Our youngest son, Austin, is at church camp this week. It’s his second year to go to the week-long camp in Clinton, Illinois with his friend, Mason. 
(Mason left, Austin right)
Last year I made sure that Austin received a letter or a postcard from someone in the family every day of camp. I didn’t want him to get homesick (and truth be told, it helped me feel connected to him!)
Last week he told me, “Mom, no letters this year. Last year was embarrassing.” I said, “Are you sure you don’t even want one?” He said, “No, not one. Promise me you won’t send me one letter.”
“Yes, Austin. I promise.” (Sniff, sniff…)
Oh, ouch!! (What a good mom you are, Jill!)
That would be tough. Hang in there. You could always write letters to Austin, but don't send them. Let him see the letters when he returns from camp. It may help with that desire for connection. Austin may enjoy being filled in on a week in the Savage family that way, too
Stephenie,
What a great idea! Thank you!
Jill
Ha ha!! This year my Austin is going into 8th grade. I forgot to put a card in his bag before he went to camp. I felt AWFUL (they don't do a mail call thing there). But then I thought, "Ah, he probably is relieved to not see the card this year." LOL
P.S. It actually *helped* that my daughter, her first year at this camp, called on the last day crying that she was homesick. I cried on the phone, too. All I could think was, "Woman! Get yourself together! She didn't call to hear you bawl." I prayed with her and she was much better at the end of the call. Thankfully it was the last day or I might have had to drive out there and get her. She's such a trooper!
I spent a week at Little Galilee every summer. I loved it! I still have many memories of it. He'll be so busy, he won't have time to get homesick 🙂