Kid Files #2

This past summer I worked at a camp. We were warned about home sickness going into the summer, but as my kids were older I doubted that I would have to deal with it even though I had brief bouts of it myself. Before bed we always showered and brushed our teeth and then got into bed and talked for a while. One night a boy got up in the middle of our conversation and ran to the bathroom and vomited. Minutes later I was out of bed and walking him to the infirmary. We made our way up to the nurse and talked to her, waking her up and getting some medication. I could tell that he was feeling better and that perhaps he was not sick at all. And then the truth came out: he was not really sick he just missed his brother who had not come to camp for the first half of camp. This was the longest and first time they had ever been apart. I shared my own home-sickness and we walked around for a while, trying to shake the negative feelings. I asked him what he did when he felt bad at home and he replied that he played the piano. We headed to a music room and I listened as he played a few of his favorite tunes. Later as we walked down the hill we both felt better and I wasn't even sick to begin with.

It's always a surprise.