How old is old enough to leave home?

I went to summer camp at 10 for 10 days w/my Scout group and absolutely LOVED it!  Felt so grown up.  We were pretty busy all day with actitivies and two camp counsellors slept in our bunkhouse at night, so no fun and games.

I think he'll really, really enjoy it. 

I went to summer camp at 10 for 10 days w/my Scout group and absolutely LOVED it!  Felt so grown up.  We were pretty busy all day with actitivies and two camp counsellors slept in our bunkhouse at night, so no fun and games.

I think he'll really, really enjoy it. 

Do you think its different for girls than boys? I mean girls are so normal at age ten. I have read some real horror stories about what boys this age do as a group.
Last week Jordan was talking about how they are learning to built fires. Ugh!

8 weeks at sleep away theater camp when I was 10 definately made me get street smart really quick!!! I learned alot about being on my own and organizing my time (ie not staying up til 5:30 am when you have a 4 hour rehearsal at 8am!!).  It's also very funny how you just kind of make do when the parents are not around....In my opinion it will be very good for him!!  Making friends and having amazing experiences that will last a lifetime, although a little nerve racking for you, is never a bad thing!!!  Good Luck, and the boys are adorable!!

Do you think its different for girls than boys? I mean girls are so normal at age ten. I have read some real horror stories about what boys this age do as a group.
Last week Jordan was talking about how they are learning to built fires. Ugh!

Not really.  There were boys at our camp during the day, but come night they slept about a mile away in the boys area. 

He'll be fine, really.  Of course lads do different things.  They're wee laddies. 

It's a chance for him to grow as a person AND get to enjoy some activities he doesn't get to do all the time.

If he thinks he's ready for it, and is enthusiastic about going, then I'd definitely give him the chance to go for it.  This is his chance to make a decision about what he thinks is best for him. 

I went to church camp for a week at a time, every summer from when I was 9.  I LOVED it.  He'll be fine with being gone for 10 days.  It's hard for him to think about being away from you right now but when he's gone, he'll be so busy he won't have time to think.  And like someone else said, it'll be harder for you than for him.  He does need this chance to be a bit independent and learn to cut his own meat. 

to be honest, i don't know.... wish i did though!

i first went 'away from home overnight' at age 11 with my 5th grade class on a sleepover weekend.

He does need this chance to be a bit independent and learn to cut his own meat. 

LOL. 
I know I totally baby him. Do you know he doesnt even know how to ride a bike because when he tried in the past he fell of and I made a big deal about it and now he just gave up. Im terrible!
He is taking swim lessons in school now. Im so glad because I am deathly afraid of the water and I know I could never enroll him in swim class and actually be able to sit there and watch.
I guess I am the way I am because my parents couldnt give a rats a$$ about me and I had to grow up and learn everything on my own or from my friends and their moms. I just want to be there for my sons but I do realize I am there too much 

I understand, Pebbles.  They'll always be your baby. 

How does he feel about it?  If it's something he thinks he'll enjoy, and he's really looking forward to it, it could be an important part of his learning to make decisions for himself.  And even if it turns out he doesn't like it, he can say, 'Well, I'm the one who wanted to go.' 

Truly, though, I found my summer camp experience a lot of fun.  I liked not having Mom and Dad around for a while - and I'm sure they enjoyed some peace as well, especially as my older sister was off at a dance camp at the same time. 

My little brother started at 7, which was the youngest program for kids to go away on their own.  It was only 4 day and he'd been there on mother-son, father-son weeks in previous years.  (As soon as they could afford it, we all went away to summer camp at least 1 week every summer.  It was my parents vacation from us.)  He did fine and continued to camp every summer.  Me and my sister were 10 and 8 when we went away to Girl Scout camp.  If you want them to move out before they are 30, they need to start sampling independence eventually.  I don't know if they will be able to get mail, but my mom always mailed us a letter a few days before we left so we'd have mail early on in the week when you're missing home.  By the end of the week your usually having so much fun you don't want to go home.  Candy to share and trade is also a good thing to sneak in their bag.

I think going with Boy Scouts will be easier on him too.  He's going with a group of kids he already knows, so he can just have fun. I always liked the noted in my bag too, but I liked the hidden candy better.

Pebbles I've always been like you in the way that I babied my boys. Still do. But since yesterday I've been regretting it a lot...wishing especially with Miles I'd made him more independent at an earlier age. As of yesterday Miles is now 4 hours drive away from me at university and it's driving us both insane. He has called a million and a half times already and I'm wishing I was there to help him and he's wishing I was there to help him and we're both stressing big time. I know he'll get through it (and I will too ) but because I always did everything for him it's making things a little harder. Maybe it's completely normal for him to be freaked out being away at university at first but I can't help thinking it's going to be harder for him because I did baby him so much.

Funny thing is I always thought he'd been pretty independent and didn't realise just how much I did do for him. He did go away to church camp a few years starting when he was 9 but since he was part of a group it wasn't so hard for him. He just followed the group and did what he was told and ended up having a good time. It gave him a chance to get away from home and have fun and learn new things. I think Jordan will do just fine.

My MIL babied my BIL a lot.  He's 29, lives at home, and shows no sign of ever moving out. 

My MIL babied my BIL a lot.  He's 29, lives at home, and shows no sign of ever moving out. 

Hubs cousin is like that too -- Aunt S P O I L E D him rotten -- still does -- and he's 4freakin'1 -- still lives at home -- his Mother does his laundry.

Pebbles -- when Jordan does go off to camp -- will YOU be ok?  The first time will be very challenging for you.  (but then - you've got us here for support  )

Thanks everyone!
Jordan will leave on July 24. He is excited about going and has no idea of my anxiety.
Last night I asked him if there was anything he wanted to talk about ...boy stuff, ya know. He wanted to talk about different levels in his Playstation game! Still so innocent!

Thanks everyone!
Jordan will leave on July 24. He is excited about going and has no idea of my anxiety.
Last night I asked him if there was anything he wanted to talk about ...boy stuff, ya know. He wanted to talk about different levels in his Playstation game! Still so innocent!

LOL!!!  That is cute!!!!

He should talk to Rich about it

That's great that you are encouraging him to go.  He is at the age where he should be moving a bit toward adolescence...not too much, but definitely enough that he can do some things on his own, take a few risks, as well as fail a few times.  The one thing I've seen with families and kids is that if they don't allow their kids to fail or get hurt, then when it happens later in life (such as during the college search), it's HUGE. (as in major depression, anxiety attacks, and other bad psychological things)..whereas if they fail at small things earlier in life, then they do okay later on with disappointments.  It's a learning experience that we all need...that we can weather the good and the bad.  Balance is important here.  You unfortunately got the opposite end, which is also not healthy for kids...so please do be careful! 

This should be good for him - he'll see that he can 'DO' and that if he can't do something that it'll be okay too!  And it will be good for you...cause you'll survive it too!