Re: A little little boy
Settummanque, the blackeagle (waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Mon, 28 Mar 1994 20:41:10 EST
Rex Goode <rexg@IMS.COM> writes:
>
>I'm having a problem with my new Scoutmaster (I'm the CC). He wants to bring
>his four-year-old on campouts. He just can't seem to part with the little
>guy. I've told him that he can't do it and he is rebelling. I also suspect
>he's getting a lot of pressure from his wife to either take the kid or
>not go.
Or like me, he WANTS to bring him along because this is the ONLY time
during the week that he really gets to bond with this child! Shortly
after my daughter was born, I had to leave for THREE MONTHS to
participate in Army exercises in the east central part of Germany.
When I came back, I got to spend ONE WEEK with Amanda (and her mother)
before I left to take my Troop to the Fall Camporee. After that
event, I talked with the members of my Troop and got *their*
permission to bring my daughter to Troop activities, as long as I
didn't "ask" or force anyone there to "babysit" her and as long as she
didn't have to be changed during the meeting (the boys had something
about "doo-doo", I guessed).
I never did seek and didn't feel it was important to ask the Troop's
Committee to get permission. Amanda was MY responsibility and I
accepted it well; after all, the primary role of the Scoutmaster is
NOT to run the Troop but merely to make sure that they don't tear the
place down....that gave me PLENTY of time to interact with Scouts AND
my first born --and STILL had time to drink a pot of coffee before
everyone went home!
I did the same thing with my first born son, Andrew. I took him to
Post activities with me, because of my hectic work scheldue. I would
see all three of my children for one hour each morning...while they
are being dressed for school. I would come home after working at the
Residence Hall I was at and they would be in bed (in differing stages
of sleep, of course...*grinning*). On occasion I would see them after
school but it was only long enough to wait on their mother to pick
them up and take them home to play and eat.
I didn't get to do the same thing with the youngest, but I hope to do
the same if given the chance (it's kinda hard to do those things when
you are three hours away from them).
Remember, Rex, that Scouting is first a FAMILY program and second a
program for the BOYS. Let *them* decide if having Junior around is too
much (or too little...you'd be surprised at the maturity level of
today's kids!). I was really surprised to know that several of my
Scouts had NEVER held a baby in their arms, yet were bragging about
wanting to "do it" to some girl they knew...and that there are
some boys that *want* to learn how to do "womanly things" like prepare
formula bottles (for Andrew), "burp" the baby (both) and change the
"poo-poo" diapers (both) ("OOOOhhhh Gross!!")
It gave some a better appreciation of what their OWN parents did for
them and what COULD happen if they did "do it" without the proper
precautions!
I am also told that it's good for the stimulation of the new child as
well, as he or she grows up knowing that their lives don't just
revolve around "Mommie" and "Daddy".
I as a parent also have a responsibility to my own children, and *I*
have to keep them well away from dangers at camps and other activities
just like I have to keep them from dangers at the local K-Mart or
Kroger store. That is MY responsibility, NOT the Troop's!
>Am I right? Is there some official word on this?
No. You'll find littered throughout all of Scouting's program
materials the fact that Scouting is a FAMILY affair and those that
involve their families in the program in many cases more successful
than others (I can debate this, because I feel the other way sometimes
too...I guess it depends upon whether the family has Scout-aged
children or not).
>How would you handle it?
I would ask the TROOP MEMBERS how they felt about it, and then
approach the Scoutmaster.
Settummanque!
--
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton (
___)_
(h) 502-782-7992 (f) 502-781-7279 (w) 502-782-7467 |-=-|]
3201-D Cave Springs Avenue -- Greenwood, KY 42104-4439 -=====-
Internet: WALTOML@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU/America OnLine: KYBLKEAGLE@AOL.COM
"Not speaking for WKU......................but I do speak well!!"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
