An Unexpected Camp Visitor

Last week, I dropped my daughters off at summer camp. This would be the first time that they shared a camp experience and there were mixed emotions as I pulled away.

My nine year old was ready for me to leave as soon as her trunk was unloaded. In fact, I joked that I could have left her at the creek crossing at the far entry to camp. She would have found her way to her cabin and then straight to the stable to check out the horses. Mom? Who's mom? To say she was excited was an understatement.

My thirteen year old was a different story, as usual. She wasn't all that jazzed about spending two weeks enjoying swimming, tennis, choir, horseback riding and arts & crafts in the beautiful setting of the Allegheny Mountains. I'm sure if you would have asked her, she'd have opted to stay home, sit in air conditioning with her laptop and ipod while summer and her youth wasted away in front of her. Obviously, I didn't ask.

I did worry, though, as all parents do when their children are away. I packed them each preaddressed stationary and told them to write. I feared that a letter begging me to rescue the older child would be waiting in the mailbox as soon as postal-ly possible. Or worse, a phone call from a sobbing, homesick girl. Much to my surprise, I heard nothing for days.

Yesterday, I was sitting at my computer when the phone rang. The caller id let my heart know to drop into my stomach because it was the camp calling. I held my breath as I picked up the phone.

Hello?
Ma'am, this is Marsha, the camp nurse.
*gasp*
Ma'am, there's no emergency. Both girls are fine.
*exhale*
I'm calling to let you know that your older daughter began menstruating this morning.
*gasp*
She's doing well with it. Her counselors made sure she had the necessary supplies and knew how to use them. I gave her some ibuprofen and we excused her from swimming. She's already back at her activities with her friends.
*exhale*
Ma'am?
Yes?
Are you alright?

After we determined that both mother and child were alright, the nurse assured me that my daughter was in good hands. I hung up the phone and my mind began to swim in a sea of parental what-ifs.

What if she was frightened or embarrassed?

We had many discussions on the subject and knew her big day would happen soon. She is thirteen. I guess it's better that her time came while at an all girls camp rather than at middle school where boys make up half the population.

What if she didn't have anyone to talk to about it?

The nurse said that she spoke with her counselors and that girls go through this every year at camp. They know how to handle it.

What if she was uncomfortable? What if she doesn't feel well?

Being at camp isn't ideal as far as comfort goes but they gave her medication to ease the cramps.

What if she just needs a hug from her Mommy?

That will have to wait until we visit on Sunday. That is, unless I receive the sobbing phone call or homesick letter. In such a case, I just might have to rescue my little girl who became a young woman while she was away at summer camp.

Because we women? We stick together.

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You can find Kimberly in Petroville where she lives and writes daily.
An original DC Metro Moms post