Feeling guilty & anxious - residential for DCs

[Luckyone86]

Hi
I’ve just booked both my DCs on a 7 day residential for the 1st time with PGL before the go back to school as it’s the only way I’ll get a proper break this summer! Looking forward to the rest but feeling incredibly guilty & anxious that they’ll be safe & well.

Their dad has been unwell do his holiday cover was unexpectedly cancelled & I work f/t - he only sees them at holidays.

The summer was stretching out & I was feeling more & more exhausted (well more than usual) & at 7yr & 12yrs I’m hoping they’ll have a great time & appreciate me a little more.

Both are sensitive but I’m hoping they’ll find some friends and make the most of their stay. Have yet to mention to their neurotic dad who seems to think that he can parent over the phone.

Sorry for the outpouring but this line parent business is tough (I’m 3 years in & hoping it will get easier) 😥

what do the children want to do? 7 is very young for this

Meant lone parent business !

It’s an activity centre so out & about doing stuff onsite - about to turn 8 & she’s probably the more resilient of the two

PGL is brilliant, they run fantastic activities and the staff are great at keeping kids happy and safe. They will have the time of their lives!

I think it sounds great. I used to go away for a week from 7 and didn’t feel too young.

Thanks @MoiraNotRuby it’s the first time I’ve packed them off & PGL sounded very reputable & established - good to hear a positive review

Good luck to you and them! No advice but I was a sensitive kid and did my first school residential week at about that age, and I still have fond memories of it 😄

@LemonLemonLemon I’m not worried about her getting stuck in but it’s her first residential is all. Dad moved away last year during lockdown to live with his brother & save on rent (because he could) so respite is few & far between.
They bicker lots too so could do with a break I’m sure

I am actually at PGL this week on a family break, and the groups of kids look really happy and are kept very very busy. All of the staff are friendly, the bedrooms are clean and comfortable and the food is great. There is even a shop with pick and mix on site. I expect they will have a brilliant time.

My DD went at a similar age she said she loved the days, but missed me at night.

Even with DD at 17 I relish the 3weeks when she was away in a closed production bubble so it was just me and the dogs.

I sent my children to their first PGL this year (aged 8 and 10) and they absolutely loved it. I felt exactly as you do so I totally understand you being nervous.

When I dropped them off the camp was swarming with staff. They had an assigned leader who stayed with them constantly (in groups of 10- 5 boys 5 girls) as well as many staff being on hand. They were very well looked after.

I called them every other day as I was worried they’d be homesick if I called more. They were buzzing when I spoke with them. It’s action packed so they have no time to think too much about home. One of my children had 1 little argument with another of the children but she told me it was all sorted out and fine after the leader got involved. They made friends in their group, but also with other groups at dinner time and the evening activities.

One of the girls on the holiday got sent a box of sweets from her parents from Amazon half way through their week- it was all my children spoke about. Maybe do something like that to surprise your children - it went down a storm! I just left them letters under their pillows which wasn’t any where near as good!

When I dropped them off I just hoped they would absolutely love it and if they didn’t - I could just go and pick them up.

They loved it and we will be booking them again next year x

PGL is great. I’m sure they’ll have a brilliant time!

Thanks so much everyone - your experiences are so reassuring to read ! Thanks for the live review @Solasum & appreciate ur own experience @Guardup….think the Amazon sweet box idea is inspired !

I'm sure they'll love it. I sent mine postcards when they were on their first camp. They will be kept so busy, don't be surprised if you don't hear much from them. The camp mine go to has them hand their phones in and they get them an hour a day.

Thanks to all the advice and support on this post - made me less anxious 🥰
So DCs had a really good time at PGL - they made friends, tried out new activities, had to learn to get along with different kids and came back a bit more mature than when they left 😊 They didn’t brush their teeth for a week but that was manageable 😂
Took the advice & sent them a sweet box each - v well received !
…and I rested, socialised & had a break for week which was so needed & we all came back together having missed each other loads.
Bonus is also the bickering had noticeably reduced which is superb !!!
Thanks again xxx

Ps. I rang once & they were doing fine so I left them to it ! Other friends intrigued so hoping next time they can go with friends

Ah thanks so much for coming back and updating.

I’m so glad to hear they had a wonderful time (and that the sweet boxes went down a treat!)..

Xx