Assistant Director or Mom: Why Decide?
By Nici Mahen, Assistant Director
Wait a minute…..you move to Ohio for the entire summer? Do your kids come as well?
These are just two of the common questions I receive when I explain my job. I’ll admit the situation is unique. In today’s blog, I want to step away from my job as Assistant Director and focus on my role as a parent. I appreciate the unique opportunity of living at camp with my three children each summer. How has camp impacted my own children and my role as a mom?
- Technology…or lack thereof.
After living at camp for most of my summers, I did not appreciate how easily my children eased into a world without computers, cell phones, and ipads. They were all busy outside doing activities and making friends. Then COVID hit. For the first time in our lives, the kids and I were at home for the summer. Man….did I underestimate the summer battle over technology. The summer of 2020 gave me so much perspective into the more typical summer experience for parents and a sincere appreciation of the environment Falcon creates for all of our children. Camp eliminates the issue of technology at home and quickly engages campers into new routines and authentic social interactions.
- Support
My family has lived in five different states. Relatives were often further away than we liked, and I quickly learned the key to a successful transition was creating a village in our new location (and occasional plane tickets). But our annual summer trip to Falcon maintained stability for all of us. No matter where we were living, everyone looked forward to the familiar faces and routines at camp. The dynamics changed throughout the years. When the kids were younger, they gained a number of new family members who volunteered to collect rocks, feed horses, or even create a fairy house. It’s quite a big backyard where kids can explore and safely gain independence. As a mom, I cherished the extra support and watched my kids flourish with each summer. Now my children create and maintain their own friendships with fellow campers and staff members. Falcon is a vital piece of their lives as they navigate friends, school, and sports.
- Flexibility
Despite our best organizational efforts, camp can be an unpredictable place. Mother Nature continues to keep things interesting with unexpected weather changes. The animals who live in the woods with us don’t always understand our boundaries. While these situations may seem challenging, each experience taught my children how to remain calm and be creative. These moments created some of our favorite memories: impromptu flashlight dance parties and bingo by candlelight. Each unexpected situation teaches all of us to think outside the box and seek the opportunity in adversity.
It is often said that our experiences define us. I appreciate the unique opportunity of engaging in both roles of parent and Assistant Director at Falcon. All of the experiences in these roles challenge me to seek different perspectives; to build upon my successes and failures. I look forward to seeing how these experiences continue to shape my kids as they continue to grow at Falcon.
