DADS

This has been the year marked by intense interest by the fathers of our campers. It started early in the year with a lot of emails and phone calls in the months leading up to camp and continues to this day with drop-offs and pick-ups. This year we have heard from more Dads than ever and we couldn’t be more delighted with the trend.

Dads play an important role in family life that is often overlooked or minimized. We men take refuge in this protective shell of low expectations, allowing our wives to deal with the emotionally charged and confusing details of family life while we focus our energies on the more manageable responsibilities outside of the home.

I get it. I am one of you.

Despite being a camp director, I was not a meaningful part of the many details my childrens activities. I never volunteered as an assistant in a classroom nor did I attend many parent/teacher conferences or doctor’s appointments (allowing Dr. Margaret to represent seemed the smart choice at the time). I never packed them for camp, didn’t know their shoe sizes, and was happily a participant rather than leader in a lot of things that they did. Margaret was better at EVERYTHING and the entire family knew it… I got a pass. It never bothered me… till now. You Greystone Dads have brought me low!

This has been the year of the Dad at Greystone. More calls, emails, and letters from dads than ever before. This initially made us nervous because dad’s never called unless things were really bad… and they didn’t want to spend a lot of time talking, they just wanted to “fix” things. They would manage the conversation like a business deal, intending a quick “win-win” compromise. Achieving their goals through force of will.

This year our dads contacted us in a more normal way about every little thing camp-related. They called to clarify policies, give suggestions, question details, fill out forms, make cabin requests, and many made long trips to drop off or pick up from camp. We couldn’t be more pleased. Dads are great! Their engagement inspired me and almost made me wish I had a “do over” middle schooler so I could try again!

A Sovereign God who orders all things for the good was certainly doing REALLY good things through this crisis. They might be hard to see, but given time they would certainly be celebrated. So I think it time to celebrate our fathers who have taken this opportunity to really step up!

We bring it up because of a wonderful letter that was in this morning’s mail. The following is a long excerpt from that letter… we hope you are also inspired.

Dear Jimboy,

We’ve never met and honestly I don’t know if we ever will. I learned a long time ago from a mentor, who has since passed, that when someone does something special or deserves thanks - you hand write a note in a blue fountain pen. This is the first note I’ve ever written to a stranger in that fashion.

I read all blogs from this year’s June Session, I can’t say I cared that much in years past but this year was different. I don’t know if it was Covid or missing the girls a little more, but I was more engaged. I must be about as annoyed as a father can be leading up to camp, I live in a house with three Greystone Girls and it consumes our house and life. They talk about it all year and look forward to the time but the hub-bub before they go is just too much at times. It gets to the point where sometimes the wonder and excitement leads to worry, I then wonder why is it worth it? But this year I now know why… the blogs took me to a place that I can’t ever go and on most days moved me to tears. I don’t know if it is your passion for the girls, your family business, the mystique of the Smokies, doing God’s work, or what, but I cried almost every day. I’ll tell you that I’m an emotional person but not a crier. I think it’s knowing that someone would make their life about making girls like mine feel special about who they are and what they can become.

I’d imagine you don’t get tired of being told thank you for that? So today is the final day of June Camp and I read the blog that compelled me to writhe this letter. I personally want to say thank you from one father to another. I can’t wait for both of them to come home and tell me about their favorite meals or activities. Sometimes it’s fun to hear about the drama of camp too - I think that makes them better too.

With Deepest Regards,

PS. I often call you John Boy at home and it drives all the girls including their mother nuts! I promise you I know what I’m doing.

I just love that letter. I am writing him back today, with a fountain pen in green ink and my sincerest gratitude. I hope all of you Dads have a WONDERFUL 4th of July celebration. Shoot some fireworks in celebration for the role that you played in your family this year. God is doing good things.

• Protect Your Counselor was a huge hit. The girls love getting absolutely filthy… their skin and hair will show some residual color for several days.
• Breakfast Fritata, Bacon, Fruit, Cereal, Milk AND CHOCOLATE MILK… in our cabins (Sleep Late Friday)!
• Lunch Shaved Roast Beef Sandwiches
• Dinner Forcili Norche (a wonderful pasta dish with a sausage meat sauce and fresh parmesian cheese), roasted broccoli.
• EP Opening Vespers on the Pagent Court.
• Weather Overcast, but not raining (hurray)!