My Boys Went to Operation Purple Camp…and Baby, I Wasn’t Ready

Okay, ya’ll… let me tell you about this past summer.

So, my boys (12 & 9) packed their bags and headed off to Operation Purple Camp in Trinity, Texas sponsored by the YMCA. Operation Purple is a camp created specifically for military kids. A whole week of fun, adventure, and being surrounded by other kids who just get this life.

Now, when I dropped them off, the independence starts as soon as you go through the gates! The campers had to unload their belongings and place them in a pile according to the “cabin” they were assigned. We were greeted with a parade of cheering camp counselors (probably my favorite part). The boys had to get checked by the nurse for lice and other things, but after that, we were off to their cabins. The first thing they made them do was put up all their belongings and make their beds!

I was all smiles. I hugged them, took the pictures, told them to have fun, reminded them for the 87th time to brush their teeth and put on deodorant…you know…the mom stuff. However, the minute I got back in the car? Baby…I cried so hard!

Nobody was asking me for snacks. Nobody was arguing over whose turn it was for the front seat. Nobody was yelling, “Mom! Watch this!” every five minutes.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the peace. I even got a little work done without someone randomly walking into my office to ask if cereal counts as dinner.

The camps don’t allow electronics! No iPad, cell phone, smart watches, NOTHING! Parents could send one-way emails to campers through the week, but it was so weird (and worrisome) not being able to talk to them.

However, one thing I’ve learned about military kids (I was one as well) is that we grow up differently.

They don’t have a “normal” childhood, whatever that even means anymore. They’ve learned how to make new friends faster than most adults. They’ve had to say goodbye to people they love. They’ve watched parents leave for training, deployments, and long workdays. They’ve learned flexibility because military life doesn’t really give you another option.

People always thank service members for their sacrifice, and they should, but military kids sacrifice too.

That’s why I love programs like Operation Purple Camp. For one week, my boys didn’t have to explain why they’ve lived in different places or what it’s like having a parent in the military. Everybody there already understood. There’s something beautiful about that.

Every day I’d see pictures, and every single one made me smile. They were swimming, climbing, horseback riding, laughing, trying new things, making friends…just being kids. No worrying about anything except whether they were going to beat somebody in a game or what activity was next.

When pickup day finally came, I couldn’t wait to see them. Y’all…The amount of talking that happened before we even left the parking lot.

• “Mom, let me tell you what happened…”
• “I made this friend…”
• “We did this…”
• “We have GOT to come back next year!”

I don’t even think they stopped talking the whole drive home…and I loved every second of it. The biggest thing I noticed wasn’t just that they had fun. It was confidence. They came home standing a little taller. More independent. More willing to try things on their own.

As a mom, that’s the stuff that gets me, because at some point, you realize your job isn’t to keep them little forever. It’s to slowly prepare them to go out into the world with confidence, kindness, and resilience. This camp reminded me they’re well on their way.

So, if you’re a military parent who’s been on the fence about applying for Operation Purple Camp, let this be your sign. Do it. Yes, you’ll miss them. Yes, you’ll probably peek into their rooms a couple of times while they’re gone. (Maybe that’s just me.)

They’ll come home with stories, friendships, memories, and confidence that will last so much longer than one week.

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