| Every summer our daughter goes to summer | | | | her today.If you decide to write to your |
| camp. She looks forward | | | | child at camp, here are a few |
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| to it every year. I can't believe next | | | | tips:* If your children are young and this |
| summer will be her last | | | | is their first time away |
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| opportunity to go to camp before she goes | | | | from home, make sure to send several letters |
| off to college.Our daughter started going to | | | | to let them know |
| summer camp when she was in middle | | | | |
| | | | you're thinking about them and that you miss |
| school and has gone every year since. She | | | | them.* Have other family members write to |
| finally graduated from | | | | your child also. Kids love |
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| camper and kitchen help to camp counselor | | | | to receive mail.* If you have a child who |
| this year. Every year I | | | | would be embarrassed by letters from |
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| send her a care package with candy and other | | | | home, just send a care package with some of |
| treats and she | | | | their favorite candy |
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| always looks forward to receiving it.Our | | | | or other small items. One year I sent my |
| daughter just returned from spending two | | | | daughter a pair of |
| weeks on a ministry | | | | |
| | | | Sponge Bob boxer briefs, and they were the |
| trip to Honduras, was home for one day, and | | | | hit of the camp.* Be creative with your |
| then is going off to | | | | packing. You can use a 2-liter pop bottle |
| | | | |
| church camp for a week. I knew we wouldn't | | | | as a mailing container. Cut a slit in the |
| have much time to talk | | | | side to place items in |
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| between trips, so I decided to write letters | | | | it and then tape over the slit. The kids |
| to her to send to | | | | will get a kick out of |
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| her at camp.I wrote to her about some of my | | | | seeing what's in the bottle.* Depending on |
| day-to-day activities and about | | | | how long it takes the mail to get to the camp |
| | | | or |
| what she was missing in the news. I wrote | | | | |
| about Hurricane Dennis | | | | how long your child will be gone, you may |
| | | | have to mail the |
| and how worried I was for her so far away | | | | |
| from home. I told her | | | | package the day your child leaves, or even |
| | | | before they leave.* If you know any of the |
| she was always in my prayers and how much I | | | | other kids at camp, like your child's |
| missed her.Just in the two weeks she was gone | | | | |
| she missed her baby brother's | | | | closest friends, don't be afraid to send |
| | | | them a note or treat |
| hair falling out and her brothers' first | | | | |
| colds. I knew she missed | | | | too. I often send thinking-of-you cards to |
| | | | some of my daughter's |
| her baby brothers very much and missed their | | | | |
| baby hugs and | | | | friends, and I know they love receiving mail |
| | | | from people other |
| kisses. I told her about what they were | | | | |
| doing and that they | | | | than their parents.In this day and age, |
| | | | letter writing is becoming a dying art. If |
| missed her too.Because we like to spend a | | | | |
| lot of time talking about our | | | | my daughter keeps the letters I wrote her |
| | | | someday they will be a |
| spiritual lives, I shared with her what I | | | | |
| had been learning in my | | | | special keepsake for her, capturing an |
| | | | exciting time in her life.We don't always |
| daily devotions and shared what my prayers | | | | take the time to do little things for our |
| were for her.I wrote three letters to my | | | | kids or |
| daughter to open on different days | | | | |
| | | | tell them how we feel about them. Writing to |
| and included pictures of her brothers that | | | | them at camp is a |
| she likes to carry | | | | |
| | | | great way to keep in touch with them while |
| around with her wherever she goes. I | | | | also sending them a |
| packaged up the letters with | | | | |
| | | | welcome treat.Rachel Paxton is a freelance |
| some candy and sent her care package off to | | | | writer and mom of four. |