Handhold needed! Littlest DC on his first weekend away on his own.

[TooOldForAllThatShit]

He's 8 and gone on his first cub camp.

DS1 did the same at his age and ended up with a gashed head, requiring A&E, tripping over a tree trunk in the dark!

He was quite quiet as we left as he only joined cubs in April, and wanted to stay in his tent rather than run around with the other DC.

I have an anxiety disorder anyway so all sorts of disaster scenarios are running through my head, current one is what if he eats his sweet stash during the night and chokes if he eats them lying down. Seriously thought about calling the cub leader and telling him to take the sweets off him. He also had a period of sleep walking recently so I'm terrified he'll sleepwalk out of his tent and they won't find him the morning. I know I'm utterly batshit . I'm going to be bricking it all weekend.

DH is sick of me wittering on!

We can hold hands together, I'm in the same boat, my eldest, also 8, is on his first Cubs camp this weekend, he's never done nights away before. And I feel like my right arm is missing 😭

It's strange what runs thru our heads, I've lost count how many time I've told him today to remember to apply suncream and drink lots of water tomorrow, because I have this memory of a girl whilst at school during our 1st Yr camp, who got sunstroke because she didn't.

Hopefully they are both asleep now (who am I kidding). 😀

Well, I am a beaver leader, and we have a camp tomorrow. They are even smaller, of course, and only do one night.

It is amazing what these young boys and girls can manage to do for themselves for the first time.

They all go home a little taller after their first camp.

And don't worry, although it may look a little chaotic to the outsiders, we all know exactly what the kids are doing.

You would be surprised, or not, at the risk assessments we all do too. Obvs concerning water/suncream etc this weekend.

If it helps, I'm a rainbow leader (so girls 5-7) and when we took them camping last month me and my other leader only slept for an hour the whole night as we were so alert to the slightest noise coming from their tent (including snoring and other sleep noises). So they would 110% hear him if he got up sleep walking. Same if he was crying or anything!

I wouldn't be surprised at all Topcat. I have massive respect for our Arkela, and yourself and Summer.

I did that about the suncream and water too Irun! He zoned out after me telling him what to do about that and after stuff for the 20th time! He is my 4th DC and all the older ones have done similar stuff, you'd think it'd get easier!

How are you doing today @TooOldForAllThatShit ?

We've had some photos posted today on our packs FB pages, along with the comment "5am start" There was a weary looking boy of mine along with a plate of food in the photos.

All these leaders are superstars 🌟🌟🌟

Much better thanks Irun! We have had loads of Facebook photos too and it looks like they're having a great time. Had a lovely picture of mine in a kayak!

I've had a lovely day sunbathing after a long lie in as no one to be on duty for, as my older 3 are all late teens, young adults. It's been really nice but really odd!

Yep, the guys organising it are bloody amazing .