A Little Peace and Quiet

It's only July but I already miss school. My son and I are in a constant battle over how much time he can spend playing games on his computer. And my daughter is constantly bored and in need a play date—even when she has just spent 5 hours with her BFF. But this week, I'm getting a little much-needed peace and quiet.

Ava is at a UNCW summer camp called Mind for Design: Designer Greens Camp (there is another design camp in August). She had to bring in some cast-off clothes, fabric, old curtains, or pillow cases and is spending the week turning these old things into new ones by dyeing, sewing, and reconfiguring. I never would have signed her up for this because it sure doesn't appeal to me. But she and I sat down at the UNCW Summer Camp list at the beginning of the summer and she picked that one. I just signed her up (online), paid, and provide taxi service to and from.

I don't know what they are doing to her in there but she is happier this week than I've seen her in months. She leaps out of bed in the morning, chatters through dinner about her projects, and just looks happy. So happy that I keep thinking she just stole some candy. Today she is off with her cohorts rummaging for goods and—yikes (for Ava)—tomorrow is the last day. I expected her to be tired after these 8:30-5:30 days but she isn't. She is energized, discovering hidden talents, and thrilled with her new friends. She is living large. And I'm sitting in my nice quiet office working again. I think they call that a win/win?