jpuckett

Eamonn

I did not mean to concentrate on the label I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing too much and you and some of the other posters have answered that question for me. Thank You all so much I just wanted to make sure I am not "robbing" my son of the experience and I really appreciate the input fro most of you Thanks again and Eamonn I love the idea of roots and wings

Basement

Here is the conversation between me and my son but Ill have to paraphrase a bit since I don't typically employ a stenographer when chatting with my son

Son: Dad you know my scout book that I have been telling you for 2 or 3 months now is falling apart well I finally lost some of the pages and the requirement pages are part of the lost documents

Me: Well son since your 11 and Autistic I am going to have to be the one who gets you a new book and since Im busy working 56 hrs a week as a firefighter it will have to wait until I get the chance

some time later.........

Me: Here you go son your brand spanking new book next time ill listen when you repeatedly tell me your book is falling to pieces

Son: dad I need to get these requirements signed off again

Me: well son just like the time that you forgot your sleeping bag while cabin camping in February ten minutes from the house its not my problem but if you ask I would be more then willing to help I did have a hand in creating you and i still feel I have some responsibility in your upbringing although it would be nice if I could just hand you off to your SPL and SM

a few months later...........

Son: dad could you help me make a list so I can finally get these things signed

Me : sure thats what dads do son(This message has been edited by jpuckett)

Any scout can use a wood chisel but only those 14 or older can use a paint roller with extension handle

I have taken a huge step back although I am not taking a year off Believe me I am well aware of the fact that it is his Journey as a former CM and a current ASM and Unit Commissioner my biggest issue is adults forgetting this program is for boys and not for us. I spent a lot of years as a Scout and although I loved every second I am not in any way trying to relive my youth through my son

No I am not signing requirements for him in our Troop older scouts do that. He did take his book to those older scouts I just helped him make a list at home of the requirements he had signed off in the old book after he asked me to help him create the list. It took him 4 months or so to bring the idea up to me and that whole time I just sat back. When the time came I helped him to make the list I certainly did not make it for him and some requirements that I know he has completed where left off the list because he did not remember to add them.

just realized this says my sin crossed over lol I meant son

My sin crossed over from CS a little over a year ago. I was his CM and/or Den Leader throughout his time in Cubs. When he crossed over I registered as an ASM and I stay as active in the troop as I can (weekly meetings, occasional campouts and Ive been a MBC for a few boys in the troop including my son) I never talk to the SM or to the youth leadership about my son I am an Eagle scout and I fully believe in boy-led and I understand the importance of my son being the one to ask for signatures,MBC, scout master's conference etc. Let me give you some examples of the things I have done however that make me question if I am doing to much. My son had most of his signatures for second and first class then he lost his book I bought him a new book went through the requirements with him and help him write a list of the requirements he had completed so he could have them "re-signed"

Tonight he needs to ask for a SM conference and I will remind him on the ride to the meeting

Last night I worked with him on tying a Bowline

last night he told me he wanted to work on a MB but wasn't sure with one so we went through the 2012 requirements book and I helped him pick out a few to choose from. When I say help I mean I told him things like wait till your a little older for that one, thats a good Summer camp one things like that.

I don't think Im being a helicopter parent just the father of an 11 yr old but I just want to make sure Im not taking anything away from what he should be getting out of Scouting

In 2010 when the Jambo rolls around my son will be a second year Webelos. I am the Cubmaster for my sons Troop a campmaster with the local council an OA member and an Eagle Scout. My wife is our Pack CC. So I guess you could say we are a Scouting family. I know that the GSS says Webelos mya visit Jambo.. My question is has anyone ever done this and what advice could you give me if any. We are thinking of taking a family vacation to VA in 2010 and spending a couple of DAYS at the Jamboree. I never went as a youth and am very excited about the idea of going. I know I can go with the local council but id rather take the family. If it makes a difference my daughter will also be with us.

We worked on this award with our Wolf Den. It tied in nicely with achievement # 2 in the Wolf book. If you look in these forums there are alot of less than positive posts about the company that offers the award. After reading these posts I think I may do something on my own for the boys rather than send the money to this company

Thanks for the advice I personally would love to camp. However the parents in my Pack are very "suburban" and not interested in sleeping in tents. I have been given a few good ideas from the reply I recieved and we may be looking into staying in unoccupied college dorms.

I am working on planning a Pack trip to Washington DC. Alot of the parents are kind of leary about camping but hotels may put it out of reach for some families financially. Has anyone stayed at Military bases recently. I know it was fairly common practice in the past but post 9-11 and during wartime I wasnt sure if this was still an option any advice would be appreciated

I earned my Eagle when I was 18 If I remember correctly I had my BOR after my 18th birthday. I chose not to have a COH. There were some issues at the time regarding a change in troop leadership that I was bothered.. I chose to stay loyal ,in my eyes, to my SM rather that participate in a COH with someone I had no respect for. Looking back Im glad I chose to do what I thought was right but I also regret not having an ECOH. To this day Ive never even had the eagle badge. I understand these boys opt out for a different reason. I like them felt that the accomplishment was worth far more than the recognition. Now however as a 28yr old very involved in my sons pack and in Scouting I really feel that I missed out and would try to convince anyone I could to have an ECOH if not for them now then maybe for them later in life.