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Karate Camp Dilemma

neverblushedneverblushed member
in School-Aged Children
My DS has been taking karate for about 3 years, and he's getting better and more serious about it.  Last summer, to get his older sister to do something more physical, I told her I'd sign up for the adult karate class if she would too.  She grudgingly agreed.  She and I have both grown to really like karate.  We've moved up a few belts, competed in some tournaments, and we're beginning to become a part of a very nice, tight-knit karate community.

Our karate school does a summer sleep-away camp.  Students of all ages go to camp -- kids and adults -- and it's apparently really fun.  Last year, my son wanted to go, but my H was between jobs and we didn't feel like it was financially responsible to send him to camp, even though it's a very reasonable price. 

Last practice, when our coach asked if we were all going, I explained that my son was already signed up, but that I was not going to do camp this year, because I wanted him to have an independent camp experience without his mom there.

At a tournament this past weekend, our coach pulled me aside and said, 'Hey, I know you really want him to go on his own, and as a dad, I get that.  But I'd love for you and his sister to go to camp.  You'd both get so much out of it as karate students, that I think it would be worth it."  He added, "I go with my 3 kids every year, and the school aged kids really don't interact much with the teenagers or with the adult students.  I think he'll still pretty much be on his own and have the independent experience you want for him.  If you don't want to interact with him that much, you can avoid it unless you think he'd be really clingy. But you're at a place with your karate where a week of camp will really make a difference; you'll learn a lot, and it's just a great experience even for the adults."

Ugh -- now I'm really torn.  As a mom, I want my son to go on his own for a week without parents.  As a karate student, I totally want to go to camp myself!!

Thoughts?
High School English teacher and mom of 2 kids:

DD, born 9/06/00 -- 12th grade
DS, born 8/25/04 -- 7th grade
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Re: Karate Camp Dilemma

  • DesignermommaDesignermomma member
    Does your daughter want to go? Maybe ask your son how he feels about it? Explain that you don't have to interact with him if he doesn't want you to. If your daughter wants to go but really wants you to go with her, then you could explain that to your son as an excuse of why you need to go.
    Are there any other adults with kids going to the camp that maybe have gone before you could ask about the experience for an unbiased opinion?
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