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Home > To join Cub Scouts or not to join Cub Scouts....

To join Cub Scouts or not to join Cub Scouts....

October 6th, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Okay, so my DH and I are raising our DGS 6-year-old. My DH works out of town for months at a time. Currently, he has not been home since he left at the end of June. So, I am almost totally responsible for our DGS.
I work 40 hours a week, take care of DGS, our home, our dog, our cat, and our one-acre lot of yard to mow and attend to.
I had been excited to get DGS into scouts when he was old enough. So, when he brought home the flier from school about joining he was excited about it.
We went to the meeting last night and here is where I start doubting if we can do this.
They expect the parents or parent or guardian or whoever to attend all the meetings with the scout and go on weekend long camping trips in the cold and sell a whole bunch of popcorn.
I can probably go to the meetings and I don't mind selling popcorn, but I am not going to be camping all weekend. I just can't do that and work full time and take care of everything else. And I'm pretty sure my husband won't be willing to do it even when he is home.
So, even though I did pay DGS's $19.75 fee last night to get him signed up, I'm thinking about telling DGS that we are not going to do that and we will just have to find other activities that won't be so time consuming.
I am the kind of person who really needs my down time and some me-time. I am not getting enough as it is, so I don't think this would help.
They really made me kind of mad, because they say on the flier that the boys will get this cool rocket thing for coming to the meeting, but they wouldn't give you one unless you signed up.
Don't get me wrong, I think scouting is great. I think my DGS would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it. But I just don't think I'm up to it.
And that really makes me kind of sad and bummed out about it. If I didn't have to work full time, I think I could do it. But not the way things are now.

I found $.60 the past two days on the ground.
Yay!
New found money total= $1.48

$20 challenge-
previous total = $21.88
new total = $22.48

6 Responses to “To join Cub Scouts or not to join Cub Scouts....”

  1. ThriftoRama Says:
    1286401061

    Hmmm. Is there a family friend or relative that could camp with him?

  2. momcents Says:
    1286404732


    We completed Tiger Scouts when my oldest was in 1st grade. All in involved was monthly outings with the den and then bigger gatherings with the pack. All scouts were required to have a parent participate. We did not camp our first year. The second and third year of scouting have required less parental involvement (though my husband chaperones and attends most outings). We have just started camping actively with the den and this is our fourth year. As far as fund-raising, we sell wreaths and over-priced cocoa and coffee. Probably not the best way to approach selling door to door, but we've put together fliers that we put in the mailbox of our subdivision and if folks are interested, they can contact us. Delivery of the wreaths isn't that difficult and I've done it with five kids in the car.

    And the time commitment here for us is once a month for the den get-together (we did a visit to a local historical site) and once a month for the pack meeting.

    I would see if all of his other classmates are participating, too. Seems to me that almost all of the boys in his first grade class participated, though now it has it has whittled down to a core group of eleven, which is a nice size. I'm also sure that the folks in the pack or den would be willing to step up and help out, given your situation of being the solo adult around.

    Just something to think about - from the perspective of a SAHM with five kids who runs in about eighteen directions (though my volunteer work adds up to a part-time job) and I am responsible for the mowing and racking of 3/4 acre lot, too!

  3. Petunia Says:
    1286424623

    If camping is the only hold up you still might want to give it a go. As Momcents says, a lot of times the littlest ones don't go. Later on you may be able to find another family to help you out. I routinely take two of Daisy's friends on the campouts of her scout-like group. Due to a number of constraints it's just not feasible for their family to take them. It's beneficial both for Daisy and her friends.

  4. librarylady Says:
    1286461287

    Thank you all for your comments! I am assuming from your replies that you think Cub scouts is worth the effort? We do a lot of church activites also.

  5. momcents Says:
    1286478383

    I think that Scouting is good fit for my son. Of course each child is an individual. My 3rd grader is the youngest in his class, he's on the small side and is an average athlete. (Compared to his one younger soccer star brother). He also has dyslexia and struggles with school work. He likes that he can accomplish his Arrows of Light by independent work, and he likes the social interactions outside of school. We are also a family pretty immersed in our parish life. My husband is quite active with the Knights of Columbus and we've got our girls helping out with the Special Olympics through them. I'm the volunteer coordinator for the VBS program and we are all church all of the time. That said, I believe that Scouting is well worth the effort for us. Smile

  6. Jerry Says:
    1286573502

    I went through scouting from Cub Scouts to Eagle Scout, and while my parents were supportive through the entire process, there is no WAY my mom and dad could have made a time commitment like that! I am the oldest of six kids, my mom was a SAHM, and my dad worked his butt off to keep us sheltered, fed and clothed. I do have fond memories of the few times that my dad came on campouts with me, but that kind of a requirement assumes an awful lot about a family's time resources, and there is no insurance that some people are going to be able to make it happen. Is there another Cub Scouting organization in the area, I wonder, that might lead to a better fit with your schedule? Scouting is great, and I loved it, but maybe another group can meet your needs.
    Jerry

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