Training a Child for Good Works

Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(Proverbs 22:6)

I cannot believe that today is the last day of May. This month has passed by so quickly, that I never got to provide an update that our son was selected to attend the National Flight Academy program. I am excited to share that he was one of one hundred lucky students selected to represent the Memphis metro area. I am even more excited to share that the expense of the program was sponsored and paid for by FedEx, strong community advocates for STEM education.

So with that news, we entered a new season. As a corporate sponsor, FedEx provided transportation from Memphis to the naval base in Pensacola, FL. As the parents of an only child, last night was our first time handing off our child to complete strangers for a nine hour bus ride that crossed five state lines. Sure, he has attended sleep away camps before (in 2013, he was selected to attend the Lonestar Leadership Academy near Dallas, but we dropped him off and made sure that a he and the camp had the emergency contact number of a close family member, if needed). In this situation, we had to trust that we have raised a good child and prepared him to represent his family, his city, and the program well.

Although sending our child off for a week was semi-new to us, the NFA program provided parents and students with a handbook that clearly explained all protocols and procedures. That came as no surprise, considering that the camp takes place on a military base. I am sharing the guidelines for anyone with children attending their first sleep away camp:

Conquering Home Sickness

The key to dealing with homesickness is to prepare the child in advance:

• Do ask a close friend or relative to register for the same session your child is attending.
• Do have your child spend the night with friends or relatives.
• Do discuss what the program will be like before your child leaves home, addressing any concerns.
• Do not tell children you will rescue them if they do not like the program.
• Do assure your child of your love.
• Do send along a favorite stuffed animal.
• Do not go into great detail about what your child may be missing at home.

If, despite all efforts, your child does become homesick:

• Do acknowledge your child’s feelings.
• Do reassure your child of your love.
• Do reassure your child the program is an opportunity for children to grow, mature and gain independence.
• Do not mention how much you miss your child.

It’s been over twelve hours since the departure. He has sent us a couple of text messages, but no calls as of yet. My mother reminded me that I acted the same way when I attended my first sleep away camp (Camp Couchdale), not calling as a way of demonstrating my independence, so, I had to laugh at the way that life as a way of repeating itself. We prepared him for this moment to prove that when required, he will not depart from the home training instilled in him. How are you training the children in for family or community to be prepared for the good works and opportunities afforded to them? Please comment or send me an email to latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.