Don’t know if I’m ready for camp

My little girl guide

Well Mother’s Day is coming this weekend. I’m sure many mom’s are anticipating a wonderful breakfaast of burnt toast and cheerios served in or on or near the bed. Perhaps some nice flowers and a homemade card (as long as the gifts aren’t on this list, you’re probably okay). Well my Mother’s Day gift this year is having my seven year old at Girl Guide camp. This will be her first sleep away camp. And for that matter, mine too, as a mom anyway.

Most moms might be excited about having one less child in the house and it will be nice to not have the usual early morning fights over who has built the tallest Lego tower. But instead I’m seeing flashbacks to the first day of kindergarten (read Scary Mommy’s post to refresh your memory of what that feels like). I remember entering the school playground anxiously with my then four year old daughter. Turns out I was the only anxious one as she ran into a playground full of kids she didn’t know without hesitation (man, I wish I had that gift). The whole kindergarten thing didn’t really hit me until I stopped at a stop sign and noticed her empty car seat in my rearview mirror. Then tears.

And now I see the cycle starting all over again with camp. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for her, but I think I’m secretly hoping at night she misses me, just for a second. I know I will when I walk past her empty room.