This summer many of Josiah’s friends are spending a week away at camp.  A week away from family and the comforts of home.  A week away at an incredibly amazing place called Camp Blessing.

Josiah isn’t signed up to go. I don’t think he is ready for Camp Blessing. Not just yet anyway. I don’t think Camp Blessing is ready for the likes of Josiah. They’d probably shut the place down if he signed up. A few days before we would get a notice camp has been canceled or suddenly closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

From what I hear, the staff and volunteers are amazing.  The kids have a blast. Everyone comes away with a positive experience. For the life of me, I can’t see how that would ring true for Josiah.  Maybe I’m underestimating my kid.  Maybe Josiah wouldn’t be the most challenged, overwhelmed, unwilling participant there, should we ever register him.  I don’t know.

But this year, we had our own Camp Blessing of sorts.

We had some time away last week.  Time together as a family, without Josiah.  He stayed home with 2 incredibly amazing caregivers who took turns being here with him round the clock. It’s the first time we have had a family vacation (all of us together) without Josiah in a very long time.  It’s the first time Josiah has had time away from us, without being in a hospital, in a very long time.  I think he really liked it.

I was against the idea at first. I wanted Josiah to be with us.  But after thinking it over, it just didn’t seem fair to put him through so much transition, especially since transitioning has been so very difficult lately. It most likely would have been more frustrating and upsetting for him than enjoyable.

As it turned out, Josiah was blissfully happy at home.  I’m not sure he even missed us. His needs were met. His routine was intact.  He was with people who love him; who took very good care of him.  He had the house to himself basically.  What teenager wouldn’t want that set up?  He went to some fun places and had some new experiences.  It was as close to ‘camp’ as it could be without the cabin, campfire and smores.

For Rick and I, it meant a week of respite.  We were able to enjoy time with our 4 oldest (and my mother and sister who joined in on the fun) and just relax.  What a treat. There were no early mornings, no middle of the night wake-ups, no challenging behaviors to deal with, no bathroom issues to tend to.  It was heaven.

Don’t get me wrong.  I  missed our boy like crazy.  But I knew he was in great hands.  I knew he was happy. That made all the difference in the world.

When we got home after 8 days away, Josiah was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a snack.  He momentarily looked up as we walked in.  He endured my hug for a brief second but seemed disinterested and quickly turned back to his food.

That sure did my heart good.  Josiah was perfectly fine without us.  He didn’t scare anybody off. He didn’t hurt anyone else or himself.  Except for one broken glass dish, the house remained intact. Josiah thrived in our absence.

You want to know the real blessing in all of this?

I’m already planning to do it again.