Help Calm My Worries

[Nancy for Disney]

We leave a week from Friday for our first trip. I have been planning this trip since Feb. My kids (14 & 12) are going on a church camp out this weekend. I am so worried that something is going to happen like a broken bone, a severe case of poison ivy or worse. They are going floating too. My DD14 has already said she has no interest in floating so I am not too worried about her. DS12 is really not that big of dare devil but he is really into the floating thing and the person that is hosting the campout has Kayaks (sp?). DS12 has really been wanting to try one of those forever. It wouldn't bother me too much if they were on a lake vs. a river. We have had a lot of rain this summer so the rivers are really high for this time of year. I am thinking of telling the adults that are supervising that he can only try the kayak breifly. DS won't like this but I think it will make me feel better. On the other hand I don't want him to feel like I don't faith in his abilties. Now if I can find a way to calm my fears about the poison ivy. I wish this camp out wasn't so close to our trip. If this was something that our church did often I would have them skip it but it is the first time we have ever done such a thing and it was DS's idea. I also wouldn't be as worried if I or DH were able to go but DH has a lot of work to do to get ready to leave next Fri and I work on Saturday's. I am already taking off two Saturdays for the trip. Three Saturday's in a row is not going to be possible. I think there is already a 2 to 1, child to adult ratio so the supervision should be good. There are only 5 kids going, there will be 4 adults and one 19 yr old. I really just want this trip to get here and get it over with so I can stop thinking about what may happen that will ruin our trip or worse.

 

[exwdwcm]

i think if you have enough faith and trust to send your teens to camp in the hands of these church chaperones, then just know they will be taken care of.

do accidents happen, sure. but those happen when the kids are in your care as well. try not to worry about what you can't control. and don't ruin your kids good time because YOU are the one worried. it sounds like you have great kids and that you believe they are perfectly capable of handling themselves, so let them be responsible teens and have a good time. it will be a good growing and learning experience for them. Mom won't be there when they are 30 to tell their boss- 'hey, he doesn't wnat to try that, or only let him do it for 10 minutes'. they have to learn sometime, why not now. let them spread their wings a little.

poison ivy- i think that is an extreme worry. prepare your kids for it- teach them what to look for and just be sure the camp has first aid. you can't control everything, all you can do is prepare your kids with the right tools.

on your daughter and tubing- if she has a slight fear, well it might be a good lesson for her. she might just discover she has a blast tubing. if it is too the point where she is deathly afraid and really hating it, i am sure she will let them know at that point and they will adjust plans accordingly. let her spread her wings a little and try it?

it's a small group with lots of supervision- almost one on one, you can't beat that.

i have a 9 month old and worry alot. but i try not to be so paranoid about things out of my control. it just makes my blood pressure rise and if i can't do anything about it, what's the point in worrying. i know i want him to learn to be independent and trust that he knows what he is doing.

sounds like you have wonderful kids and are a good mom. trust in that and trust in your kids. i hope you guys have a great time at disney too!!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Honestly, I think your concerns are on two different levels:

1) COncern for your kids' safety: The whole river vs lake thing is a big deal. I would make a point into looking into the safety precautions built into the camp. I assume the kids wear lifejackets while kayaking. What conditions would cause them to cancel the day's kayaking plans? Who would make that decision-- the kids or the counselors or the people running the camp? Are all the counselors registered lifeguards? (RIver guards, used to currents, not pool guards?) Do they know CPR?? I'm guessing you looked into all this before booking the camp; if not, do it now

2) Concerns about your trip being ruined/cancelled. Believe me, I feel for you. I need surgery-- they're willing to postpone it till after Disney. (But it was a huge concern for me earlier in the summer.) My husband fell a week ago and did a job on his foot and leg. He's been to the doctor's and even had a Doppler test, but it's OK. Still, he needs a cane to walk. My father-in-law is in general poor health, between dialysis and a bunch of other health problems, and is due to go onto a feeding tube soon because he's having problems swallowing... need I say more?

Remind your kids to beware of the predictable, and roll with what happens. As the mom of a 12 and a 14 year old, you know how to roll with the punches. But worrying about what may or may not happen will only make you crazy.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Thanks for the advice. My kids came home from their two week fine arts camp today to report that two people have been diagnosed with strep throat. Now I have been given somthing else to worry about. I just have this terrible feeling that something is going to ruin this trip I have been obsessing about for 5 months and dreaming of for years.