Indecision 2011

Subtitle:  Welcome to the Crazy Inside my Head
Sub-Subtitle:  Yes, I really do worry about all this stuff.

I went to a Summer Camp Fair last week, with a goal of finding a few fun things for my children to do this summer, and, being completely honest, to give myself a break from constant stay-at-home parenting.

Long story short, I left the Fair with a bag of summer camp literature to peruse AND a job offer to be the Nature Specialist for one of the local summer camps that I have had my eye on for a few years.  I'm still shaking my head at how this happened.  I already have two jobs (three if you count parenting), so pretty much the last thing I need is something else to juggle.  But, I'm really good at juggling, and I'm tempted to take the position.  Really tempted.

On the face of it, it's an incredible opportunity -- 7 fun-filled weeks of summer camp fun at an amazing location (and at an amazing price) with a lake, pool, meadows, ball fields, woods, cabins, playgrounds, and a creek.  All three kids would get the chance to attend, be outside, play sports, try archery, horseback riding (Abby only), arts and crafts, and be a part of an excellent nature program (at least hopefully, right?).

Here's what I'm wrestling with....

Con.  It's 7 weeks. That is practically the whole summer.  School would end June 13th, the girls would have 1 week off, then go to camp for 7 weeks, go to the beach for a week, have a week off, and go back to school.  That is a lot of structure for the summer.  Granted we'd have weekends and July 4th off, but still, that means no PJs until 10am, practically all summer. 

Con.  It's a contract.  So, if they/I hate it.  We're stuck.

Pro.  Grandma and Pops have offered to come up and hang out with the kids sometimes if they want to take a break from camp.  So, it only really has to be full summer run for me.  I can do the 7 weeks.  Geez, that makes it sound like prison.  It is a happy camping place, right?  Of course I can play outside for 7 weeks.  It's got to be better than validating groundwater data.

Pro AND Con (simultaneously?!)  The kids won't get to play with each other or the neighbors as much this summer because they will be in separate groups at camp.  If they don't play together as much, they won't fight as much (good!).  But, they'll miss out on playing with each other (bad?).

Pro.  The camp runs from around 9:15 to 3pm, so there would still be time in the afternoon and evening to play with the neighbors and play flashlight tag in the evening.  The reality of last summer was that no one wanted to play in the yard between 1 and 3pm because it was too hot anyway.  Maybe they'll be tired and ready to relax when then come home.  

Con.  In the summer, I usually do some educational activities, like skills workbooks and reading with the kids.  I'm nervous that we won't get much of this done.  Will they forget everything they've learned if we don't review things regularly?  Will we get enough reading time in?  

Con.  It's a lot of time in the sun for my two fair-skinned children.  There is a lot of shade at the camp and the kids do spend time in cabins.  But, it's still a lot of sunshine.  We'll have to copiously apply sunscreen at 8:30am and noon every day. The kids just loooooove sunscreen first thing in the morning, so I can anticipate a daily battle.   (Really, though, this is a weak con, since we'd still have the sunscreen battle later in the day anyway.)

Pro.  There are a lot of sports at the camp, like soccer and softball.  Abby has been begging me to play more sports, so she would get her fill.  Lots of sports = lots of exercise, which is definitely good.  Also, lots of outdoor time = less time at home asking for snacks and TV.  Excellent.  I read an entire book, a scary book, about Nature Deficit Order in children -- so the more outside time the better.

Con.  I'm nervous about Ben being at camp, particularly one with a pool since he is barely 3 feet tall and can't swim get.  Will they adequately supervise him?  Will he be safe?  This is my biggest worry, even though it's not listed first.

Pro.  Lunch is provided at the camp.  I would have a full summer off from making lunches during the week.

Con.  The lunches they serve are "kid friendly food" -- hamburgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, etc.  So, the lunches aren't super healthy.  There is fruit.  But, I'd have to help Caroline with food dye free choices. On the plus side, they'd be running around outside for 6 hours a day, so calories are not an issue.  I'm more worried about them still being willing to eat healthy foods at the end of the summer.

Con.  There is a 100% chance that I will end up with poison ivy at least one time this summer.  We visited the camp on Sunday and there were huge vines visible on a lot of trees.  I'd be leading the trail hikes, so realistically, I'll be itching.  I hate itching.  But, I can wear Ivy Block and bring Ivy Soap.  And, take my annual dose of steroids.

Pro.  I would get to play outside for a lot of the summer.  Hopefully, this will be fun!  It's camp, right?? Also, hopefully I'll get glimpses of ABandC having fun too -- doing things that I would likely never do with them regularly (archery, canoeing, fishing, rock wall, etc.) 

Con.  I won't be having fun WITH them directly, except during nature time.  We'll be at the same camp, but not together.  I'll miss a summer's worth of Ben-isms.   Ok, really 7 x 5 x 7 hours worth of Ben-isms.   Will he grow up this summer, and I'll miss it?   I guess I will still see him in the morning and evening, though.

Summary.  Yes, I'm totally over-thinking this. Completely and utterly over-thinking this.  In my defense, I am on day 9 of a head cold and am a bit foggy-headed.  Also, I'm feeling pressured to make a snap decision, and that is not one of my strengths.

For the 3 of you that somehow made it to the end of this post, please feel free to weigh in with your thoughts via email, call, or comment.  I have to decide by either today or tomorrow.  I'm going to call director today to find out more about the swimming and Ben. And, just how many kids I'll be teaching.