Camp Debrief
Well this was a really odd camp. Most of the kids were ok, and generally well behaved. I only sent 2 home -new record. I had really hoped to avoid having to send one of them. He was so the stereotypical foster child. He arrived in a taxi on the Monday because no one could be assed to bring him to camp, had nothing with him, no pillow, sheets, towels or anything. He was as rough as. I had to talk to him on the first night for fighting, and I really cut him some slack because I knew he had had it rough. I desperately wanted him to not do what everyone expected. Anyway 3 fights later I had to send him home. I always talk with them before they leave and make sure that they understand where they went wrong. I go over with him what the rules are and affirm that they knew there would be consequences. I asked him if he was shocked by my decision and he said no. It still makes me sad. Another one was on a final warning and when I asked if he wanted to go home (thinking that may be why he was misbehaving) he went ballistic about how much he hates it there, and he hopes he never goes back. It is absolutely gut wrenching stuff.
I had another one that I really bonded with this time. One of my staff (who is brilliant - but such a boy) decided to tell him a story to get him to go to sleep. But in the story someone gets their head cut off! So Jackson was so upset, came out to me in his pyjamas, clutching a stuffed dog, screaming that someone would cut his head off. So every night I had to sit with Jackson and read to him while he cried himself to sleep. He was a very emotional boy. When I spoke to mom she told me that Dad was in jail for trying to kill him, he beat him up (he had a big scar on his face) and then set the house on fire. The fact that this child is functioning at all is a credit to him.
So the week was ok - but when the kids left on Friday we were nowhere near as sad as we usually are. There were just a lot of bratty kids, and the week was hard. We have a jewish camp in the next 2 weeks - which we don't run, we are just the venue. So it's a nice break. Then we have another one of our camps which is shaping up to be huge.
I start giving my niece riding lessons this coming weekend. I'm not sure how far we'll get - she's only 3 - but incredibly brave. She has been telling anyone who'll listen that she is going to ride my horse. Toby obviously! Her mom and dad went and bought her a new helmet the other day. She's gorgeous in it. We actually had to argue with my nan about why she needed a new one and could not wear the one of my mom's that has been sitting in the cupboard for 50 years. She thought it was a waste of money. I'm really excited though about giving her lessons. I love to teach!
Anyway I think that's all the news for right now. Still bloody hot. People are dropping dead with heat stroke left, right and center. Fabulous. Yesterday I collapsed in front of the air conditioner with the dog. Neither of us moved for about an hour. Yuck.
I had another one that I really bonded with this time. One of my staff (who is brilliant - but such a boy) decided to tell him a story to get him to go to sleep. But in the story someone gets their head cut off! So Jackson was so upset, came out to me in his pyjamas, clutching a stuffed dog, screaming that someone would cut his head off. So every night I had to sit with Jackson and read to him while he cried himself to sleep. He was a very emotional boy. When I spoke to mom she told me that Dad was in jail for trying to kill him, he beat him up (he had a big scar on his face) and then set the house on fire. The fact that this child is functioning at all is a credit to him.
So the week was ok - but when the kids left on Friday we were nowhere near as sad as we usually are. There were just a lot of bratty kids, and the week was hard. We have a jewish camp in the next 2 weeks - which we don't run, we are just the venue. So it's a nice break. Then we have another one of our camps which is shaping up to be huge.
I start giving my niece riding lessons this coming weekend. I'm not sure how far we'll get - she's only 3 - but incredibly brave. She has been telling anyone who'll listen that she is going to ride my horse. Toby obviously! Her mom and dad went and bought her a new helmet the other day. She's gorgeous in it. We actually had to argue with my nan about why she needed a new one and could not wear the one of my mom's that has been sitting in the cupboard for 50 years. She thought it was a waste of money. I'm really excited though about giving her lessons. I love to teach!
Anyway I think that's all the news for right now. Still bloody hot. People are dropping dead with heat stroke left, right and center. Fabulous. Yesterday I collapsed in front of the air conditioner with the dog. Neither of us moved for about an hour. Yuck.