what ideas can i share with my dd for dealing with homesickness

[mandib50]

my 14 yr old dd is going on to a canadian scouting jamboree for 10 days. i KNOW she will be homesick for sure. i am trying to come up with some ideas with her for coping so that when she is homesick, she can have ways to help. so far we've come up with sending postcards home, going to the onsite tim hortons with her friends for a donut (: ), reading harry potter 7, crying and calling home (altho i am not sure on how much phone access there is onsite), meeting new kids.

there is going to be plenty of activities and she is going with her friends so i know that will help. but i want her to go knowing that she has the tools to deal with the inevitable homesickness (she will get homesick right!!!! )

[CarrieMF]

At 14, if she has never been away from home before she may get homesick but chances are she won't.lol

she'll probably be having so much fun & being kept busy she won't have time to get homesick. the way guiding camps were for us we had very little downtime(1-2 hours/day) & usually we spent that gabbing with our friends.

Cel phones probably aren't allowed but there'd definitly have to be a phone there.

Where's she going?

[mandib50]

the camp is in lake tamaracouta in quebec. i'm thinking i'm the one that is more nervous she really hasn't been away from home, the longest was 3 nights with my ex-husband but he doesn't do stuff with them anyway so i know this will be a lot different. maybe this is just my way of making me feel good that my BABY is going away for so long

[mamaduck]

Does she want to go? Am I right to assume this trip is her choice?

I think it might help to bring something that reminds her of home, makes her feel at home -- a special quilt or something that smells like home.

If there is time for this -- I would also put together a small album for her with photos of family members, family pets, the outside of your home, and pictures of the rooms inside. Something easy to carry, easy to pull out and flip through when she needs a dose of home.

[Adastra]

Is she going with familiar friends? That will help a lot, if there are people she can talk to who are helpful and sympathetic.

[TeaghansMama]

every time i look at the moon i think of my mom.

one year when i was apprehensive about going away to girl scout camp
she told me to look at the moon at night and know that she would be looking at the same moon thinking about me

it made me feel connected, and not so far away

i was a lot younger than your daughter but i've always loved the moon...the phases, the pull... it seemed (is!) magical to me and it was a powerful connection to my mom

i'm teaching teaghan about the moon now and i hope someday she's at camp..growing her independence but still moon gazing and thinking about me.....

[mandib50]

thank you
yes, it is a camp of her choice and it is with 2 of her close friends, and her scout leader who she has known for years so i know that will help. i know it will be a great experience for her, i guess i just want to keep protecting her. i'm hoping she will be too busy and tired to be homesick.

[SusanElizabeth]

Originally Posted by TeaghansMama

every time i look at the moon i think of my mom.

one year when i was apprehensive about going away to girl scout camp
she told me to look at the moon at night and know that she would be looking at the same moon thinking about me

it made me feel connected, and not so far away

OMG -- my daughter was the one who told me the same thing about the moon! She had heard this somewhere, but the funny thing is that she was telling me, "If you miss me Mom, look at the moon (or up at the sun during the daytime) and think about how we're looking at the same moon (or sun)." She was about 12 at the time.

Your daughter may surprise you! I hope she has a great trip.

[smillerhouse]

My son went to Manitoba at age 12 and Philmont in New Mexico at age 13 and a Jamboree at 14 near DC.(We live in Fl.) I would write notes and letters each day. I would put notes in his bags. I think it is normal to miss mom/family . I disagree with the advice to push them and not have any connection. I think there is a need for contact as they adventure.I calledif I could but this was often not possible becasue it was very remote. Sallie

[ani'smama]

Originally Posted by mandib50

thank you
yes, it is a camp of her choice and it is with 2 of her close friends, and her scout leader who she has known for years so i know that will help. i know it will be a great experience for her, i guess i just want to keep protecting her. i'm hoping she will be too busy and tired to be homesick.

My 11 year old dd just returned this weekend from a week long camp. I too was afraid she would be homesick. She had a fabulous time, thankfully! She did admit she she got homesick one evening and cried a bit as she lay in bed trying to fall asleep. She also went with 2 friends and they were sleeping in the same cabin as her. She said that night they all got down from their bunks and slept together on the floor and talked through it, and they all felt better. I would suggest to her that if she does get homesick, confide in her friends and scout leader.

[adtake]

Stick a note inside her pjs right before she leaves...Will be a little reminder that mom is home thinking about her.

She will have a blast! I loved scout camp!

[bobbyjk]

Maybe send her with some photos of the family so that she can look at them if she feels lonely. Also, write her a short letter encouraging her to have fun and that you can't wait to hear about it when she gets back.