Summer Camp

The boys started Summer Camp today. It's always a challenge. Thank goodness the same counselors are still there from last year so there won't be as much uncertainty for my son. As well, the counselor is prepared for him and all the questions that go along with living in his space, temporarily or otherwise.
There will be games that he will refuse to play and people (hopefully other kids as opposed to the counselors) that will get on his nerves . . . I hope he makes it through the day without a meltdown. He'll certainly make it through camp without one - he may save it for home where he feels safe and more able to express anxiety. I hope, I hope it goes well for him.
Lunch will be the most difficult part of the day. He hates the sound of people chewing. In fact, it's increasingly difficult for him to sit at the table with me and his brother without barking, "Chew with your mouth closed!" adding the 'please' at the end as a sort of afterthought. Most times, he simply eats after we do or takes his plate in another room to avoid fights. What he doesn't grasp well is that this leaves his brother and me feeling very dejected even though we know full well why he does this. We've learned our own social behaviors too. Boy are they hard to change and or re-program! I'm sure it must be so much harder for him.
My wish for him is that as the peers he is surrounded by grow older, he will be more inclined to interact with them.