A Much Earned Break

Some of you are experiencing an empty house this week. You have sent all your kids off to camp. What do you do with yourself now?! I found the first time I was alone, void of children, I didn't know what to do with myself. Might I suggest a few things. Make a plan to meet up with a few friends, read what you can of a book. If you are married, go out on a few dates, stare at the clean kitchen and take deep cleansing breaths. (Enjoy- after all they are back on Friday) Do nothing, do something! Maybe take a bit of time to think through how you can help your child come down from a mountain top experience and hold on to it as long as possible. Ask open-ended questions when they return like: "What bible verse do you remember from chapel"; "Did you experience something knew you never felt before?"; "How do you want to take what you experienced and use it this week?"; "Did you see anyone behave in a way that surprised you?" (Make this a teachable moment to process what they saw or heard) Children will tend to give you simple answers like fine and good when you ask how something was. If you ask more detailed and specific questions you will challenge them to process things on a more detailed level. I realize that most of you only had some of your children leave for camp, so not much is different. You are still the go-to person running around like crazy. I remember being there. The time alone with your returning campers will still bear fruit. Can anyone remember a camp experience as a child or adult that changed some part of them forever? Share your experiences.