A summer session at Camp Jeanne d’Arc might be transformative for your child. The friends she will make, the skills she will learn, and the independence and confidence she will gain will lead to a boost in confidence and personal growth. But let’s not forget about the parents. Overnight summer camp can benefit parents too. How?
The Gift of Time
Time to Explore Your Passions
At Camp Jeanne d’Arc, we love hearing about the incredible adventures Camp parents are having while their daughters are at camp. We hear about scuba diving explorations in the South Pacific, white water rafting in rural Idaho, acrylic painting classes, overnight writing workshops, and more. When caregiving responsibilities are on a hiatus, parents are given the freedom to connect with the things that excite and rejuvenate them.
Time to Take Inventory on Values
Parents often feel like they are chasing their tails, putting out fires, meeting needs, and living moment to moment. Taking a chance to slow down and take a step back is extremely valuable. Maybe you realize that you are spending too much time in one area of life and neglecting another area that was previously really important to you. Maybe you realize you hadn’t done a trip with friends or a family vacation in way too long. Maybe a skill you had wanted to nurture has taken a backseat to other priorities and you want to bring it back to the forefront. Taking inventory on your time and resources while your kids are at camp is a huge benefit we see happening with our camp families.
Time to Clean Your House
I know this may sound trite but taking the time to declutter and deep clean your living space is extremely cathartic. There is so much research that points to the mental health benefits of tidy and decluttered homes. Clearing out toys from years ago, sorting school papers that build up, organizing the bins and bins of clothes to donate, throwing out whatever lives in the deep dark crevices of your closets is important work that often gets pushed off the to-do lists. Do yourself a favor and get this done while the kids are away, you won’t regret the feeling of a fresh, clean start.
Time to Focus on Others
Do you feel like your youngest kid doesn’t get the same attention your older one does? Or maybe you have a parent that you’ve rescheduled lunch with too many times. Or a best friend that you haven’t connected with in far too many months. It is easy to get caught up in your child’s youth sports events, piano recitals, school functions, etc. While the kids are having a blast at camp, you can really focus on those relationships you want to invest your time and energy in but haven’t been able to.
Time to Get Work Done
Boring! I know. But hear me out. Do you have a work project that you just haven’t been able to get your head around? Do you want to rewrite that report based on some new findings but haven’t been able to fit it in? Or maybe your computer files need a major reorganizing. When neglected work responsibilities linger, the stress can sometimes creep into family life. If there is one work project that needs attention, spend the extra hours while the kids are at camp. The weight will be lifted off your shoulders and you will feel refreshed and stress-free when they return!
A Better You When the Kids Get Home
We hear so much about self-care these days. It really is important to connect with the activities and relationships that energize you. While the kids are at camp, parents can benefit too! The parents who are proactive about creating this time find that they are reinvigorated in ways they didn‘t realize they needed. And when the kids hop off the bus from camp, they will be welcomed by a better version of Mom and Dad!