The last few months have shown my husband and I that our children (for they will always be our children) have been in a mighty hurry to grow up.
The eldest just finished fifth grade and is prepping himself for sixth. This means cell phone, a home page on the internet, he informally informed me he likes girls...this is too much at once! He's already calling dibs on our Jeep anticipating his learner's permit while he's only 11! He wants to spend all of his time with his friends playing in their garage-band making music and hanging out. It feels like we jumped ahead and missed a few steps here!
Meanwhile...whatever older brother is into, younger brother wants to try as well. It's such a classic case of monkey see-monkey do! The younger is only 8 and I'm sorry...but I absolutely refuse to put up with pre-teen nonsense from an 8-year-old!
Tonight we attended the neighboring city's fireworks together as a family. We packed snacks and drinks, had the chairs and blankets and set out for an evening of family togetherness.
It was amazing! For an entire evening my elder went text-less and survived! He played together with his brother and they were nice to one another! They played improvisational baseball with a stick and a marshmallow. It was lovely.
When the fireworks commenced, the eldest edged away from our gathering a little. There were girls nearby and he didn't want to appear 'babyish' by sitting in such close proximity with us 'old folk'. We understood and know that part of the deal is allowing him space to grow and be his own person (to a closely watched extent!!).
The best part of my evening? The youngest son wanted to sit with me. He climbed up on my lap and sat snuggled close to me under the blanket. We sat cheek to cheek critiquing the firework displays and discussing which we liked best. My husband noticed this and reached out and took my hand. I am not given over to extreme sentimentality but this is a memory I will cherish all my life.
Later, the eldest looked on us and took in the scene, saying nothing about it.
The traffic jam afterwards always ensures that the normal 10 minute drive will take at least 45. Upon arriving home, we open the Jeep doors to usher the kids out and towards the house. I am tasked with corraling the eldest. He pretended to be asleep so that I would carry him in. When a child is faking sleep, it's fairly obvious and this was no exception. I make comments about how I might accidentally drop him in the front garden and he refuses to say anything but he tenses and grips my back tighter. My husband comes back out to fetch the remaining things from the trunk and comments about leaving him outside as an adventure which makes the eldest quietly squirm more.
We reach the house and as I bring him to the bathroom to make certain teeth are brushed, I call him on being a "Fakey-Fakerson" and he giggles a little while still trying not to blow his cover. Finally, I unceremoniously set him on the counter-top and he smiles broadly at me. His grin is contagious. He tells me he loves me and asks if I can carry him to bed and tuck him in. Now my grin is contagious. He tells me he faked being asleep because he wanted me to carry him so he could be close. I smile and remind him he need not resort to trickery...all he ever needs to do is just ask. His father and I will always be there for him...and always is an extremely long time.
Tonight was one of those "Wonder Years-type moments. I want to remember everything. Tonight both of my children still wanted to be children...even if only for one night.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Life and Times of a Scout Leader
"It's just an hour or so a week."
Yeah right!
An hour or so in some strange, parallel world where time doesn't work the same as it does here!
I wouldn't change a thing though! I love being a Scout leader and all which it entails. In addition to the actual Den Meetings, there is the planning I do at home to get ready so my kids aren't bored (you'd be amazed how many people don't put forth effort and then act surprised when the kids find their meetings lame), there are the monthly Committee and Roundtable Meetings, plus additional events, training, field trips, campouts and fundraisers! When all is said and done it's tantamount to having a rather demanding part-time job. (my Cubmaster's load is like having a second full-time job!)
The kids that I've gotten to work with in my Den and Pack are tremendous. I am privileged that I'm able to provide an exceptional program for these kids. We've done things and gone places which they'd never have the opportunity to do otherwise!
In our household, it's truly a family thing. Our oldest is now a Boy Scout while the youngest is now a Webelo. I'm the Webelo 1 Leader while Bob is the Pack Committee Chair for our Cub Pack. Since the elder moved to a Troop, Bob is also wearing an Assistant Scoutmaster 'hat' in the Troop as well. I'm sure we make quite a sight when we are all turned out in our full Class A uniforms.
Scouting has already made a profound difference in my kids' lives. They are more aware of how things work in our community, how government works, what it means to 'Do a Good Turn Daily' and how to be a better citizen. While these are all things that are touched on in school, in Scouts we live these ideals to the best of our abilities in a way that you don't learn in books. Scouting provides a way to grow as an upright member of society and helps teach boys to strive for high ideals in order to meet their full potential.
I know I'm up here on a soapbox...but this organization means a lot to me and I just wanted to take a moment and say so. This has been an amazing experience as a parent to be able to help shepherd my kids and their friends, to help them make connections to important ideas and how they fit in to the scheme of things. To help teach a boy to become more self-reliant in these times where the preference of society at large is to have others do for you, well, it's simply amazing to see these kids choose to stand apart and do what is right and good.
If you know of a kid in Scouting, support him if you can. Scouts need role models- be one! Scouting turns 100 years old in February 2010. The reason Scouting has withstood the rigors of time is because the program has value and has remained relevant throughout the years. It's been able to do so through the efforts of it's volunteers and supporters.
Support your local Scouts! Whether through Operation Can-Do, Popcorn sales, bottle drives, car washes or even something as simple as volunteering a little of your time, every bit helps!
Yeah right!
An hour or so in some strange, parallel world where time doesn't work the same as it does here!
I wouldn't change a thing though! I love being a Scout leader and all which it entails. In addition to the actual Den Meetings, there is the planning I do at home to get ready so my kids aren't bored (you'd be amazed how many people don't put forth effort and then act surprised when the kids find their meetings lame), there are the monthly Committee and Roundtable Meetings, plus additional events, training, field trips, campouts and fundraisers! When all is said and done it's tantamount to having a rather demanding part-time job. (my Cubmaster's load is like having a second full-time job!)
The kids that I've gotten to work with in my Den and Pack are tremendous. I am privileged that I'm able to provide an exceptional program for these kids. We've done things and gone places which they'd never have the opportunity to do otherwise!
In our household, it's truly a family thing. Our oldest is now a Boy Scout while the youngest is now a Webelo. I'm the Webelo 1 Leader while Bob is the Pack Committee Chair for our Cub Pack. Since the elder moved to a Troop, Bob is also wearing an Assistant Scoutmaster 'hat' in the Troop as well. I'm sure we make quite a sight when we are all turned out in our full Class A uniforms.
Scouting has already made a profound difference in my kids' lives. They are more aware of how things work in our community, how government works, what it means to 'Do a Good Turn Daily' and how to be a better citizen. While these are all things that are touched on in school, in Scouts we live these ideals to the best of our abilities in a way that you don't learn in books. Scouting provides a way to grow as an upright member of society and helps teach boys to strive for high ideals in order to meet their full potential.
I know I'm up here on a soapbox...but this organization means a lot to me and I just wanted to take a moment and say so. This has been an amazing experience as a parent to be able to help shepherd my kids and their friends, to help them make connections to important ideas and how they fit in to the scheme of things. To help teach a boy to become more self-reliant in these times where the preference of society at large is to have others do for you, well, it's simply amazing to see these kids choose to stand apart and do what is right and good.
If you know of a kid in Scouting, support him if you can. Scouts need role models- be one! Scouting turns 100 years old in February 2010. The reason Scouting has withstood the rigors of time is because the program has value and has remained relevant throughout the years. It's been able to do so through the efforts of it's volunteers and supporters.
Support your local Scouts! Whether through Operation Can-Do, Popcorn sales, bottle drives, car washes or even something as simple as volunteering a little of your time, every bit helps!
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