So apparently, I'm going to be a girl scout leader.
I'll wait while the laughter dies down.
My sister-in-law, in her infinite kindness, took Mallory to sign her up for Daisy Scouts last fall, the weekend I was in New York. Amy was told there was a huge shortage of Daisy Scout leaders and she said she was willing to help out. She was originally paired with another mom, but THAT mom dropped out, and so I stepped up, and our first meeting is Saturday.
I'm in a bit of a panic.
Things scout leaders should probably be good at:
Crafts
Organization
Dealing with people
Things I am not good at:
Crafts
Organization
Dealing with people
Luckily Amy is quite creative, and good at crafts, and probably nicer than me, so maybe we'll be okay.
Luckily Daisy Scouts are not required to sell cookies.
In part, I agreed to do this because I was afraid Mallory wouldn't stick with it unless I was there too. None of her friends ended up in her troop, and I haven't forgotten the twin disasters of Vacation Bible School and Art Camp last summer, which she dropped out of because, she finally confessed, she was "too shy." I hope my presence, and Amy's, will be enough to make her stick with the troop.
Then again, at a training session last night, I was warned that little girls in this age range do much better at meetings that their moms don't attend; having moms around seem to sap the girls of self-confidence, for some reason. (Two different experienced leaders said this, and based on my own children's behavior from times I've visited their classrooms, I completely believe it.) I'm going to have to have a serious talk with Mallory before all this begins, and explain that she cannot cling to me during meetings, that she has to be independent, and let me help the other girls, and not stick right by my side.
I was only a Brownie for a few years and don't remember much of it. I'm not feeling too confident myself. It occurred to me on my way home last night after training -- my mind all ajumble with rules about field trips and background checks and registration and tunics -- that, if done correctly, Girl Scouts could be a perfect antidote to the prevailing culture, which makes little girls grow up too fast. It will be a nice break from Bratz and rock stars and makeup and shopping. Anything that broaden's Mallory's world beyond Disney and television is a very good thing; I just hope I can do right by her and her fellow Daisies. Wish me luck.
I'll wait while the laughter dies down.
My sister-in-law, in her infinite kindness, took Mallory to sign her up for Daisy Scouts last fall, the weekend I was in New York. Amy was told there was a huge shortage of Daisy Scout leaders and she said she was willing to help out. She was originally paired with another mom, but THAT mom dropped out, and so I stepped up, and our first meeting is Saturday.
I'm in a bit of a panic.
Things scout leaders should probably be good at:
Crafts
Organization
Dealing with people
Things I am not good at:
Crafts
Organization
Dealing with people
Luckily Amy is quite creative, and good at crafts, and probably nicer than me, so maybe we'll be okay.
Luckily Daisy Scouts are not required to sell cookies.
In part, I agreed to do this because I was afraid Mallory wouldn't stick with it unless I was there too. None of her friends ended up in her troop, and I haven't forgotten the twin disasters of Vacation Bible School and Art Camp last summer, which she dropped out of because, she finally confessed, she was "too shy." I hope my presence, and Amy's, will be enough to make her stick with the troop.
Then again, at a training session last night, I was warned that little girls in this age range do much better at meetings that their moms don't attend; having moms around seem to sap the girls of self-confidence, for some reason. (Two different experienced leaders said this, and based on my own children's behavior from times I've visited their classrooms, I completely believe it.) I'm going to have to have a serious talk with Mallory before all this begins, and explain that she cannot cling to me during meetings, that she has to be independent, and let me help the other girls, and not stick right by my side.
I was only a Brownie for a few years and don't remember much of it. I'm not feeling too confident myself. It occurred to me on my way home last night after training -- my mind all ajumble with rules about field trips and background checks and registration and tunics -- that, if done correctly, Girl Scouts could be a perfect antidote to the prevailing culture, which makes little girls grow up too fast. It will be a nice break from Bratz and rock stars and makeup and shopping. Anything that broaden's Mallory's world beyond Disney and television is a very good thing; I just hope I can do right by her and her fellow Daisies. Wish me luck.
Comments
Mom
You will do great. Have that talk with Mallory and then try to have fun yourself.
Good point about it being a good thing.