ohbloodyhell8

While taking the boys to camp this afternoon, I wept silently several times.  Not just because I miss them while they are at camp, but because I loved what they were doing in the backseat.  They played with their stuffed animals that they were bringing to camp.  They created a whole universe in the backseat during the ride.  Blue Bear, Little Blue Bear, Elmo’s Blanket, T-Rex, Zarzac, and their little camp animals were knee-deep in it and all I know for certain is it involved codes, breaking said codes, the animals’ mothers, and some type of court.

When we got to camp, I saw two mothers driving out of the camp, both wiping tears away from their eyes.  That got me going again.  We got them settled in their cabins, a very regular routine this summer, and then said our goodbyes.  On our way out of the camp, we dropped off the care packages.  Younger son will turn 9 this Thursday and that also helped me cry.  I hate like hell not being with him on his birthday, but he says he enjoys the celebration at camp.  Hearing their names called out even before they walked through the door today makes me believe everything they say about camp, so I trust he enjoys his birthday there.  Plus, they both get care packages in connection to it.

After dropping off the care packages, we started the ride home and it felt longer.  I cried.  Hubby said each time they go to camp, they come home more grown up.  It’s true and it’s a good thing, but knowing that we dropped them off to some serious growing up on their own gives me pause and made me cry a little bit today.

I am so thankful we are able to send the boys to camp, to let them stand on their own, and grow in ways that they can’t when we’re around.  And even though they will be a little more grown up next Saturday, they’ll always be my babies.