As the cooler days of Fall begin to approach in the Northeast, it's nice to look back and remember all the fun family memories that were made over the summer. Whether it was a visit to grandma's house, a week or two at the beach or maybe a cabin at the lake, summer always comes and goes far too quickly.
This summer, Primo ventured off for the first time to sleep away camp in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. All my friends who had been campers themselves back in the day said what an amazing "gift" we were giving to our child. A gift that he will treasure for years, decades even, to come.
Well I'm here to tell you, it's the gift that keeps on giving!
Oh Primo loved camp, I mean really loved. The first words spoken to us when we visited on parent's weekend was, "I'm coming all summer next year!" Um, no. Three and a half weeks is plenty. Followed shortly by, "Just so you know, I KNOW things." He said this with the biggest shit-eating grin I've ever seen.
"Really", I replied, trying to sound unimpressed. "Like what?"
"S-E-X!", Primo declared.
Mr. X and I had just been discussing on the car ride up to camp what kinds of juicy tidbits he would come home with. It took about ten minutes to find out.
"And," he said, "I can't believe you have done that!! TWICE!"
"I also know about all the bases. And I know that sometimes...you get a home run."
Well there you have it folks. The gift that keeps on giving.
Again, not wanting to make too big a deal out of it, and trying my hardest to keep from bursting out laughing, I simply said, "Well, just so YOU know, what you have learned may or may not be true. And it's also something that we don't discuss with friends or at school or on the bus. Got it?" He assured me that he would keep it to himself. I apologize in advance if any of your children come home with a "gift" from Primo.
In addition to his new found knowledge, he was also given the gift of pink eye, which followed us to the Cape and home again, lingering for about two and a half weeks. He also picked up some small trinkets like spitting and taking a "ten pacer" (peeing outside everywhere and anywhere, just as long as you take ten paces away from people and houses). It was an all boys camp.
Now, he didn't just come home with disgusting habits and new found knowledge, he also learned a lot of really great things too. He's a better eater than when he left, actually eating vegetables and salads! He's a much stronger swimmer. He's more confident and comfortable in new situations. He also has finally settled into the big brother role with Segundo, being more patient and teaching him new things (no, not that!).
Will I send him back next summer? You bet! It was an experience that you just can't have at home.
And since it was like Christmas this summer, I'm thinking, how bad could next year be???
Peace and love.
