Julia Sims: When an emergency forces camp Plan B, parents rally

Camp Moondog was never supposed to happen. But you know what they say about best laid plans, right?

A few days before my son and his friends were to start Vacation Bible School, a family emergency came up for the mom who planned to keep the boys in the afternoon. She took off (with our prayers and blessings!), and we got to work cobbling out a new schedule.

There might’ve been a minute of panic- we all have jobs and everything that comes with that: meetings, projects and deadlines. But that didn’t last long!

One brave mom volunteered to drive all the boys every morning, and then the dads stepped up!

My husband Mike dubbed it Camp Moondog. He and another dad made sure the afternoons were filled with pizza, plenty of swimming and a movie matinee. (And, I think, lots of candy!) No real schedules. They just decided to wing it.

Each day I came home to find happy campers with huge smiles... and that included the dads!

Life rarely goes according to plan. It can send you scrambling in all directions. It certainly helps though when your village of friends steps in to pave the way and keep everyone on track.

One mom said she thinks it was the best week yet of the summer. I’m pretty sure the dads would agree. Sometimes Plan B ends up being the best plan after all.

Julia Sims is the mom of one and a former WRAL-TV reporter. She writes regularly for Go Ask Mom.