My younger son once called after three days in pioneer school and said he was bored and wanted to go home. We waited until the weekend, went to see him – turns out he's already made friends with the two boys and actually likes them. He just had a moment of weakness. That's why I don't think it's bad to wait a bit, unless the child sounds really scared or mentions something serious.
Our son also called on the third day at church camp last year - “take it, it’s boring.” My wife and I waited for the weekend, arrived, and he and the guys from the choir were already learning songs and making fishing rods together. So sometimes it’s really worth waiting a couple of days, as Ana wrote. But if there is a fever or fights, then take it immediately, without talking.
Our daughter called from the church camp after four days saying it was boring and she wanted to come home. We drove up that Saturday anyway, and by then she was busy helping in the kitchen and had joined the evening choir. Sometimes it really is just a dip, like both Ana and Stepan described.
Our daughter pulled the same thing on her first overnight camp — called after two nights saying it was “the worst.” We told her to stick it out till the weekend pickup, and sure enough she was all smiles by then, talking about the fishing they did on the lake. Did your girl end up wanting to go back the next summer?
Our son did the exact same thing at that same church camp two summers ago — called on day three saying it was boring and he missed his bed. We told him to give it till the weekend, and by pickup he was showing us the birdhouse he’d built in woodworking. Did your daughter end up signing up again for next year?
Last year, our daughter in a similar camp also whined on the second day, saying that everyone was strangers and the food was not tasty. My wife and I didn’t go right away, but just talked on the phone longer - the next day she was already talking about the fire and football. But if the temperature had been as you say, then yes, they would have taken me away without hesitation.
Sergey, this also happened to us last year - my son called on the second day and complained that the food was “like in a hospital.” We just listened calmly, advised us to try new games with the guys, and the next day he was already talking about the river and volleyball. But with a fever or if the child doesn’t eat at all, it’s really better not to delay.
Stepan, we had a similar story - my daughter called on the fourth day at the camp that “all the boys are fighting and the porridge is tasteless.” We also waited until the weekend, arrived, and she was already weaving wreaths with the girls and talking about evening prayers. It’s good that we didn’t rush off right away, like some people. Did your son go to this camp again later, or was once enough?
Our daughter stuck it out too after we said the same thing—give it till Friday. She came home with a friendship bracelet and stories about the night hike, but she hasn’t asked to go back next summer. Did your son end up doing any more woodworking after that?
Our daughter actually did the same thing—called day two begging to come home because the food was “weird” and she missed her pillow. We made her stick it out till the end and she came back talking nonstop about the campfire songs. Did your son ever mention the late-night s’mores they apparently had on the last night?
Yeah, our guy pulled the exact same move on day two over the "weird" breakfast oatmeal. We held firm too, and by pickup he was raving about those s’mores and how he learned to skip rocks on the lake. Did your daughter ever go back to another camp after that?
Yeah, that oatmeal bit sounds familiar – our daughter tried the same line on day one last summer. We stuck it out and she ended up loving the night hikes. Did your son end up asking to go back the next year?
Yeah, that oatmeal complaint is classic. My nephew pulled the exact same thing at camp two years back, but we told him to give it a week and he came home talking nonstop about the campfire stories. Did your daughter ever try the oatmeal excuse again after that first summer?
Yeah, the oatmeal bit is pretty standard kid code for "I miss home." My own boy tried it the first time at church camp up in the mountains—turned out the real issue was bunk beds and no fishing rod. He stuck it out though and still laughs about those s'mores nights. Did your nephew end up going back the next year?
