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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be nervous about DD 9 going on a Brownie weekender?

25 replies

Serendipity30 · 15/01/2014 21:47

My DD is going away this weekend with her Brownie group to Celebrate 100yrs of Brownies. There will be 4000 children there altogether. My daughter has never been away from me or family before. The most she has had is occasional sleepover at friends house. I am beginning to feel anxious about this although I have tried not to let it show to DD as she is super excited. Some kind words and advice please

OP posts:

Gladvent · 15/01/2014 21:49

My son is going away for 4 nights with cubs once he is 9. I know I will worry but I know he will be fine. I hope your DD has a brilliant time. I loved brownie camp!

lifeinthefastlane1 · 15/01/2014 22:05

I plan on sending my dd to the pga camps when she is seven(currently 5) my older two loved them ,and she has been away from us twice for a week at a time already with cousins , she didnt seem to miss us at all!
your dd will love it, dont let her see you are worried though you have to grin and bear it and think about all the bad stuff that can happen think about what a great time she will have.

Original poster

Serendipity30 · 15/01/2014 22:15

Your right I just hope my anxiety does not show, the type of job I do doesn't help either. I know she will have fun as she loves her Brownie group and they will be super busy. Thank you for you kind words, please tell me this gets easier.

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LostMySocks · 15/01/2014 22:17

I'm a guide leader. All leaders taking brownie or guides away have to do special training. We also have rules to make sure there are plenty of adults. Although there will be lots of girls if they are staying over they will be in smaller groups with their leaders and friends. We have lots of guidelines to keep girls safe.
if you are worried please call or speak to the brown owl and I'm sure that she'll put your mind at rest. It's normal for parents to be a bit worried - the leaders will have lots of experience of girls going away for the first time and we all watch out for any signs of homesickness. Normally a bit of extra attention helps make the girls feel better. Don't worry they won't let cry on her own

wintertimeisfun · 15/01/2014 22:17

fwiw my dd has in the past been away (for a few days each time) with brownies on camping trips a couple of times. i had the added worry as she has epipens as it allergice to nuts (etc) however it was fine. she had a wonderful time and i found they were REALLY careful/organised when it came to looking after the children. if a child is really unhappy and wants to go home they will call you so you can collect them however your child will probably have a fantastic time. try not to worry.

pinkstinks · 15/01/2014 22:20

Is it the big brownie sleepover? My friend is a guider and has been prepping for ages, sounds like it will be amazing :) also as others have said if she is unhappy they will let you know and you can pick her up, it will be ok!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 15/01/2014 22:21

Ds1 has just brought his letter home about his first pack holiday (he's 8) and I feel a bit nervous about it all as he's never slept anywhere but here or MIL's and that's only been 3 times ever!

He seems a bit unsure about it too.

I know it will be fab and I will encourage him to go, but I can empathise with the way you're feeling OP.

It will all be over and done with for you in just 4 days time though.

Xxx

FatOwl · 15/01/2014 22:23

Another guide leader here.
I'm sure she will have a great time. An event that big will have been organised at Region level and will be well set up with plenty of adults
Our division is doing a big brownie birthday with a mere 140 brownies!

scissy · 15/01/2014 22:42

Another Brownie leader here, I'm sure she'll have a great time. A lot of "first timers" are nervous for the first 5 minutes after parents leave, but they usually have such a blast they don't want to go home at the end . This year should be even more amazing as a lot of units are taking part in events like the Big Brownie Birthday Sleepovers/StayAway, our one is at county level and has been in the planning for 18 months! I'm just jealous that I won't get to do any adventure activities as ours is at a PGL site and only the girls get to do the cool stuff whilst we supervise

TidyDancer · 15/01/2014 22:48

One of my sisters is a brownie leader. I've picked her up a few times from camps over the years and I can honestly say I'd be more worried for the leaders than the brownies! All the girls have had a wonderful time and my sister has looked like she needed a 24 hour sleep to get over it!

Seriously though, I do understand the concern, but I'm sure your DD will have a wonderful time. :)

Original poster

Serendipity30 · 15/01/2014 22:57

Hi everyone, my DD is so excited she has been talking about it for months, but I know she will be fine. The Brown Owl and other leaders are really nice and I know she will be fine. Its just my own anxiety. I will aim to think about all the fun she will be having like a previous poster said. She is my only one so this is a first for me.

OP posts:

Unplastered · 15/01/2014 23:00

Another Guide leader here.
Big events like this are always incredibly well organised and well staffed. As someone above says although there will be a lot of children there, they will be deprecated into smaller groups of friends and their own leaders. The adult:child ratio is very high. Please don't worry, she will be very well looked after and will be so busy that she won't have time to be homesick.
If there was any problems she will be with her leader who knows her and they will contact You straight away. She will be fine.

Original poster

Serendipity30 · 15/01/2014 23:09

Thanks Unplatered yours and others comments have really helped me. Off to start packing for her, will update on her return. And to all the leaders that have posted I hope you have a great weekend with the children

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MrsMook · 15/01/2014 23:37

The other Brownie Leaders have said it all. There'll be lots of girls in the same position and many more with experience.

I'm going to a 3 day County event in a few months. I'm the nervous one as I'll have to leave DS2 who will have just turned 1 and hope he's not missing me and my milk too much! I'm hoping the day/ night feeds will be dropped by then like DS1 did. The first time I left DS1 was for a Brownie Pack Holiday, and we were all fine and I was too busy running and being assessed on it to dwell on it. My only DC free weekends seem to end up in gaining even more children each time!

Amy106 · 15/01/2014 23:44

It is natural to feel this way but I am sure your dd will be just fine and will have lots of fun stories to tell about her adventures when she gets back. I hope she has a wonderful weekend. Please try not to worry.

WaitMonkey · 16/01/2014 07:27

She will have a great time.

sashh · 16/01/2014 07:36

LostMySocks

Is it also true that you keep them too busy to miss home (and attempt to wear them out so they will actually sleep).

mycatoscar · 16/01/2014 07:53

OP my dd is 8 and also going away with brownies this weekend. I wonder if they are going to the same event? I'm anxious too as it's much bigger than the camps she's done before but I know it will be very well planned and that I trust her brown owl to look after her. It's so hard isn't it I bet they have a wonderful time though and will remember it forever.

gingermop · 16/01/2014 08:02

my dd now 14 went on lil holidays with brownies many times, the first time I was wreak
she always had a great time, dont worry
the only issues we ever had was knickers wernt changed and teeth not brushed hey ho no the end of the world

MissMogwi · 16/01/2014 08:08

I was really nervous when DD2 went on her first Brownie holiday aged 8. The Brownie leaders reassured all of us anxious parents and sent us a text to let us know the girls were ok.

I needn't have worried though, she had a great time and barely acknowledged me when I went to pick her up.

Both my DD's have since been on many Brownie and Guide camps and sleepovers and they love it.

Joysmum · 16/01/2014 08:16

The leaders were far more experienced with children than I was. I may be a mum but I only have one child. The leaders are fab and have a whole lot of experience with children and dealing with groups.

Original poster

Serendipity30 · 16/01/2014 16:08

Hello mycatoscar they might be at the same one, it is hard but like others have kindly told me they will be well looked after and cared for. There is a lot to pack, trying to fit it all into a hand luggage.

MissMogwi ha ha at 'barely acknowledged me' thats a good sign isnt it, that she had a good time.

OP posts:

Original poster

Serendipity30 · 16/01/2014 16:09

Thank you for all the wonderful reassurances x

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mycatoscar · 18/01/2014 08:06

Enjoy your peaceful weekend hakuna we has a text last night to say they'd all arrived ok on the coach. I wonder how much sleep was got last night!

jinglebellsarecoming · 18/01/2014 08:26

How r u this morning. Do manage to enjoy the 'free time'! If it's butlins we got a text saying they all arrived and were having a disco!

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