FireKat

"I suppose what we really need is just to go on a hike with someone who knows what they are doing and follow their examplebut I dont know how that would be possible. anyone want to volunteer? (jk)." Not really a bad idea, why not find a local troop who might take y'all on a hike? Good leadership practice for the troop and a chance to learn while doing for you.

Many things can affect how to handle it. How old is the boy? Yonger ones, it is usually best to talk with the parent(s), depending on their receptiveness to that type of thing. I know I would want someone to tell me. Older boys will hide such things from their parents and may resent you for tell them. If you can talk with an older boy you may get out of him what is bugging him. Many times it is parental problems and the last thing they want is to talkto their parent about problems. Sometime being a good ear to their problem will help them figure it out themselves. No judgment, no answers, no "

Y'all forgot my favorite - 'I have been to Wood Badge so I don't need to take any more training'. I have nothing against WB but I do not like it when they look down on anyone who has not been to it. As with comparing college educated against someone who learn things thru the school of hard knock, many times I will go wil the undegreed person. Just cause you went to a school does not mean you actually learn anything. It can also be hard to enjoy scouting when there is no level (including Nat'l) in your area that is not falling apart. We shall keep trying to make scouting again about th

Narraticong, From what you described at that competition, the judges were at fault. The judges should have made some allowances and done things that the boy could handle. Picking out one boy to highlight his weakness is not what scouting is about. Have a take with the organizers before the competition to make sure that they know of the disabilities and politely remind them of the goals of scouting. As to council have an expert not in our council. They did not have anyone to help until recently. At least they are working on it. Many adults will not admit that they cannot deal with disa

coffee....coffee....COFFEE!!!!!!! Must not pollute with additions or flavors! Forget the frue frue Starbucks stuff - just black and strong - not bitter. Many people make bitter coffee so they add junk. I must have some that is not bitter & I learned to make it without any type of coffe maker. Stuck in a lab with a bunsen burner, beakers and paper towels. I even had others come for bench top coffee as it was never bitter. Can't really tell you how to do it as others have tried but no luck. If I have a way to boil water and coffee, I can make it.

If you really wish to help the boy you will have to put up with the mother. Two options are have a heart to heart with her and be ready to lose your head. In the long run it might sink in. The second is to continue to politely and calmly listen when she rants. All she is doing is making a fool of herself. With luck your non-response will cause her to give up on attacking you. Be prepared for an escalation before it works. Either is hard.

There is nothing worse than someone who sat in a class, not really paying attention because they think they know the stuff, then lording around as an expert while things fall apart. I have seen this way too many times. Like a bull in a china shop, they stomp all over, not helping and sometimes even making it worse. I would rather have a natural listener than a dozen class trained oafs that will not listen to the kids or another adult because they have the training. We have some of that going on. One class is more than years of working with the kids in their eyes (oh, it does not matter

Emotional support does not come from a text or class. It cannot be outlined, organized, or taught. It comes from watching and listening. Use your eyes. Do you see a kid hanging back? Not joining in? Go find out why. Ask carefully with sympathy not judgment. The hanging back may be due to someone being mean to the boy. Watch for interactions. Dont let them see you watching. You can be surprised by what you can observe when they think you are not watching. That is a skill not all seem to get the hang of. You have to be almost invisible. Once it can be determined what is

Bob, sorry, As you can see it was removed. That is what I get for tryoing to post with the flu. Brain doesnt alway work right. As to ignoring bulling by not reconizing it and it causing thoughts of suicide.... I am having to deal with that now. The school etc says it is not bulling and none happens unless a school offical sees it but it even goes to direct death threats. School officals claim they cannot deal with the bully as he is 'high risk' and disavantaged. That is why I get angry- the school continues to blame the victim and say the victim is the problem (victim has been physically

I agree with jblake47 in I guess I wouldn't say bullying always includes an element of harm to the other person, nor do I think it's always a long-term repeated process towards any one person.

It is just another way to say they are doing something while actually not doing anything, just as the schools do. They say see, we have this policy(training) so we are doing something. Meanwhile the bulling continues and kids get hurt, mentally and physically. Dont say you are doing something by making kids aware, really do something to stop it. "Our adult leadership had several lengthy meetings to discuss HOW to deal with the situation...which ultimately we were unfortunately not able to resolve and the scout and his mother (a member of our troop committee) resigned" This is what us

I agree with Ed. BSA should cover dealing with bullying but to put it as an achievement makes the kid feel like if he cannot stop bullying he is a failure. That is why I am angry with BSA for adding it. The kids are confused and think BSA has the answer to how to stop it. Believe me, telling is not the answer, sometimes it make things worse.

Deal with this situation - - overheard at summer camp, father to 12yo son (verified). "_____ ,come on and take a shower with me."

I have actually seen a few that have velcro to hold the rank patch in place. Or staples. I am old school I do not see that it takes much to put a few stiches in a patch. Thank goodness I have not seen anyone using the temp holders - I might not bite my tongue and tell them how I think that they do not think much of scouting not to put a few stiches to hold what they should be proud of. I guess that goes with pushing 'ranking up' not value of the rank.

I want NATIONAL to tell us the answers.....Schools don't have them and do not stop bullying. I know- both my boys were picked on by bullies. The only way they finally got them to stop was when they got bigger than the bullies and flatened them. They only had to do it once. The schools never helped, they kept asking my boys what they could do and how they could fix it. One of my sons was badly choked in school. They did nothing to that kid and belive it or not, actually put him in the SAME class as my son! Even though he was still threating my son. I once had to call the police to get a

I still have a problem with just about forcing first year boy scouts to take first aid. Most 10-11 yos do not have the maturity to do first aid. They giggle thru the class. Also, here we go again with the adults telling the kids what to do. Scouting is exploring the world at the kids pace and what interests them. They are to be a reward for being interested in a subject not for sitting in a lecture for X hours with only thoughts of when is that person going to hand them the little blue card. That is doing things only for advancement, not for learning. I wish they would stop focusing on

Beavah, when was the last time you poked your furry head out of your hole? Around here no one has been rude to some one offering a seat or holding a door since the early 80s. It has become respectful for persons of either gender to hold the door for the next person or someone who will have troubles with the door. The only place I see rampant ignoring of the next person is in the schools. That old courtesy is returning slowly. I think it is due to the polite response of the person getting the courtesy. I have even had gentlemen hurry up to a door to open it for me. I always thank them f

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. I have always wonder how the idea that giving monies to a non-denominational but religious organization would truly violate the above? If they give without respect to the religion or lack there of (all meeting other criteria equally) it is fair treatment across the board. But as it stands now the govt is supporting

Yuks, OK how about a troop that has an unplanned tradition? Every eagle project done by someone in our troop breaks at least one tool (usually expensive) I wait for it to happen. (over the last 4 years that has been about 10 projects) a lot of broken equipment. New parents do not believe it when I tell them to watch for it. Love the expression on their face when it happens.

Sometimes that can be for the best. If you get a bit too hurried on an embarrassing post and don't self edit it can be a blessing (hint from someone, maybe?) - been there

"a climb up two flights of stairs is like scaling Everest." To some people watching me climb (or decend) a flight of stairs they might get that idea about me. My trouble with stairs is due to a very badly broken leg a few years ago. It was broken across the joint and I am luck to be able to move the joint. The pay back for being able to move the ankle is unstability unless is is set down in just the right way or it folds up like there is no leg there. That happens to me all the time an scares all around me thinking I am hurt. No hurt but to pride and dignity. So I take it slow and sometim

Nevere assume that someone is incapable of someting until proven. I know a little old lady (75) who is a overweight. She looks like a classic german grandma. Big thing is, never, I mean never act like she is incapable of doing something or you might loose your head! That woman can pick up an 18 wheeler tire and throw it at you! You would never think she was physically capable of carring her groceries much less anything more. I saw her run down a teenager who dared suggest she could not do something. True, on some people it can show what their problem is (excess eating) but if one has joined

Just a little warning, Be ready for hard feelings all around. We had one appeal up to national - a very long, painful process I never want to happen again.

District -no. Council - YES. Contact your council (or go thru your dist advancement chair) and find out if any of the boys' achivements have been recorded. You can use internet advancement once you set it up to keep a check on things. If their achivements have not been recorded it will bite them when they move on.

Yes, I agree that there is a weight problem. Mostly due to overindulgence. Some absolutly cannot be reduced without starvation. [A friend has an abnormallity in their famioy that does not allow a normal weight. They were studied at Bethesda Hosp because of it] We, as adults need to supply good foods at functions - true. But do not look down your nose at those with excess weight. Many times that can add to the excess eating (eating is emotional). Be kind and helpful (now where have I heard that?) and encourage any small effort one makes. Being too skinny is not healthy either. That needs to