Every year, Grasshopper and Sensei‘s sleepover summer camp has a mother/daughter weekend where we set up our own tent and spend two days together. The idea is for me to shadow my daughter and participate in her life at camp; meeting her friends and their mothers, eating meals with her cabin, and participating in all her activities.
This summer, we sailed a sunfish sail boat, shot arrows for archery, developed photographs in a dark room, played a variation of volleyball, and cooked over a campfire … and that was just the first day!
This year the weather cooperated and we enjoyed beautiful sunny weather. The first thing I noticed when I went to my daughter’s cabin was a this sign that her cabin made to greet us.
Then I started to notice signs everywhere. It seems there is committee of camp counselors called Deeds of Love & Service who spread positive affirmations around the camp. I found them taped up on walls …
… and in the bathrooms!
These little notes of affirmation quietly sent a positive message to everyone who noticed. At first, I thought no one really took the time to read them but then other moms mentioned the signs. I think they have a way of quietly infiltrating the mind just like background music.
There was even one in all the bathroom stalls! And the signs really do get read! One of the other moms commented about the sign in the bathroom about not flushing down your dreams. I thought I was the only one reading the fine print!
My daughter’s camp has a cult-like atmosphere wherein the girls truly feel that this is place where they can be who they are and that they will be accepted for it. It’s such an important message for coming-of-age girls!
I don’t have signs in my house, but it got me thinking … positive affirmation signs are quietly so powerful so I searched for more affirmations for kids on Pinterest. (Click on image to link to pin.)
These are messages I would love to have around the house. What positive affirmation messages speak to you? Please share!
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I absolutely love this. So needed for all people to have positive affirmations. I especially love the not caring what other people think one. It is so hard to help guide a young girl to not be self conscious.
Thanks so much Jenny! I do think it was so empowering for my daughter to not care what she looks like or to submit to be judged for her appearance. Of course, the downside is that she can be a total slob and not shower for days LOL! But all girls need to hear these kinds of affirmations … society and the media dog them with other negative messages incessently so it kind of balances that out.
Great character building affirmations! You’re lucky to have a program like that for your daughter.
Hi Patricia,
I feel like her camp is a cult LOL but it is a wonderful place for developing young ladies! She loves her camp so much and now that I spent time there, I totally understand why!
I love all these positive affirmations we could all use more of this in our lives.
Thanks so much Denise,
It is nice to get these positive reminders! I need to think of a way to have them around more in easy viewing sight.
That camp sounds awesome! I tried clicking on the name you wrote but it didn’t take me to a summer camp website. Do you have their web address?
Hi Kasi,
It’s YMCA Camp Chimney Corners for girls and YMCA Camp Becket for boys in the Berkshires, Massachusetts.
http://www.bccymca.org/