OK, so we did indeed head to our first potential Cub Scouts meeting on Tuesday night. I had reservations about it before the meeting for several reasons; it costs about one million dollars to be a Cub Scout ($70.00 for the uniform alone!), it meets about every damn week (not at a reasonable time, but at 7pm- hello?! bedtime?!), and it's a little um, nerdy. Now I am not opposed to nerdy by any stretch, and I think an Eagle Scout is some hot stuff, but is it neccessary to wear a "neckerchief" and knee socks to do this? I think not.
I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout and Coach was a Cub Scout, Webelo and then a Boy Scout. His nickname is "Cubby" for that very reason. So it's not that we don't understand the whole "scouting" thing, it's just that it's changed. We used to meet after school or at some mom's house for an hour a week. (My troop leader wore the sparkliest green eye shadow that matched our uniforms, how cool was that?)
So I arrive at the meeting, with my yoga pants, Titlelist hat, flip flops and a Starbucks (duh) feeling like I have chosen very appropriate clothing for a Cub Scout meeting. Oops. I. WAS. SO. WRONG. One of the mom's who was there (has 4 boys of different ages, whose names RHYME, which is soooo wrong) is wearing the ENTIRE Cub Scout uniform from head to hiking boots. Yep, the bucket type hat with the stringy thing under the chin, polyester shirt with 84,000 patches sewn lovingly on it, khaki CARGO shorts to the knee, a belt covered with metal slid-y things (badges or some such atrocity) and brown knee socks. Are you kidding me? I suppose I don't have to tell you that not only was this her personal decision to sport this get up, but she was soooo proud of it. I also need not mention that she was NOT cutie pie outdoorsy mom with her sassy self all tucked into this outfit and a long ponytail. Nope, not so much. I am certain that they were men's shorts, and she was squeezed into them. I am sure she participated in the activities required to earn the slid-y things, but does an adult really need the slid-y thing to show that she learned how to tie square knots? Duh, I lived through the early 90's and if you didn't know how to tie a square knot your little jaunty plaid scarves just didn't lay right. I didn't get a slid-y thing for that, I got a boyfriend for being so damn cute. Duh.
Last, but not least, the major reason we are possibly not continuing with Scouts is that they do something that goes against all I believe in. Every fiber of my carbon based being tells me NOT to engage in this particular activity. My parents raised me to NEVER do this....I have declined many many oppoortunities to do this and encourage others to just say no also....
they camp...alot...
and really, isn't living in my current neighborhood "roughing it' enough?
So I arrive at the meeting, with my yoga pants, Titlelist hat, flip flops and a Starbucks (duh) feeling like I have chosen very appropriate clothing for a Cub Scout meeting. Oops. I. WAS. SO. WRONG. One of the mom's who was there (has 4 boys of different ages, whose names RHYME, which is soooo wrong) is wearing the ENTIRE Cub Scout uniform from head to hiking boots. Yep, the bucket type hat with the stringy thing under the chin, polyester shirt with 84,000 patches sewn lovingly on it, khaki CARGO shorts to the knee, a belt covered with metal slid-y things (badges or some such atrocity) and brown knee socks. Are you kidding me? I suppose I don't have to tell you that not only was this her personal decision to sport this get up, but she was soooo proud of it. I also need not mention that she was NOT cutie pie outdoorsy mom with her sassy self all tucked into this outfit and a long ponytail. Nope, not so much. I am certain that they were men's shorts, and she was squeezed into them. I am sure she participated in the activities required to earn the slid-y things, but does an adult really need the slid-y thing to show that she learned how to tie square knots? Duh, I lived through the early 90's and if you didn't know how to tie a square knot your little jaunty plaid scarves just didn't lay right. I didn't get a slid-y thing for that, I got a boyfriend for being so damn cute. Duh.
Last, but not least, the major reason we are possibly not continuing with Scouts is that they do something that goes against all I believe in. Every fiber of my carbon based being tells me NOT to engage in this particular activity. My parents raised me to NEVER do this....I have declined many many oppoortunities to do this and encourage others to just say no also....
they camp...alot...
and really, isn't living in my current neighborhood "roughing it' enough?
11 comments:
Lauging out load at the same time as reading out loud to my hubby. We concur, completely. Did it with our oldest son 1 year and can't go back. Hated every minute. Hated the slidey things, hated keeping track of too many activities, found ourselves lying about our son's accomplishments because we were too darn confused about what we were supposed to do. Needless to say, we have found other ways to spend our time. We met once a month, go see it once a month, met in the evening...ugh! Son #2 doesn't even know what it is and we plan to keep it that way!
You make me laugh even when I don't talk to you 57 times a day. One of your best "blogs" yet. I'm forwarding the link...
You have got to be THE funniest person on the face of this earth! That was classic. Please start writing your book soon!
Miss you!!
Freaking hilarious!!
OMG. That is hilarious.
meanwhile, my son has chosen a tae kwon do class based on the outfits. "no, mom. i want the place with the white outfits. i didn't like the black ones." it's just all about the uniforms at this stage i guess. i hope my boys don't find out about scouting. i don't do camping. heck, i don't even do holiday inn.
kb
Please don't make fun of my outfit anymore. I worked hard to find those men's khaki shorts.
People that take themselves too seriously are too funny! You'll have to let us all know what you decide.
Katie, we know that isn't your outfit. You wear "blue jeans and tennis shoes"...
stop commenting on my blog and pack your dang house, your closing is at 4 or 10 or 3 or 2 or 11 or...
Oh Lord-Mr QM was an Eagle Scout WAY back when, and he couldn't WAIT for the lawyer to join the tradition until about a year ago when some cub scouts and boy scouts showed up at our door. We chatted to them a little while, and the leader came up and started telling Mr. QM-"Yeah some Eagles still get together around so and so school." You could not get Mr. QM out of there fast enough.
There is NO fricking way I am wearing a freaky ass outfit either-hello?!? Those shorts DO NOT go with my Choos.
Finally...someone speaks the truth about the whole whacked out scouting experience!!! We tried it because their PR people were damn good & they infiltrated the school behind my back. It didn't take me long to decide I might as well send my son to school wearing a sign that says, "Please Kick My Ass."
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