It Doesn’t Get Easier: The Bittersweet Drop off at Sleepaway Camp

This past weekend, I dropped my 13-year-old son off at a sleepaway camp for the third summer in a row.

You’d think it would be easier by now. That I would be used to the goodbyes, the duffel bags, the silent drive home. But it hit me just as hard as the first time.

There’s this mixed feeling as I watched him walk away with a backpack slung over his shoulder. I’ve done the packing. I’ve triple-checked the list. I’ve had the talks about sunscreen, bug spray, kindness, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. I’ve seen him thrive at this camp, make friends, push himself, come home stronger.

And still… this time, my heart ached a little more.

Maybe it’s because I know how fast he’s growing. 

Maybe it’s because every year, he needs me a little bit less.

The very thing you’ve worked so hard to build in them—independence, courage, excitement for the world—it’s also the thing that makes the goodbye sting.

I sat in the parking lot longer than I meant to!

Not because I was worried. 

Not because I didn’t believe in him. 

But because I love him so much and watching him grow also means watching him move further from my arms, and closer to the world.

To all of you who are sending your kids off this summer/fall— whether it's camp, college, or just watching your child take a new step—you’re not alone. 

It’s not a weakness. It’s love doing its quiet, brave work again. I see you. I feel it too. 

And I just want to say: it’s okay to feel the ache.

It’s okay to miss them fiercely. It’s okay to cry in the car.

This is parenting. This is love. This is letting go, so they can grow. 

We will always be their safe place to return to. 

And that matters more than they’ll ever be able to say out loud.

If you're ready to take your parenting to the next level, or feel stuck in your parenting journey, message me directly or a book a free Parenting Roadmap call.

Best,
Dr. Sarita