Bogus Summer Camp

 

Here they come, people. The little humans will be getting out of school for summer vacation. I come from a poor family (I see three songs already, here) so my sisters and I did nothing for three months. There was an occasional trip to the cottage in Wauconda or Diamond Lake in Mundelein, but that was only when the temperature reached into the 90's. Sometimes, someone would get a baseball game going or a marathon Monopoly game started. Otherwise, we were left to our own imaginations. I was terribly jealous of our neighbors who set off for Florida or the Ozarks for their annual holiday. I begged my girlfriend to sneak me in their station wagon one year. 

Summer camp was something the affluent kids got to do. I actually felt sorry for them because I would not have done well away from home. I got homesick with one night sleepovers so I couldn't imagine weeks away. I assume there is loads of activities to keep the rugrats occupied such as crafts, swimming, races, food... you know, fun stuff.

As I sat, drinking my cold coffee and doom scrolling this morning I came across an article about a woman who runs a life skills camp. She charges $100 per day to teach pre-teens stuff like doing laundry, cooking meals, managing a budget- things they will know when they are adults. There's also a session where the twelve year olds change diapers on baby dolls.

Is this the best grift of the year, or what!? What would even be better is if she had the parents supply their dirty laundry and a few bags from the Jewels so their spawn could create some meals for later use. Brilliant! Have the kids do their taxes as well - maybe for next season. 

There were pictures of the children cooking and doing life skills. They didn't look happy. They didn't look sad either. They looked like they were still in a state of disbelief. 

This is not what summer camp should be. Let kids be damn kids. They'll learn how to do laundry, make meals and do all the shitty stuff adults must do because they will die otherwise. Let them swim, ride bikes, play marathon games of Monopoly, eat crap and sometimes, just do nothing. 

Olly Olly oxen free....