a sad look and was all alone, so I worried maybe saying goodbye was getting to him. When he got off the bus today, he looked like maybe he's grown a bit, had a raspy, hoarse voice, and was all smiles! It was so good to get my arms around him and hear all about his time the whole way home. I was worried he'd be annoyed that Quinn had to come with us to pick him up (because Quinn was sick and would have otherwise been at day camp). Instead, Quinn playfully peeked through the back seat window in the car with a funny expression, and Banner immediately laughed. It was so good to hear them talk about camp in the back seat all the way home.
We learned that Banner lost two teeth while gone, and there's a camp tooth fairy! We learned about his two (maybe three?) "Shabbat-y Hotties" (oy vey!). Banner likes tomato soup now - especially with crackers and grilled cheese. He also likes tea - but not just any tea; it has to be Saba Ron's tea! He told us about the RAID they did (telling us that RAID = Random Activities In Darkness) when they stole the camp director's husband's birthday cookie cake off of his front porch. We heard about the lake activities, the ropes course and climbing the Alpine Tower, and being asked to participate in the All Camp Variety Show. The lonely pictures we had seen last night were actually him being homesick, he said. I thought perhaps the magic tricks he did during the Variety Show didn't go well and he was upset, but that was not the case. He told us he learned new card tricks, and they did go well. He told us about Macabbiah and how his team (Yarok - the Green Team) won. He said that's why his voice is still hoarse (although that was almost 2 weeks ago) from all the screaming and cheering. We learned he got dehydrated one day and fainted while in the gym (after being at the Ropes Course). We also learned he was the bottom bunk but never changed his sheets. He lost the charging cord to his (well, MY old) digital camera and the top blanket to his bed. He wears deodorant now; when I asked if he needed it, he said, "I don't know, I always used it so I wouldn't have to find out if I needed it." We've learned that the whole bunk would "twerk" in the cabin, and Banner has been going around "twerking" after dinner tonight. (Insert palm-to-face emoji)
Tonight, Banner told me his "sweet" was coming home, his "sour" was coming home, and his "service" was coming home. :) He said he missed us so much and he's really glad to be back. I'm really glad he's home, too. We're all back together again - all 5 of us under one roof - which I am forever grateful for. I'm beyond thankful that my kiddos went to to a camp where everyone was safe, where COVID protocols were in place so that the whole community tested negative and continued to test negative throughout the weeks they were there, where they could let loose and be themselves, where they know there are so many people they can go to for anything they need.
As a parent of campers, we, too, got our Shabbat of the Year. We got a change of pace, a different vibe around the house. We got individual time with each of our boys. For 10 days, Knox got to be an only child. When Quinn got home, he got to be the big brother without an older one. He got time with just me while Knox was at day camp, and he got special time with just Knox. When Banner got home, he was the center of attention, where we wanted to hear everything and let him choose dinner; and for the next few days while his brothers are at day camp, he will have some special time with just me and Sam. Banner has been all smiles all night, the sweetest to his brothers, and so well-mannered. His brothers have been especially attentive to him and wanting to hear everything he has to say. I know this won't last forever, but I'm savoring the freshness he feels for his family and his home. We've all had a long break away from the mundane routine of every day. It was a rest for all of us, something special to take with us into the upcoming school year which starts a week from tomorrow! Life is challenging, hectic, and fast. It's been so nice to mix it up a little bit, get some time away from ordinary and from each other to remember how important, special, and amazing each member of this family is. It was a chance for all of us to disconnect in order to reconnect. Camp IS the Shabbat of the Year on so many levels. It's the reminder to slow down, embrace those we love, take time for ourselves, and rejuvenate. My boys have told me we should be more observant of Shabbat, and Quinn and Knox have both told me we should be making challah each Friday. They're right. It's important - to stop, to reflect, to observe, to remember, and to rest. While we will do that each week and bring these feelings along, the highlight will always be the Shabbat of the Year... and we already can't wait for next summer!
