Camp Day 1 was a hit!! Such small things belie such tremendous progress. When I picked up The Critter and asked for 3 things about camp, he gave me "awesome awesome awesome". Not much information there. I tried to insist on 3 reasons it was awesome, but hit a brick wall, and he asked me to stop and not talk about it. ARGH!! So frustrating to know there is SO much information in there, but he can't/won't share!! We hit the road to Woodstock to spend an overnight and the next day with friends - convincing him to leave immediately after pick up was a bit tense, but again the seemingly small change in him balking but agreeing to go after I guaranteed him an hour of alone down time once we arrived to spend as he saw fit, is actually HUGE progress in being flexible as well as confident that he can handle my unexpected expectation. Once there, I noticed GLITTER!! on the back of his shirt. For those of you who may have a sensory defensive critter in your household, you can imagine how glitter is not a small thing. Not only did The Critter not care about it, but he seemed pleased that a buddy, whose name he knew, slapped him on the back and put it there as a joke. Stop reading now if you are sensitive to terribly inappropriate middle school boy jokes. Later, at fondue time (and yes, he tried FONDUE!!), he was telling our friend's kiddos that one of the other buddies at camp had a million pick-up lines for girls. When asked for an example,"I have a rocket in my pocket, and it's headed for Uranus" entered the conversation. BOOM! Oy! Thankfully, these are not stick-up-your-ass type friends but let's-share-our-crazy-and-see-what-happens type friends, and laughter ensued. Again, The Critter knew THIS kid's name, too!!
A year ago, we were having a very scary WTF!! camp experience, dropping rock climbing club, not talking to ANY girls remotely near his same age and freaking out about the advent of middle school. So, these little things mean HUGE changes!! Some of these little things are even FIRSTs for The Critter like fondue and knowing fellow camp kid names before Day 3.
Needless to say, there was none of the angst when I dropped him off for Day 2 - just a reminder, that was MY angst, not his. Don't worry - my phone is still on and the ringer turned up today
albeit maybe not quite as high....
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