Popular Post jsharr ★ Posted August 24, 2014 Popular Post Share #1 Posted August 24, 2014 Took Ryan and one of his buddies to the Scout Shop today and helped them get their BSA uniforms. Cub Scouts wear blue uniforms. Webelos and Boy Scouts wear khaki colored uniforms. As we picking out shirts, and neckerchiefs and caps and patches, I realized that the end of his time as a Cub Scout was over. Ryan will be spending more time with Boy Scouts, learning how to become part of a patrol, learning how lead and be led. Camp outs will not be father son for much longer. I am excited for Ryan and he begins the transition from Cub Scout to Boys Scout but I am sad the my time as a Cub Scout leader is coming to a close. I plan to identify, recruit and train my replacement this year and take the last year of Ryan's time in Pack 262 to spend more time with him as his dad, not as his Cub Master. It has been an incredible 7 years so far, but Ryan has always had to deal with me having to serve at pack meetings, camp outs, almost everything we do. He has asked me "Can you just be my dad?" more than once at things. That hurts my heart to hear, but I realize that someone has to do the job and I try to do my best, but sometimes it is hard. I will take with me a ton of great memories. Watching hundreds of boys do catch their first fish, shoot their first bow and arrow or bb gun, sleep in a tent for a first time. I have gotten to teach boys to ride bikes, tie knots, use a knife safely, and most importantly learn respect for themselves and for others and how to have fun with a purpose as they serve their communities. I have made friendships with some great men and women that will last the rest of my life and I have learned a lot about myself along the way. I think what I love the most about scouting is that we learn to do our best. That is an overarching theme in scouting. Do your best. They may not win the game, or tie the best knot or have the fastest pine wood derby car, but if I can look a boy in his eyes and and ask him if he did his best and get a YES, then that is all the matters. Thanks for letting me ramble on. Please make fun of me now. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former member Posted August 24, 2014 Share #2 Posted August 24, 2014 Cliff notes please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted August 24, 2014 Share #3 Posted August 24, 2014 Cliff notes please? Yeah, this was a crappy rant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted August 24, 2014 Cliff notes please? my boys are growing up. I am sad. and happy and thankful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted August 24, 2014 Share #5 Posted August 24, 2014 Like…. My father started a Cub Scout Pack when I was old enough to join because there was none in our area at the time. He also started a Boy Scout troop so that we would have something to move on to when the time came. He turned the Boy Scout troop over to someone else before I moved on. When I first joined Little League baseball, he realized that there were a bunch of boys my age and a year older that were not going to make the one team from my area. He convinced the powers that be to start and finance another team and he coached it during my and my younger brother's time. It gave a lot of kids a chance to play and develop that never would of had the chance. So in addition to him being by dad he was my first baseball coach and my first scout leader. It wasn't until many years later that I came to fully appreciate the efforts he made and the influence he had on not just my young life but the lives of many others my age. So Jsharr, I can appreciate where you're at and what you have invested in. Good job - my hat's off to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted August 24, 2014 Share #6 Posted August 24, 2014 Please make fun of me now. I'd really like to, but you have made me too verklempt to go on. Glad it was such a positive experience for you both. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted August 24, 2014 Share #7 Posted August 24, 2014 He has asked me "Can you just be my dad?" more than once at things. But you have shown your son the importance of putting self aside for the good of others, how to be a leader, a teacher, to give of your time, how to share what you know and learn what you don't, and you set a quiet example for him and the other Cub Scouts who then absorbed what you told them but absorbed much more by watching your actions. What your son didn't realize, you see, is during the time you did all that you were just being his dad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted August 24, 2014 Share #8 Posted August 24, 2014 Jsharr, I very much enjoyed reading that. You sound like an incredible dad and the kind of person I would enjoy knowing IRL. Your son will look back one day and remember all that you did to ensure he was given a wonderful opportunity and be very thankful that his dad was the man you are today. While such things are bittersweet, this stage of his and your life is drawing to a close. But a new stage is beginning. And I can assure you from experience that this new stage is glorious and worth every ounce of energy you put into it. My son is 24. He has grown into an amazing young man. And though I will always be his father, we share a relationship truly as friends. And I look back on all the effort and time I put into guiding his growth into adulthood and it was worth it all. He and his wife spent the morning with me and my wife practicing archery I the rain today. And we had a blast. Keep up the good work. Peace. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted August 24, 2014 Share #9 Posted August 24, 2014 You may no longer be his scout leader, but you'll still be his life leader. In a few years you too will be telling others about the amazing young man your son has become. Enjoy the journey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted August 24, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 24, 2014 my boys are growing up. I am sad. and happy and thankful It is very sad to see when you children are more mature then you! I know the feeling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoseySusan Posted August 24, 2014 Share #11 Posted August 24, 2014 Peace be the crossing, jsarr. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted August 24, 2014 Share #12 Posted August 24, 2014 These posts seem to have made my room dusty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopped Liver Posted August 24, 2014 Share #13 Posted August 24, 2014 Cliff notes please? A Cub Scout is now a Boy Scout after having a Brownie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted August 24, 2014 Share #14 Posted August 24, 2014 Congrats to both of you... Growing up is hard work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopped Liver Posted August 24, 2014 Share #15 Posted August 24, 2014 Congrats to both of you... Growing up is hard work. Some of us still haven't done it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted August 25, 2014 Wade and Ryan both awake and smiling on first day of school. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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