Things I learned while the kids were away at Camp

I dropped my children off at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal last Sunday for a week of overnight Camp. This year Benjamin decided there was no need for him and Sebastian to go to the same place as he "needs to start developing some independence skills" Needless to say this distressed his mother, because although I think he is prefectly able to manage on his own there is something to be said about the comfort and security of the two of them being in the same place IF anything were to happen.

The drop off with Sebastian went smoothly. We met his counselor, an 18 year old Australian youn man who was very mature and appropriate and Sebastian and he hit it off really well from the start. Benjamin on the other hand was left in the care  of "Banana". Yes, Banana. She did not get up from the floor, did not make eye contact and did not extend her hand to greet us. When we asked for her name she said: "Banana". When we asked for her real name her response was (while giggling uncontrollably and covering her mouth with her hands): "I can't tell you". WTF?? I am leaving my 11 year old with YOU??? Thankfully there was another boy Jeremy in his group who comforted us by saying: "Don't worry I have been to this camp before and I am sure we will all be happy" while oozing 11 year old maturity. Great, at least Benj will have Jeremy.

I was a summer camp counsellor in New Hampshire for a few years and now that I am on the receiving end I wonder, did I come across as a professional and put together young woman or was I a Banana? I think I was pretty good at it. The responsabilites started at the Mexico City airport with the care (even the fist year I went, at age 11, I was put in charge) of a gaggle of unruly Mexican kids that had to be navigated through security, flight, flight changes, immigration, more security and second flight. I remember I was given the responsability of carrying the passports!!! and boarding tickets too !!! Eventually we all made it to Boston and Camp Q safely. So I must not have been a banana, then again maybe I was. If you knew me then you can comment but do it kindly :) it could destroy my self-esteem :).

Any hoo, Sebastian comes back today and Benjamin tomorrow and here are a few of the things I learned while they were away:

The house is way tooo big.

The house is waaaaaayyyyy to quiet.

Most of the phone calls (contrary to popular belief) are not for me.

The big bottle of shampoo CAN last more than one week.

I do not need to buy toilet paper as often as I thought.

I miss the creaking of their bedroom doors at night when they use the bathroom.

THEY eat ALL of the food in my home.

Hot dogs last forever is there are no teenagers in the house.

Laundry loads are infinitesimally small and frankly do not need to be done on a regular basis.

You get a pretty good workout if you have to climb up and down the stairs to get things that you forgot rather than have them go get them.

Going back and forth from the garage to the house to get things that you forgot (rather than place a quick call on the cell and have them meet you by the garage door) is a nuisance.

I cannot fix anything that requires complex electronic knowledge.

Watching sporting events on my own is booooorrrrrriiiinnng.

Time on my own is great but a little overrated. I have no need to be away from them.

If this is how it will feel when they go away to University I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Summer break

The end of my first set of summer holidays is gently coming to an end on Tuesday and although I will miss the late mornings, the incessant pleasure reading, the daily Whistler or city adventure and most importantly the soaking of the sun I am also looking forward to the predictability of work days, the interaction with my colleagues and the thrill of new questions.

The children and I have had two weeks of absolute togetherness and I think they need a break from me. Like Benjamin put it the other day: "Why can't we just sit at home and veg instead of biking around the city like maniacs?"  You see I, (not unlike other people in Vancouver I hope) have this almost insane need to get out in the sun to "do stuff" during the summer. There is this incredible sense of urgency to pack the day chock full of things to do because you just know in just a few weeks, just around the bend, looming there like some big black wet monster are the endless days of rain. I am convinced this rain anxiety driven "need" makes more than a few of us a little crazy.

So we have biked, hiked, skimboarded, canoed, kayaked, Splashdowned, visted every Farmers Market, sailed and swam to our heart's content. I have also ran every other day, done the Wreck beach stairs and walked leisurely back from the beach stopping on the way to get a muffin or a croissant and sat in the sun to eat it. Le me tell you, I am sure everyone loves their city but there is no better city to spend a sunny summer than Vancouver.

We have also sat (for a short while ONLY) infront of the TV to watch the Olympic Opening ceremonies and had ample time to virtually discuss the whole event with people all over the world thanks to Facebook. I played an Olympics  "drinking" game with my friend Karen in Vancouver while I was in Whistler. My Dad who is in Mexico and I managed to dissect every country's choice of uniform. I also did this with a few other people as well, my friend Hillary in Ireland, Jane in Australia and I also had a blast making fun of the Queen. Have we ever had a time before when we could be this connected? It felt like we were all in the same room sharing this event together!!! The PERFECT summer party!

I have to confess in between all of this I have also checked my work e-mail daily but had the new found ability to answer only the urgent-we-abslutely-need-you-to-answer-this-one messages. I went in to work one morning when there was no sun and got quite a bit accomplished without pressure. I also managed to stress out big time over the Research Ethics Board application but managed to let go once I figured out I had absolutely NO control over its outcome. Now, for those of you who know me well you will know THAT was my summer's biggest accomplishment - realizing sometimes I have no control.

So as Benjamin also put it "Thank God you are going back to work so we can have a rest". It is now time to take a proverbial break and get back to work rested, happy and tanned until the next set of holidays.