Daddy_O

At the risk of angering some of my fellow posters - I know some of you are not going to like this... Sorry The answer may be obvious, but not to me... Can a scout multitask? What I'm asking is can a scout (T-2-1) knock out requirements for these three simultaneously? Or, must he complete T before he pencils in the first requirement for 2 and 2 before 1 etc.? I am aware this is like asking a teacher how many pages an assigned paper must be, but please humour me. Thanks to all-- --D_O

OGE, Thanks for remembering me! He doesn't play any of the expensive sports. No swimming, LaCrosse, Football or Hockey. Travel Fall baseball is expensive. Basketball is cheap. Maybe, 2 sports for 5 teams / seasons, tournaments and leagues ~$1000-1200 for everything. Uniform cost is burried in there somewhere. But OGE, I'm not commenting / complaining about the cash, just the principle. And I suppose I'm a little bit of a reactionary, missing the old days. D_O

Some of you guys agree with me. I really liked the old system. The profit explanation makes sense. So does the 'color-coded' sorting explanation. Lost in this decision was what the kids/parents would like and what everyone could afford. Your "uniform closet" idea is a good one. Our pack, as far as I know, has no such thing. Where do you store the stuff? I would think it might make a boy receiving a used garment to feel a little ashamed (for being singled out as a poor kid)? Correct - this is not big money, all in all maybe $100. But it's the principle of the thing. We a

In days of yore, when I was a cub scout, we wore 1 uniform from Bobcats until Webelos. One cap, one belt, one "necker", one slide, one shirt, we really wore the pants (I NEVER see them now) and only got new ones when they were so silly looking (high waters) that even frugal depression-era mothers were embarrased! I sort of did not like the fact that the boys ALWAYS wear a cap bearing a badge they have not yet earned. Also the bobcat patch takes a space needed years later for the webelos patch - this is poor planning / design, IMO. The bobcat pin was cool. Why, and who, and whe

Eagle92 - no doubt. Scouting has been very good for him already. He's back, and last night I asked him why he wanted to be an Eagle Scout. He said, "because it feels so good"... I tried repeatedly to follow up on that: "Accomplishment feels good?" Finishing things feels good?" "Being the best feels good?" and he got irritated with me asking too many questions and shut me down. No adult-type meaningful or profound answers were not forthcoming.

Mafaking: "whose only real intent is to see the post count go up. I suspect you are a troll" You got me! This is my 9th post (I believe) and after one more I get a $100 bonus! No, really Goofy, to what end? Be thankful for cartoon parents like me; my boy is the one yours hides behind when some tough kid wants his lunch money! Be thankful. You're welcome. --Daddy_O

I'm new, and not well-qualified... Please don't beat me up too muc on my 2nd point: 1) My late younger brother was "Life 4 life" It was his life's biggest regret. He was not a self-starter and he just did not have the momentum to get over the top. 2) I've been attending a few patrol / troop meetings trying to find the right group for my son (yes, I'm that Daddy_O!!) You can observe a lot by just watching! IMO the "leadership requirements" of which you write are missplaced, and not a good idea. Not every kid is a leader. Many never will be. It's like saying your ki

Greetings, Many of you have asked the very candid question, "why does he want Eagle". I'll ask him; I really don't know (he's not here now, and we're far from home). He says that he always had that as a goal from his Tiger Cub year. FYI, HE wants to be an Eagle Scout, I want him to be happy. I want him to graduate from College. I want him to play basketball for UConn! HE wants to be a Scout! My ego is honestly not at play in this arena. I love my kid. That's all... I'll drive him to meetings, (even campouts, when necessary) no matter how my day at work went. I'll be coopera

"Can't we all just get along... " So, is there a website, or a spreadsheet which shows data, such as: *troops that graduate the most Eagle Scouts *Highest percent of Scouts earning the Eagle rank Or something like that, by region, which I can study and figure where my son has the best shot? All this political stuff is interesting, but I'm seriously "seeking guidance" on my original post. I don't want o anger anyone or open old wounds. I just want my kid to be a boy scout in a sustainable trajectory, with all the other items on the agenda, towards HIS goal.

LisaBob,Thanks for the disclaimer. I really (really) did not comprehend Kudu's post. I've been on the sidelines for 5 years. I don't know what most of that means... Honestly. I appreciate these replies, even the scathing ones, because this IS a big decision for our fam. The troop wants my kid to join because he is quiet and well-behaved, and never caused his WDL (see, I'm learning!) ANY problems. That's why I hold a high card. In the chaos that's a cub meeting he was always a role model of calm. Of course he's seeing a physician. He takes several pills, and he could get s

Sorry to reply to my own post, but one more detail, for your consideration, please. When I say he gets sick from sleeping out I don't mean he gets a sniffle. I mean his mother and I are arguing at 2AM whether or not he should go to the hospital. Sometimes after a lengthy exposure he can't stop coughing. Then he can't talk. It's unfortunate and ironic; I don't like the outdoors other than Bar-B-Q, and I can sleep with a cat, in a bed of ragweed, and never suffer any ill effect! I understand you guys' cynicism, but this is a good boy and a good scout. He needs a path forward - not a lo

Thank you ALL so much for the thoughtful replies, and the warm greetings this is a lucid Blog! One detail I omitted in my outdoor type comment ( seized upon by many of you!) is the fact that my kid gets sick sleeping outside. Hes allergic to mold, and in this area there is a lot of rotting vegetation full of mold. After our 2-night Webelos campout he missed a week of school! He's not a sissy, and he does not complain and he likes being outside, hes just not designed for it. SctDad Yes, I suppose an Eagle Mill IS what were looking for! But I wouldnt have put it that way. It was

I posted this on another thread, but this may get a quicker reply - time is not on my side! ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ I need some help, and I can see that Ive stumbled upon the right site! I am the father of a wonderful 10-year-old. Hes popular at school, makes good grades, plays an instrument fairly well, and is a 2-sport All-Star in our town. Hes never given me, or his mom, a moment of grief in our almost 11 years together. We have a wonderful relationship, and he really is not in

I need some help, and I can see that Ive stumbled upon the right site! I am the father of a wonderful 10-year-old. Hes popular at school, makes good grades, plays an instrument fairly well, and is a 2-sport All-Star in our town. Hes never given me, or his mom, a moment of grief in our almost 11 years together. We have a wonderful relationship, and he really is not in need of any outside influence to make him a good man; he will be a fine citizen. Hes been a scout since Tigers, and although weve moved across the country he persevered and earned his arrow of light last month. Out of