How old is old enough to leave home?

My son Jordan (10) will be going away the end of July on a camping trip to Scotland with his scout group. Jordan is very bright yet he is not street wise at all. I have sheltered him all his ten years and now he is going away with the "boys" for ten days! I am so worried about him. The kid cant even cut his own food because I have always done it for him. These next few weeks I am gonna try to let him do things for himself. Last night he helped with the cooking and dishes. I am letting him stay up later also. He is great for a conversation but he just isnt a "lad". He is more of a young man. 
Some of the activities on the agenda include...
Absailing
orienteering
canoeing
caving
pioneering (whats that?)

Does anyone think that ten is too young to be so far away for so long or am I just a concerned/nervous mom?

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Well, I just wanted to say how handsome they all were!!!!

I was 11 or 12 when I first went away to Sleep away camp for 8 weeks.  I think I would have freaked before then

Well, I don't have kids, so you can ignore me if you want.     I'd say 10 is just fine -- he'll be with responsible adults and his friends and it sounds like he'll be doing very "grown up" things.  I bet he'll grow a lot during the trip and will start to stretch his wings a bit. 

Well, I don't have kids, so you can ignore me if you want.     I'd say 10 is just fine -- he'll be with responsible adults and his friends and it sounds like he'll be doing very "grown up" things.  I bet he'll grow a lot during the trip and will start to stretch his wings a bit. 

See, I just dont feel the scout leaders are responsible adults. One of them is like 70 and is really scatter brained! lol But I dont think he is the one thats going. I dont really know what leaders are going but maybe if I meet them Ill feel better about it. Frank has met them all.  Maybe what you say is true..he will grow a lot and maybe thats what Im really afraid of. Jordan is my first. He was always special because he was my first after four miscarriages. Thats why I babied him so much. Maybe Im worried he will go away my baby and come back a "lad". lol I know I have to relax and let him live and breathe

Well, I just wanted to say how handsome they all were!!!!

I was 11 or 12 when I first went away to Sleep away camp for 8 weeks. I think I would have freaked before then

8 weeks?? Not a chance!!! I would have to go with him! LOL

Lola is right!  he will grow up tons!!!  I did!!!  I learned a little too much while there actually

Yes 8 weeks, 4 summers of that, so maybe I was 10 when I first went!  WOW!!!  I was, holy cow!!!  He will be fine

Lola is right!  he will grow up tons!!!  I did!!!  I learned a little too much while there actually

OMG!! Youre totally not helping!!!!! What if he comes back and starts talking about sex! Im not ready for that yet. Ugh, this is a bad idea of enormous proportions!!!

I was 10 the first summer I went to residential camp for 1 month...I was fine except for the break between two-week sessions when some of the campers left to go home and I was waiting for the new ones to arrive. I had received a care package from home which only made me miss my mom even more! But, I made it through that day. Other than that, I was fine and he should be too.

I can't remember how young my two oldest boys were when they went off to cub scout camp for a week. I know it was around age 9 for my youngest because the first time he went was before we moved to a different town and district. Probably the same age for my oldest.  Maybe they were even 8. Actually, I think they were 8 each. (I know it is hardest to send off your oldest! Especially since boys are more reluctant to leave home than girls are, in my experience with my own children.) I put socks, underwear and a "treat" with a small note (not too mushy or anything about "missing you"...something like, "hope you have a fun day!" "Are you brushing your teeth?!" or something like that) in a plastic baggie for each day of the week. They had a blast every year they went. (Even brought home "wittling chips" allowing them to carry and use a jackknife safely...hmmm...no problems for the sons...had a major accident to deal with when a neighbor boy went home to get his dad's "leatherman" tool, but that is another story!) Relax!

Geally, great idea about the notes! I did that once in his lunchbox and he was really embarrassed at school but this is different. I know he is worried about being homesick because he asked if he could bring his mobile phone so he can call me every night to say goonight  :\\\'(  The scout leaders said they could bring phones but they recommend they dont because it could make the home sickness worse as well as make the parents worry more so we told Jordan he cant take the phone but he can take a journal to write in each day and I will do the same here while he is away. But I think I will write little notes in his gear.
I dont ever remember going away to camp. It seems I just went to school and moved out after graduation. With the exceptional slumber party here and there I dont remember being away from home that much as a kid.

OMG!! Youre totally not helping!!!!! What if he comes back and starts talking about sex! Im not ready for that yet. Ugh, this is a bad idea of enormous proportions!!!

LOL!!!  I didn't really mean that, though I did read Judy Blume's Forever for the first time there!  Don't worry!!!

LOL!!!  I didn't really mean that, though I did read Judy Blume's Forever for the first time there!  Don't worry!!!

LOL!! Funny about "Forever". All pre-teen girls read that book in the USA and now I realize that it actually spread among the pre-teen girls in the UK also.
Jordan still watches Pokemon cartoons. Last night he stayed up to watch one of the Star Wars movies which I feel asleep. I didn't think he would wanna sit nearly three hours watching it but he really liked it.
Jordan surprises me. We are getting closer as he gets older. I was really convinced he was already shopping for nursing homes for me for my 40th birthday but maybe he will hold off till I'm 50 now 

Pebbles, read my oldest son's journal when he was 11...I was reading along quite happily to his father (we weren't really snooping as it wasn't hidden or the kind with a lock or anything, plus...what would a BOY write about at age 11?!) and all of a sudden "I am hoping to have sex by age 12" comes rolling off my tongue. His dad and I just looked at eachother. Well, his dad was no help with personal matters and we divorced soon after, but luckily I have always had an "open" relationship with my kids where I have been able to discuss these topics more as a uninvolved counselor, with some motherly concern mixed in, and I'll tell you that his sex questions will be popping up sooner than you realize. He probably already discusses it with some of the more "mature" boys at school. It was a real eye-opener for me. Since then I have taught middle school (ages 12-14) and by the time the boys are 12, well, the know a whole lot! So, don't freak out...just make sure he has factual info and a respect for his own body and for females in general...then keep your fingers crossed (and don't leave him alone with a girl from age 12 on!)

Pebbles, read my oldest son's journal when he was 11...I was reading along quite happily to his father (we weren't really snooping as it wasn't hidden or the kind with a lock or anything, plus...what would a BOY write about at age 11?!) and all of a sudden "I am hoping to have sex by age 12" comes rolling off my tongue. His dad and I just looked at eachother. Well, his dad was no help with personal matters and we divorced soon after, but luckily I have always had an "open" relationship with my kids where I have been able to discuss these topics more as a uninvolved counselor, with some motherly concern mixed in, and I'll tell you that his sex questions will be popping up sooner than you realize. He probably already discusses it with some of the more "mature" boys at school. It was a real eye-opener for me. Since then I have taught middle school (ages 12-14) and by the time the boys are 12, well, the know a whole lot! So, don't freak out...just make sure he has factual info and a respect for his own body and for females in general...then keep your fingers crossed (and don't leave him alone with a girl from age 12 on!)

OMG! Sending you a PM, OK?

Hello Mudda, hello Fadda
Here I am at Camp Granada
Camp is very entertaining
And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining

I went hiking with Joe Spivy
He developed poison ivy
You remember Leonard Skinner
He got ptomain poisoning last night after dinner

All the counselors hate the waiters
And the lake has alligators
And the head coach wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called "Ulysses"

Now I don't want this should it scare ya
But my bunkmate has malaria
You remember Jeffrey Hardy
They're about to organize a searching party

Take me home, oh Mudda Fadda
Take me home I hate Granada
Don't leave me in the forest where
I might get eaten by a bear

Take me home I promise I will not make noise
Or mess the house with other boys
Oh please don't make me stay
I've been here one whole day

Dearest Father, darling Mother
How's my precious little brother
Let me come home if you miss me
I would even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me

Wait a minute it stopped hailing
Guys are swimming, gals are sailing
Playing baseball, gee that's betta
Mudda Fadda kindly disregard this letter!


I think he'll have a great time, it sounds like a lot of fun, and the sort of thing young boys should get the chance to do. It'll be harder on you than on him! 

LOL! Thanks for that Stella. Ill be singing that all day now! he hee heee. 

OMG! Sending you a PM, OK?

Of course...I am heading offline for a bit, but will get back to you later on.