First Day of "Kindergarten"

A couple weeks ago, I dropped my two oldest kids off at 'kindergarten" for the first time.  Ok, well, maybe it wasn't kindergarten, per se, but it was what I imagine that day would feel like.  

I never had a 'first day of kindergarten' day with my kids.  The Lord called us into homeschooling when Caleb was preschool age.  I didn't really want to ever homeschool (those people are weird!).  I didn't ever know anyone who homeschooled or was homeschooled when I was growing up.  The idea wasn't even on my radar. . . ever!  

And then the Lord began to open up our world.  Caleb wanted to read books when he was very young.  I was a CPA not an elementary school teacher.  "Teaching young kids how to read" is not anywhere on the course list for the business school.  I was (and continue to be) way out of my element!  However, the Lord began to introduce us to families that homeschooled and some of them didn't seem all that different from us (we have since come to the conclusion that we are weird too!). I started asking them questions and well . . . here we are.

And then I had to take them to 'kindergarten'!  To be honest, Caleb probably had his first day of 'kindergarten' last summer when he went on a global journey to Haiti.  It was hard to send him away (and out of the country) for a week or so.  But it was a great experience that stretched him in many, many ways.  So a couple weeks ago, when I watched him introduce himself and make friends almost the instant we arrived, I was pretty confident that he was going to be ok.

And then there was my sweet, introverted, beautiful daughter.  She is 14 and well past the 'kindergarten' age for most people, but for me, she was too young to leave in an environment where she had never been. Where she didn't know any other girls.  Where I didn't know anyone!  

They were attending "Awakening Teen Camp" at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.  It is actually two camps.  The first is a ten-day camp that includes a 3-day conference called "Fascinate".  The 2nd camp is actually the real reason that they were going.  This camp is called the "Music Academy".  It is a 8-day camp centered around worship.  The two camps (including a couple days in between) would be almost 3 weeks away from home. 

When we checked them in, their bags were searched for 'unapproved' items.  They were to be completely 'unplugged' for the whole time that they were at camp.  This is so awesome. . . until I want to communicate with them!

So, did I mention that I homeschool?  My kids are pretty much with me 24/7 and when they aren't, we text and message and talk on the phone. We had to give their phones to their counselors.  They would get them back once a day for a short period of time so they could call or text us.  Not exactly how I was used to communicating with them!

As I watched my son introduce himself, shake hands and talk to people he didn't know, my daughter was right by my side.  As the shuttle took my son and his friend (Peter) off to their room in another location, I watched my daughter stand all by herself.  I offered to stay until Caleb returned but she kept saying "I'm ok, Mom".  Prior to this day, she kept saying "I have peace about going, Mom" every time I questioned her.  I had to turn away from her so she wouldn't see the tears in my eyes.  Oh man, it was hard.

From the beginning, we had planned on a family trip to KC during the few days between camps. I knew that I would need to see them and talk to them just to make sure that they were doing well.  Our friends, the Knutsons, went as well.  Their son, Peter, was also attending the camps. 

We had a great couple of days together.  The kids were tired but doing really well.  The Lord was speaking to their hearts and drawing them to Him.  We spent the time talking, eating, swimming, shopping, attending church and doing their laundry, so they could pack it all back up for the 2nd camp - the one that they were very excited to attend!

We took them back to registration last Saturday and this time it was completely different!  The counselors knew who they were.  There were 'fist bumps' and genuine smiles that said 'welcome back'.  Is this like the 2nd day of 'kindergarten'? Or maybe the first day of First Grade?  

It was so much easier to leave them the 2nd time around, for so many reasons.  This was the camp that they had been anticipating. This time they would be getting out their instruments, deepening their skills and learning new techniques.  They both were very comfortable in this familiar environment.  

I am still praying that my sweet, introverted daughter will connect with another sweet girl during her time this week, but, if not, I know that she is going to be ok.  The Lord has them.  He is speaking to them and has great plans for them.  I need to trust them into His care because, really, that is where they belong.