He Hated Camp, and That's Why I'm Glad He Went

A reflection on parenting, resilience, and how resistance can become transformation.

A few weeks ago, my daughter went to an overnight Girl Scout camp for the first time. She had a great time, as I assumed she would. My first job out of college was with our local Girl Scout Council, so I was familiar with some of the staff and volunteers who guided the week. Camp gave her the chance to meet new people, take on adventure, and build her confidence.

But she wasn’t the only one in our house being stretched by her time away from home.

It was my son, her 5-year-old brother, who was most challenged by her being gone for the week.

Learning to Stand on His Own

For the first time, my son had to navigate his day without his sister by his side to support or coach him. This wasn’t a total surprise to either my husband or me. We had already noticed that our youngest didn’t have many experiences making friends or entering new spaces on his own. He attended the same preschool his sister once did, and she still joined him there after school. As he heads to kindergarten, he’ll be attending the same school his sister has attended for years. Even when he played a season of basketball, his dad served as the team's coach.

To sum it up, he has never had to experience life outside of his parents' or sister's guidance.

Big Sister - The Protector

My daughter is your classic oldest daughter. She’s a leader who takes care of her little brother with confidence. She’s strong, comfortable with setting boundaries, and stands at least a head taller than most kids her age. No one is messing with her.

In contrast, my son is kind, soft-hearted, and a bit shy. While at home, he can be bold, but around other kids, he’s content to play the role of the tagalong little brother. He’s the kind of kid who somehow attracts every woman over 60 and is totally happy chatting it up with a few after church on Sundays.

I adore this about him, but my husband and I also recognized that it was time to gently push him outside of his comfort zone and help him practice doing more on his own.

A New Camp, a New Challenge

With his big sister away, we signed him up for a day camp he had never attended, with kids he didn’t know. Our goal was simple: to encourage him to speak up, make new friends, and try something new.

He hated it. HATED. IT.