Re: emotional changes & Camp Barnabas

March 31, 2009

,

Hi. I hope this message finds you well.

I think what you're suggesting sounds like a great idea if your boys are up for

it. You mentioned that there was a possible objection about the camp making

your son feel more like an outcast or a sick kid. I can understand where that

fear comes from, but I can also tell you that I would guess nothing would be

further from the truth. I don't know if this will make sense or not, and

clearly I'm not a 9 year old boy (although most of them are taller than me...)

Anyhow, before I attended my first PSC Partners Conference, I felt that it was

going to make me feel worse, that I'd have to come face to face with how

horrible everything is and that I'd feel more miserable and even more sick from

having to spend three days doing nothing but talking about it and hearing about

it and being surrounded by and living with the reality(ies) of being a PSCer.

Fast forward to the conference and I found I couldn't be more wrong. The

conference gave me a chance to meet people who are going through the same things

I do. We could share, we could commiserate, we could laugh and cry and we could

(and did) bond in ways that simply aren't possible with people who don't truly

know the kinds of things we deal with on a day to day basis. I'm now one of the

biggest supporters of people attending conferences. I would encourage everyone

and anyone to do it.

I would think camp would give your son(s) the same kind of opportunity. They

may have to face some hard truths, but they just might come out stronger,

feeling more emotionally secure and happier for the experience. What a gift to

give to a little boy, to let him know he's not all alone out there in the world

and despite the things that make him different he can do anything, including go

to camp, make friends and live his life on his terms.

Whatever you do decide, I'm sure it will be the best decision for your family.

If your boys do decide to attend the camps though, will you let us know how it

worked out?

Best of luck to you in whatever decision you make!

Sandi in VA/Rochester

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