Secondary Residential - send homesick son?

[MoosePickle]

My son is 12 at secondary and they are going on residential for three days. Last year at primary he got very homesick at night time, couldn't sleep, was crying at night and staff looked after him.

Should he try to go this year? They are going camping so everyone may hear if he gets upset. He's a year older yes but he's already worrying about what could happen and, how embarrassing it could be, so not sleeping well. He says he would love the activities and spending time with his new friends.

What would you do?

Does he want to go?

i would give him the choice of going if he wants to but he needs to understand that as a big boy in big school he needs to do the best to have fun and big think too much about home and mum while he is away.

This may sound like unsympathetic pull yourself together advice but believe me, if he ends up crying overnight because he miss his mum his peers will eat him alive for years to come (even if they shouldn’t).

If he wants to go then support him and suggest tactics to relieve his homesickness.

If he doesn't want to then I wouldn't make him, it won't be the whole year going I'm sure.

Yes he wants to go, he just doesn't think he can handle the night times. We are working on tactics and I've asked school if he can take an MP3 player for music, he's not into reading. Also planning on sending some fidget toys. My fear is that if it's not enough and he gets upset, he'll never live it down at school. Is it worth the risk?

Is there time for a practice trip staying with a friend or family member for a couple of nights between now and then?

Can he build up to it? Sleepover at friend’s houses, a couple of nights with a relative etc.