When I look at myself in that picture, it all comes flooding back. That summer at the girls’ camp, my first time away from home. It was a gutwrenching heartbreaking time. My first foray, sent away all summer while my parents sorted things out. Tossed in with all those other girls; living in groups, eating in groups. Kenneled herded penned and marched through singlaongs, crafts, drama, hikes, and sports. I learned tennis. Timidly, avidly, then aggressively. I mastered it in fact. Not just tennis but the handsy staff, excitable girls, the outdoors, and all that drama. Yes, that was the summer that Velma grew up.
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About AngelaLTodd
I am queen of the helicopter parents. But there are enough of us that we are becoming a social problem. Here’s my story.
Thing 1 was coming, they couldn’t stop him, it was only 24 weeks and 3 days. Someone asked: should we try to save him? Well, yes. Yes! Ten days later, a team of doctors closed the door behind us to explain brain bleeds, sepsis, meningitis. Shall we pull the plug? Well, no. No!
Babydaddy laid hands on him every day, massaged him when he was ready. For the three months he was in intensive care, and the three weeks at an intermediate hospital, I would get up in the night and pump breast milk, thinking about my baby across town. Babydaddy delivered it every morning, earning the name “milkman.” It was funny.
We had every therapy going for as long as possible: early intervention, the intermediate unit, private therapies. Terms multiplied: sensory processing dysfunction, sensory integration problems, orally defensive, auditory sensitivities, comprehensive developmental delay, cognitive function impairment, retinopathy of prematurity. He did occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, play therapy; we consulted with a neurologist, school psychologist, wraparound service provider, developmental specialist. He worked with an occupational therapist for a year and a half to tolerate teeth and hair brushing.
Not surprisingly, parenting didn’t feel natural. I learned to read to my baby watching Phyllis, our physical therapist. Voices, commentary, labeling colors, counting… she was very good! Merging professional research skills with my genetic propensity for silliness (mom was class clown, dad’s distantly related to Lucille Ball), my mothering style came together. Eventually. But I still channel Phyllis on occasion.
Thing 2 was full term. They are complete opposites; she is a sensory seeker with a wild sense of adventure and an inventive sense of fashion. Keeping them both busy and happy is an exasperating and sweet challenge. I still believe that every day can be fun and educational while reinforcing kids' boundaries. I’m on a mission to save us helicopter parents from ourselves. No more bubble wrapped kids and guilty parents. Let’s teach them coping skills. Let’s get fun.
When I look at myself in that picture, it all comes flooding back. That summer at the girls’ camp, my first time away from home. It was a gutwrenching heartbreaking time. My first foray, sent away all summer while my parents sorted things out. Tossed in with all those other girls; living in groups, eating in groups. Kenneled herded penned and marched through singlaongs, crafts, drama, hikes, and sports. I learned tennis. Timidly, avidly, then aggressively. I mastered it in fact. Not just tennis but the handsy staff, excitable girls, the outdoors, and all that drama. Yes, that was the summer that Velma grew up.
AngelLeighDesigns 
I read this on my way out of work when you first posted it, and just loved how you captured the feel of an entire moment in growing up with just one paragraph … Your crafts are wonderful and I love your prose poems (being a words person and all …).