A Proud Mom

Tuesday night, my husband, younger son and I attended our
older son's OA tap-out at Camp Ingawanis. I know that OA is
special on it's own, but this was extremely special for our son.

We moved from Maine to Iowa in the summer of '96. Ian would
have been elected back in Maine last year if we hadn't moved. It
was a given from the way he was regarded in his troop there. Since
he was eligible last year he was included with two other boys for
election with his new troop. The other two were elected, he wasn't.
He was very depressed and decided that is was a popularity contest
and felt that he would never get elected here (he also lost an election for
APL for his patrol at the same time) This year he was one
of six. He told me that he wasn't going to count on being elected, that he
felt the boys in the troop still considered him a bit of an outsider, even
though he had become APL again. Ian puts in the most service hours
than anyone else in the troop as he shows up for everything (unless we
have a family conflict but that rarely happens).

His father and I found out in May that Ian was one of three that did get
elected to OA. It killed his father and me to keep quiet about it, as Ian
desparately needs to feel accept in our new town and is still having a
hard time of it. His SM invited us down for the ceremony and explained
in front of Ian that parents of all eligible candidates may attend. I left
up
in the air saying it depended upon his father's court schedule. We showed
up 15 minutes before the start and Ian seemed to be pleased to see us (even
though he tried to ignore us most of the time).

We were standing in back of him when he was selected (his SM had him
tapped out first) so we couldn't see any reaction. After all the new OA
member were introduced, they turned around to face everyone. Ian at
first stood very solemnly, shook his head at me, then looked down. A
minute later a smile broke out on his face and he looked like he wanted to
jump up & down shouting "yes". At that point I started to cry because he
realized that he has been accepted by his troop and they recognize him
as an up and coming leader. Now, if we can get him motivated to finish
the MB requirements for Life and then on to Eagle............

YiS
Dawn Moriarty, ACM Pack 62 Cresco, IA
Cub Scout Camping Chair, North Rivers District, Winnebago Council

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