Scouting for Brother

Now, I have to say that I am not a big scouts fan...

Oh, no, let the comments roll in.

My brothers were never into scouting so I guess I never learned much about it.

I always encouraged Bryan and J.R. to do scouts if they wanted to. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages their young boys to participate in scouts and eventually earn their Eagle. This is not required, but encouraged.

So, naturally when Brother turned 8 years old we tried to get him involved in scouts.

No go.

When he was 10 he started going to scouts and eventually without me there. It was awesome because his leaders were so incredibly dedicated to him. I have to admit that I didn't care at all about him getting the awards, pins or belt loops, I just wanted him to socialize and have fun with kids his age.

It has been a wonderful year and a half as I have watched Brother overcome his fears and attend scouts. During his scouts at 10 years old he received at least 20 awards and belt loops... if not more. Wow!

It wasn't because of me.

It was all his leaders.

Honestly.

I wish I would have gotten pictures of him with his leaders. I'll have to go through his scout stuff and find some pictures.

Trying to get him to go to his new group of scouts was a challenge. I spent 3 weeks dragging him into the New Scout Leader's house and he sat on my lap with his coat over his head while I participated for him...

Today I dropped him off for the second time in a row and he went to the door all by himself! Today they were preparing their backpacks before their big campout at the end of this month. I just had to take a picture of him before we left. He didn't want me to take his picture so I had to sneak a few. And the other picture of him below is of him learning how to sharpen a pocket knife at the activity previous.

I'm so proud of him.

I am so proud of his leaders.

It says a lot for both parties.

Brother for being brave enough to face his fears.

His Scout leaders for being brave enough to allow him to be just like any other kid his age.