Shabbaton
Say what? Shabbaton is the weekend retreat in Prescott, Arizona that my boy gets to go on with his Hebrew school. It’s for 3rd graders and up, so it’s his second year. It’s a great time for the kids to go and learn more about Shabbat, but also to get some independence and fun without their parents hovering over them. Well, except for my boy. He can’t go without a parent. Not his rules. It’s ours.
Last year I had to tell the Rabbi that the boy couldn’t go for a weekend without me. She was not happy with that because it is a special weekend for kids to really spread their wings. So I had to promise that for the weekend I would not be the boy’s mom. Just another "camp counselor" who happened to be there to administer medications. I was given this job for my kid, but also all of the other kids that had medications for various reasons. I was put in charge of the third grade girls–including one that would keep me very busy. My kid called me by my first name (except, conveniently enough for him, when he had something he wanted me to carry!). I stayed busy with the 3rd grade girls I was the camp counselor for and eventually girls from other grades. I had just enough knowledge of American Idol and High School Musical that I was considered cool by the girls in my cabin.
After getting over the shock of being put to work I actually had a lot of fun hanging out with all these tweens. And that is why I am going back to the Shabbaton this year! Oh, sure…my kid still needs to take anti-seizure meds three times a day, and still needs to be watched some because of the epilepsy thing, but I was asked to attend the Shabbaton this year! Apparently the girls enjoyed having me around as much as I enjoyed being around. I only hope that I’ve watched enough American Idol and know enough about….I don’t know…Hannah Montana maybe to maintain my cool factor.
