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