Adults shouldn’t forget inner child

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I miss the sound of more than 350 girls chanting together in unison, something I heard all summer long. In the dining hall. Before raising the flag. After the cookie line. In the auditorium. I heard it every day multiple times a day, and I wish I could hear it just one more time.

Last summer, I traveled all the way to a small town near Portland, Maine to be a camp counselor at a traditional all-girls sleep-away summer camp. If you have ever seen the movie “The Parent Trap” (the one with Lindsay Lohan), then you could probably imagine the camp I was at.

I really did not know what I was getting myself into. Before going, I did not see myself ever having kids, which was ironic because I was going to be around kids 24/7 for two whole months.

It was so exciting when a week later buses loaded with girls arrived at the camp. The quiet quickly left, and the air was filled with the yelling of names and shrieking reunions. It was a little overwhelming, but I had to dive in and learn about this and the rest of the camp culture.

I was the bunk counselor for a small group of 10-year-olds. Even though it was only the second summer for most, they played a big part in teaching me the ropes of camp — like trading the right stickers or starting on your friendship bracelets immediately. They also helped me learn all of the chants and cheers of the camp, which they enthusiastically did in our shared quarters.

About halfway through camp, I definitely did not feel like an overwhelmed first-year counselor. I almost felt like a camper, because I was having way too much fun for this to be a job. I let loose, and was able to be a kid again in my Crocs sandals and braided hair. I was making new counselor friends, playing jacks in the bunk and reading “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Of course I couldn’t be a kid all the time, and certain realities of being an adult reminded me why I was really at the camp.

With all of the fun came lots of responsibility. Being in charge of a group of 10-year-olds can be stressful.

I quickly established that although we were at camp to have fun, there were times when things needed to get done. Usually it was easier said than done, with girls finding creative ways to get out of chores or going to fill up their water bottles without me knowing.

Another part of the responsibility I had was making sure everyone was healthy and safe. I supplied hugs during thunderstorms and delivered comics to the clinic when someone was sick.

I was worried when one of my girls had to stay overnight in the clinic with a fever. She recovered just fine, but with this I really gained insight into what it would be like to worry like a parent.

I cared about the girls in my bunk so much, and I was just their counselor for one summer. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if I had my own kids to worry about. I found an appreciation and understanding for every time my mom worried about me, or my dad called to see if I had made it safely.

As the end of the summer neared, the cheering and chanting only got louder. I joined in too, making sure to enjoy these last few days with the campers and other counselors. The last week was a whirlwind, with final events and award ceremonies.

On the last day, the happy cheers turned into teary goodbyes. No one wanted to leave camp. It was difficult saying goodbye to my bunk and having to break the counselor-camper bond I shared with them all summer.

As I rode away from camp, I reflected on how I had grown over the past two months. I now saw kids in a new light because I could connect with them on their level, and they were fun to be around. I could be a kid around them, which I had kind of forgotten how to do before going to camp. I was too busy with being in college and wanting to be another year older. It was great to feel like a kid again, even if it was just for a summer.

It is easy to get caught up with grown-up things, like paying the bills or writing a 10-page biology paper.

It can be fun to be a kid again sometimes, instead of constantly worrying about when you have to go to the grocery store next.

Take time to play checkers with your little brother the next time you are home, or paint your nails five different colors. Re-read your favorite book from when you were younger.

You will probably have more fun than you think, and it can really remind you of how much you’ve grown up.

Lauren Wood is a State News guest columnist and journalism sophomore. Reach her at woodlau2@msu.edu.

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