Jr. High Girls camp 2011 is over, and yet I still am up thinking about my girls, wondering how they're doing, and planning for next year! I can't help it! I just absolutely adore my girls! Who could not?
For some reason, Jr. High is the most feared age group by adults. But what I have learned is that they are all strong, smart, and beautiful! And this week was no exception! Each girl was completely unique, and were amazingly honest and spoke with courage and conviction. Too often young women have learned to keep their mouths shut; by their parents or by society; out of fear or distrust or shame or uncertainty... but these girls still had a voice! They were beautiful, and I appreciate that I was able to witness it.
It really is an amazing age! On one hand, they're still clinging to their childhood, to the stories of their parents, to only what is familiar. On the other, they're branching out, courageously trying to find out what it means to be an individual, to be independent. This struggle will continue for years, but this is the beginning of their journey! This is when we can give them support and love, that no matter how far they go on their road to independence, they are loved. And I do try so very hard to stay in contact with all my girls.
And this camp tends to bring some people full circle. This year, one of our camp counselors was Paige. Paige was in my first cabin of girls when I first counseled for Jr. High Girls camp. How amazing was that? Two years ago, one of my counselors was Michele, who was the CIT my first year as a Jr. High camper. This year's Camp Pastor, Kerry, was the Camp Director and youth leader when I was a Jr. High camper. I cannot wait to see one of this years' campers as a camp counselor someday! Maybe she'll be the counselor when my daughter's old enough for Jr. High Girls camp... I can't wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment