Love Hate and Cub Scouts

I have a love hate...hate relationship with Cub Scouts.  Every time we go to a pack meeting the boys are running around playing basketball, there are so many different awards, badges, beads, and arrows, and every one there is sure excited about flags.  Especially the U.S. of A. one.  But the thing I love about Cub Scouts is that Luke loves it. (Don't let this picture fool you.  There are about a million more awards and places to sew them on on the Cub Scout shirt.)

Tonight at the Pack Meeting, Luke won a couple of belt loops for his non existent scout belt.  Afterward Luke and his friend walked around the gym having intellectual (nerdy) conversations while all of the other boys played basketball.  I know that Luke admires his friend's full uniform and badges, this kid even has the neckerchief!  I have the main square animal badges on Luke's shirt but have lost so many of his beads and arrows.

When it was time to go I gathered up the girls and when I looked over at Luke I could tell that he was trying not to cry and one side of his face was red.  A basketball hit him in the face.  For some reason, the basketball in his face made me feel very guilty about my apathetic attitude toward his involvement in Cub Scouts.  I am going to go down to the Scout office first thing next week to buy a belt, kerchief, hat, and some "made in China" awards for my Cub Scouter.  Then we will tie some knots together and whatever other activities a ten year old scout is supposed to do.

My Little Cub Scouter

Now that Luke is eight, he has started going to cub scouts.  I had two brothers who went through it all, but I guess I didn't pay much attention because it is all new and strange to me.  Luke LOVES it.  His leaders do really cool stuff like making rockets out of 2 liter bottles that they shoot off and they once played waterballoon human battleship.  We got him his cute little cub scout shirt and booklet.  In order for him to get his Bobcat Patch at the next den meeting, today I helped him pass off eight requirements.  It went pretty quick since it was mostly learning and memorizing the cub scout promise, motto, salute, handshake, sign and I can't even remember what else.  Seriously, I mostly like cub scouts.  It's a great opportunity for Luke to play and work with other boys, have other great men to look up to and they teach honesty, teamwork and other good values.  They sure push that patriotism though dont' they?  I keep my mouth shut.   

I also spent some time reading Among the Dolls to Isabel and pushing Sylvia on the swings at the park.  I feel like such a good mom when I have spent a little time doing something with each of my children that they enjoy.