My boys have spent time away from home — or, more specifically, away from me — since they were wee tots. I remember traveling out of town for business a few times with a breastpump & ice chest as my carry-on items, and some of the boys’ earliest memories involve spending weekends with Nana and Granddad.

That isn’t to say that I try to “get rid of” them (although, I must admit that time to myself periodically is much appreciated, valued and necessary for my sanity). I just think it’s important that kids develop a sense of independence away from Mom. My oldest went to his first overnight camp the summer after second grade, if memory recalls correctly. Of course I missed him, but I didn’t fret about it too much or call the camp counselor every evening to tell my baby goodnight.

That’s why it surprises me at parent meetings for summer camp when I overhear folks talking about how it will be their child’s first time away from home. EVER? Yes, ever. These are fourth and fifth graders who have never, ever spent the night elsewhere. It boggles my mind.

It also makes me thankful that my kids have grandparents who willingly and ably invite them to stay for a night – or a few days – now and then. It makes me thankful that I started doing something early in their lives, inadvertently, to instill some independence in them so that they aren’t skittish about being away from me for a while. It makes me proud of the capable young men they are becoming. They are still silly monkeys, to be certain, but they’re growing up.