[blindkid] kids away from home

[Debby B]

Luke, my oldest and sighted, was 11 before we let him go off overnight with the youth group at church. Winona, blind, and Daniel, sighted, were 9. Part of the difference was they are part of a smaller group, and part was because they were both going. Even though they were in different sections (boy/girl), I felt better knowing they were near one another. To be honest, I worried more about him than her. They've gone every year since. The first year they were very nervous about Winona going, but have asked for her each year since.

This past year at 12yo, they rode 10 hours to SC for a week for their first missions trip. I wanted to go, too, to be a part of things, but was rapidly vetoed by my kids (sigh). She called home 1x, he called every day. Again, they weren't on the same work crews, rarely saw each other.

Buddy Camp was a huge step for us. Luke at 18 has yet to go off without family or church. We'd let him now (maybe? grin), but the request hasn't come up. Winona was ready and she blossomed during the trip. It was a joy to get her almost nightly phone calls that were full of giggles and adventures, and usually ended abruptly when she got more involved with a conversation with a friend than with us. Hard to let go, but that's our job...train them to be independent!

This coming summer will find Winona making hard choices. She wants to do Buddy Camp again, Braille Beats (music camp), national convention, marching band camp, missions trip, extended family beach trip, a week at the grandparents, "and lots of sleepovers" with her best friend. Hmm, don't think it'll all fit into one summer!

 Debby 
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents



----- Original Message ----
From: Andy & Sally Thomas <andysally at comcast.net>
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:14:53 PM
Subject: [blindkid] kids away from home

At what age did you let your kids attend overnight activities that were not run by blindness or disability centered groups without you?  I'm sure it depends on the maturity of the child as well as the type of group.  I must say that I worry about my son either being babied or left behind somewhere.  I'm not sure if the "age appropriate behavior" idea applies or not since I would have to rely on others--not just my son's abilities.  He's pretty independent but sometimes I think he may be too independent to ask for appropriate help.  And it seems to me that most people are pretty clueless about blindness.  I know I could talk with them about it but I'm still a bit nervous.

He's attended several away from home activities at the school for the blind and the Louisiana Buddy Program but I'm not as comfortable sending him to church retreats.  Am I being too cautious?

Sally Thomas
_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindkid:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bwbddl%40yahoo.com