Manners Camp

Yesterday I dropped two of my children (ages 7 and 10) at Manners Camp in Hertford,NC. A precious couple close their bed and breakfast for the supper to lead week long manners camps and 'houseparties' for young ladies and gentlemen. It's my & YO's first camp experience, and I can't imagine a better one. (Although when I came back up to his room to kiss him good-bye, there were already about six things on the floor--ALL of them his. He doesn't even do that at home! So I hope he'll do alright.) He went with two other boys, friends, and my daughter went with two girls she knows, and everyone's rooming with their buds, so it's all good. I'm always so touched by the directors of the camp. They're so kind and loving and gracious, which is exactly what I hope my children learn. They really emphasize that manners and hospitality are all about showing love to others. It's an awesome thing. Plus, they play tennis every day, swim in the river, and eat a four course dinner in the evenings. Each room of children (there are four rooms, 3-4 kids a room) takes turn hosting a dinner, and my son's group was the first dinner last night. I would have given ANYTHING to be a fly on the wall and see him pull out the chair for his SISTER. If you'd like to learn more about this awesome manner's camp, google 'Miss Nancy Minds Her Manners', and you can watch a documentary made on her camp. On Friday, we pick them up and attend the graduation tea where they recite the definition of etiquette, the NC state poem (Here's to the land of the long leaf pine...), and so forth. It's great fun, at least for the parents.

Hurricane Bertha is stirring up a little trouble out at sea. I hope it won't be an issue with all the travel plans this week-end (my ED goes to camp on Sunday, and I leave for CHAUTAUQUA--aarrhh! Saturday morning). I'm very excited but nervous, plus I will continue to have a house full of people for the rest of the week.

Today is my dear brother's birthday. My thoughts have been full of him all morning. I'm hoping to steal away from my guests later and go take him his gift. Brothers are such a wonderful thing. I watch the way my kids interact, and I'm so grateful that they have brothers. I hope they'll remain close as they grow older.

My ED wants to completely pack for camp HERSELF, which should be interesting. I was thinking I need to do a post on preparing kids for camp. Maybe tomorrow. Sorry I've been so sporadic. I've missed you. xoxox BUT I promise to give you a good account of Chautauqua next week. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to go.