Golf Really?

I've heard a rumor that the most unused athletic scholarships at the college level are found in the area of women's golf. I don't know if it's true, but I'm sure I've read it somewhere. And I also know from talking to one of the varsity coaches that most varsity girls golf teams at the high school level have space available. So...being the scheming type of mom that I am, why not toss the kids into golf? Low risk of injury, life long skill and fun, upside is a college scholarship, varsity sport...why not?

So, this week, the camp of the week is golf camp, two hours a day through the local First Tee organization at the local driving range. No need to take an obnoxious amount of water (see previous post), no need to pack a lunch, just drop the kids off and let them hit the ball. My kind of camp.

On Sunday, First Tee had a clinic and we sent the girls as a warm up. For $15 a kid, they got a golf lesson with the coach from a local college plus they participated in a bunch of golf related games like putting contests, chipping contests, etc. When the girls came in from the clinic, I was very curious. Did they like it?

La Nina loved it. She won the putting contest for the little kids and thought driving the golf ball was the best. But what about the Magster? I wondered about my energizer bunny. Golf is more sedate than soccer and for a girl who is counting the days to when soccer practice starts I wondered what she would think.

When I asked, instead of giving me a thumbs up or thumbs down the Magster greeted me with all 10 fingers pointing straight to the ceiling. "What does that mean I asked?" "Mom, every finger is giving golf the thumbs up. Even my butt is giving golf a thumbs up."

Now, we've never had an activity that received a butt thumb's up on any activity. I was excited about golf camp for the girls and let me tell you it's a hit. They love putting, their teacher, hanging out at the range. They bound out of bed every morning, get dressed and are ready to go. Even La Nina is happy getting out of bed early for golf camp and she's definitely not a morning person.

Through the camp, they're now members of First Tee and can play at a local par 3 golf course for $3 a round plus get a discount on buckets of balls. Both girls want their papa to take them to the driving range next week and are asking if we can play golf on an upcoming vacation.

Now, I know many of you are thinking, golf...what an expensive activity. Through First Tee, it's not bad. And we're dance parents. Golf is nothing compared to dance. So far, the girls think golf is their second favorite activity next to dance and soccer, respectively. Who knows? May be my scheme will work out after all.

Day Camp

This week the kids are going to a city run day camp. I went to this day camp as a child and loved it and figured that my kids would enjoy it too. It's everything day camp should be: games, hiking, crafts project, lessons on the natural world plus you get to sleep in your own bed every night. Really nothing has changed at the camp since I was a kid. Except one thing...the rules given to parents. (A slight disclaimer: Mom, if you had to do this, please let me know. I don't think you did, but I was 8...what do I know?)

1.) Sunscreen:

Old Times: When I went to camp, there was no sunscreen. No mention of sunscreen to my parents and no requirements that I bring sunscreen with me.

New Times: I'm instructed to slather a sun screen of no less than SPF 15 on my kids 30 minutes before drop off plus each child must bring their own supply AND no siblings can't share. Special face cream and lip protection is also recommended.

Reality: So, each day, I'm supposed to send 6 separate sun protection lotions with my kids to camp. Doesn't that seem excessive? Then there's this simple fact: La Nina isn't awake 30 minutes before she has to leave the house and she isn't going to reapply ANTYHING without some serious adult intervention. I don't think camp counselors have the fire power. So, am I supposed to awake my child with the application of sun screen? This seems a little over the top to me, but it gets worse.

2.) Shoes

Old Times: Shoes were a good idea. Sure, we had to wear them. But really, sandals, flip flops, no one cared what was on our feet. I vaguely remember my Mom telling me to put on sandals with straps, but closed toe shoes were not discussed.

New Times: I'm instructed that my kids must wear only closed toe shoes and socks that cover their ankles plus bring a back up pair of shoes and socks that cover their ankles.

Reality: My kids don't even own two pairs of tennis shoes. Why would I buy them two pairs? The Magster lives in her crocs and I don't think La Nina's been out of her flip flops by choice since school ended. So, I'm supposed to go buy them extra shoes just to get through this week at camp. I think not. Magster has a pair of La Nina's old shoes and La Nina has a pair of sparkle shoes that are really not appropriate for camp.

3.) Water:

Old Times: Soda in my bag lunch and a drinking fountain and I was good to go.

New Times: Each child is required to bring 4-16 oz. bottles of water a day. Waters are to be chilled, not frozen and they should be kept cool with fake ice.

Reality: Lunch boxes don't hold 4 bottles of water. The Magster doesn't drink that much water in 3 days, let alone one day. I think 4 bottles of water is half her body weight. La Nina, who is better about water after a dehydration speech from her doctor, might drink two bottles a day...but come on. I can barely drink that much. So, I sent 3 bottles each. One for the morning, one for lunch, one for the afternoon. And the staff told the Dad at drop off I had to do better tomorrow.

Here's the thing: they are forever telling parents to lighten up on our kids. Don't hover. Let them make their own mistakes. Don't harass them over the small mistakes. Yet, what do these institutions do to us parents? Can you say micromanage? Geez! Packing them for day camp each day is a major project. Need the water, the snacks, the lunch, the light jacket, the extra shoes. Then the kids go through a security like backpack screen before being admitted to camp. If something is missing, then parents are reminded the requirement is 4 waters, not 3...for instance.

The kids liked the camp just fine. I'm happy to report I saw no sign of sunburn or dehydration. And their feet were in great shape. The problem is I have mixed emotions about the whole experience.

A New Hobby

For the fourth of July, we went to Lake Tahoe with a group of friends. I think the entire town where we live was there, but that's another story.

While we were in Tahoe, we tried a new activity. Geocaching. A geocache is a small vessel that is hidden somewhere in a public spot. It's location is noted on a web site with its exact longitude and latitude. It's then the job of the geocacher to take those coordinates and find the cache. These caches can be anywhere: in trees, buried under leaves, in bushes, near rocks, etc. The hidden object can be anything from a film container to a ammo box. It usually contains a log and some items for trading. To find the caches, you go to the web site, find a cache near you, simply enter the coordinates into your GPS and start hiking.

At Northstar, the first place we tried it, the resort had actually hidden the caches. They provided participants with maps and rental GPS' with the coordinates already loaded. We skipped the rentals, loaded coordinates into our phones and went right for the search.

Now, normally, if we suggested anything like hiking to the kids, our suggestion would be met with protest. "Too hot", "too long", "too sweaty"....would be the complaints. IF we actually forced the issue and made them hike, it would make the "Trail of Tears" look like a party. La Nina would be drinking water like she'd just crossed the desert and the Magster would be taking the smallest steps possible, her head wobbling on her shoulders like she didn't have the strength to hold it properly.

However, geocaching is not hiking, so there is minimal complaining. In fact, the Magster led the search. Now, La Nina still brought up the rear...but sweating happens whether your hiking or geocaching. Both had great fun finding the caches and searching through the trade objects. (We were unprepared to trade, so we just looked.)

With 1.1 million caches hidden world wide, this hobby can be pursued anywhere. We've found about 5 caches within a mile of our house. A couple are within a few hundred feet. The only challenge to this activity is muggles: Folks who don't approve of cachers and actively seek to throw away our stashes. So, if you're doing this, you're supposed to hide the GPS' and only look when no one else is around.

We've had a blast pursuing this new activity with the kids. For more information, check out this web site: http://www.geocaching.com/. Have fun and beware of muggles.