I sent my daughter to wellness camp instead of lacrosse camp. She learned how to do nothing.

The author, shown on a swing at the spa where she sent her daughter to a weeklong wellness camp.

Courtesy of Theresa Pickett.

My daughter has accomplished a lot, and her schedule is usually packed.

This summer, I decided she should skip her usual competitive sports camp and try something new.

A wellness camp helped her learn how to take a break and focus on her own needs in a new way.

"So, lacrosse camps this summer?" a parent asked me last spring.

It was the kind of question I had answered many times before.

For years, summer meant another opportunity for my daughter to grow as an athlete, student, and leader.

This year, my answer surprised another sports parent — and me.

"She's taking a break from lacrosse," I said.

"I signed her up for a self-care camp," I replied.

Now that she's done, I can honestly say it's one of the best parenting decisions I've made.

Summers have been busy For much of my daughter's childhood, I believed every opportunity was a chance to move forward.

She played high-level competitive lacrosse , earning a spot on the A team of a nationally competitive club.