Comments on Sherry's Zoo and Garden: Socialization and Camp

Sherry - I only had one camp experience, a good on...

2008-06-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

Sherry - I only had one camp experience, a good one and I've had good public school experience with my oldest son who's now in college. But more power to you for simply doing what's right for you and your family, not matter what it is. Your strong sense of family and the importance to teaching your kids is what's important and you've certainly got that covered. And I wholeheartedly agree that

I'm with Jayne. Only you know what is right for y...

2008-06-23T21:25:00.000-04:00

I'm with Jayne. Only you know what is right for your kids. Peer pressure is on parents too--go with your gut--good advice.

Just call me... I'll teach you lots of camp songs ...

2008-06-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

Just call me... I'll teach you lots of camp songs over the phone! LOLOLOLOL

Three words... trust your gut. Simple. You know ...

2008-06-23T07:39:00.000-04:00

Three words... trust your gut. Simple. You know what's best for your kids. Period. :c) Hugs to you!

Sherry, "You go girl", do your thing, and keep rai...

2008-06-22T09:31:00.000-04:00

Sherry, "You go girl", do your thing, and keep raising those three young'un's the way you have been. They are all sweet, good kids (except when they are fighting with one another, ha!) so you must be doing something right.

Sherry,You really need to get your hands on a fant...

2008-06-21T18:42:00.000-04:00

Sherry,
You really need to get your hands on a fantastic audio teaching by pastor John Thompson called, How Modern Churches are Harming Families. It will serve to validate the legitimacy of your well-placed concerns about age segregation and the harm that does to kids and families. It will make you wonder what in the heck we have been doing in American churches for the last 100 years.

Wow! I had no idea what to expect when I laid my ...

2008-06-21T12:50:00.000-04:00

Wow! I had no idea what to expect when I laid my heart out there, but I knew I had to talk about this and get it off my chest. Thank you all for your words of confirmation and your support for this stand that my husband and I have taken. Blessings and hugs to you all.

Sherry

Oh, and I'm camping RIGHT NOW with three horses, t...

2008-06-21T10:40:00.000-04:00

Oh, and I'm camping RIGHT NOW with three horses, three kids, one dog! lol But it is "civilised camping" with RV living quarters!

Beth

We do NOT send our children to camp either. Even ...

2008-06-21T10:38:00.000-04:00

We do NOT send our children to camp either. Even though I had AWESOME experiences at a 4-H camp, both as a camper and a counselor.

But, we actually CAMP WITH OUR CHILDREN as an entire family all of the time. With horses. With the dog. With the computer sometimes. **snicker!**

I read this aloud to my hubby and he said "Most people send their children to camp to get a break

This post that you write hits at least 3 major top...

2008-06-21T09:57:00.000-04:00

This post that you write hits at least 3 major topics for me.

1)Being pressured by a group to parent in a way that you are not comfortable.

IMO- DO IT YOUR WAY PERIOD. Tell them to shut up- and don't fall to THEIR PEER PRESSURE. You need NO reason to give, you do what YOUR gut tells you.

2)Have I been to camp?
YUP. every year growing up. mostly, I LOVED it....but

Sherry, Bravo! Only you know what's right for you...

2008-06-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

Sherry, Bravo! Only you know what's right for your kids. I never went to a camp when I was a child. I probably would have been homesick if I did. There are probably just a few very good camps available with excellent teenage/adult counselors. But, I don't have good feelings about them, either.

My daughter went to a swimming camp for a week once when she was 11. It was a wonderful

Thank you for saying it. I sometimes feel like we...

2008-06-19T23:39:00.000-04:00

Thank you for saying it. I sometimes feel like we don't let our boys do anything. Just this evening my husband and I were outside talking (our alone time) and there were kids running around everywhere at 10:00 at night. What is up with that. We allow sleep overs only with immediate family and friends so close the seem like family. I can't see sending them someplace for week with teenage

Sherry, this is a great post. I went to Baptist ca...

2008-06-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

Sherry, this is a great post. I went to Baptist camp several times when I was a teen. It was a very good experience for me. The kids were well behaved and no hanky-panky went on that I know of.

Times are so different now though. Our kids, (girl 20 and boy 16) have never been to camp, because we have never done spend the nights away from home. Shocking to most people I'm sure. But I have

I went once, was wearing a back brace, didn't have...

2008-06-19T20:38:00.000-04:00

I went once, was wearing a back brace, didn't have a great time. My daughter went once, last year, she was eleven. The only reason she got to go is I knew her conselor person, and that person would be sleeping in the same bunk house. And the young lady(20ish) was very sweet, encouraging, energetic, Christian woman. If you knew the conselor, I'd say go for it. But it sounds like he wouldn't

Stick to your guns Sherry & don't let anyone tell ...

2008-06-19T20:26:00.000-04:00

Stick to your guns Sherry & don't let anyone tell you what you should do with your own children. You're the ones who know them best. They are intelligent, caring, kind & considerate & the people responsible for that is you two, their parents. You may not have lots of money or live in a fancy home or take expensive vacations, but you love your children & they know it. They know it because you are

I used to go to a YMCA camp, for a week, every sum...

2008-06-19T19:03:00.000-04:00

I used to go to a YMCA camp, for a week, every summer for about 6 or 7 years. While I enjoyed it for the most part, it was very cliquey and I was definitely ready to get home. I am sure that some camps are worse than others, but I think that mine was pretty good.

As far as kids being saved at a church camp, you have a really good point. While I think that it is good for them to be

I didn't ever go to camp. I didn't want to. My M...

2008-06-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

I didn't ever go to camp. I didn't want to. My Mom tried to get me to go. I wouldn't do it. My children didn't want to go to camp. They went to visit Grandma and Grandpa. They did sports day camps when they got older. I can see your point. If your kids don't want to go don't make them just to get the pressure off. Camp isn't for everyone. I have heard nothing good about an overnight camp

CAN I GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MRS. SHERRY, PLE...

2008-06-19T14:21:00.000-04:00

CAN I GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MRS. SHERRY, PLEASE?? Well said and amen! I'm with you wholeheartedly. Our kids have been pressured to some degree over the years to attend camp here or there. This year, Mel's friend, Maddy, asked her to come to camp with her but the ONLY reason we agreed (reluctantly) was because it is only for 2 full days(leaving Sun. morn. home Wed. afternoon). Now I'm super

Only went once or twice - and didn't actually ever...

2008-06-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

Only went once or twice - and didn't actually ever stay the night - it was more like a day camp. Not sure how I would have hadn't a real camp - I was really shy when I was younger - still am. Not sure if it would have helped or just made it worse.