NOTE: HA! Ha ha! I started this on Wednesday and here it is, actually Friday! Go me!
Note: This isn’t Quick Takes. Because that would mean it’s Friday. Which would mean I wouldn’t be doing Quick Takes, because I can’t seem to get my act together like that lately.
1. My friend Kelly beat me to it, but if you have a little one and you go to a pool, I recommend this:
It’s called a puddle jumper and it’s on sale this week at Tar-jay. I am a new woman at the pool, just sitting on the side enjoying my mai-tai’s. Oh, hardy-har. It’s more like me still in the water right next to Isabel but she is independent and thus very, very happy. And for those with safety concerns, I hear you. I have never bought one of these contraptions before, for any of my children. I had it in my mind they were dangerous and gave a false sense of security. But this is a new approach, with the float across the chest as well as arm floats, and helps keep the child perched aloft. A good friend of mine who is a lifeguard, swim team coach and all around uber-safety conscious type says this is a kiddie float she can actually endorse. So I will too!
2. We got two of the boys out the door this morning to a big (very-big-oh-my-gosh-it’s-going-to-be-fine-right?) Boy Scout canoe trip. They are doing a 50-miler canoe trip and had to pack all their gear in these waterproof bags. Including their food. It has been something else. My friend Kelly (same as Take No. 1!) emailed this morning and hit the nail on the head: Is it just me or does every mom heave an enormous sigh of releif when the guys and their gear finally make it out the door? YES, dear friend. I totally do.
Yesterday, I was feeling all “smooth sailing, we shall have a nice evening with this packing behind us” and then of course we remember (at 5 p.m.) that Elliott doesn’t have water shoes and off we go and then Charlie remembers he has a Board of Review meeting and then when I pick him up from that we realize we never got shoes for HIM, so out we head again. It all worked out, because I treated us all to Blizzards after that and everyone knows that Dairy Queen just makes life better.
3. So off went Charlie and Elliott this morning and my goodness they worked hard for this. Charlie especially had to earn a spot on the team (so to speak) because he needed to become a First Class Scout in order to do such a treacherous journey (I am only free to say that because I don’t think my mom has been checking in on this blog lately). Hence the aforementioned Board of Review. This involved literally going before a board of three Scoutmasters to explain how and why he was ready for the trip. For the last two weeks he has been working on knots — there has been rope and string all over my house as he tied up strands to furniture and wrists and my foot (one day) to learn proper tying technique. Why is this such a big deal, you are wondering? I myself asked that very question and Scoutmaster Andy explained that in a canoe trip like this (mom, if you are reading stop here) this is make or break ability. There will be some treacherous water on this trip and they might get out and walk for a bit, tying off the boats. If Charlie can’t tie a knot the right way, off floats his boat.
4. So last night’s Board of Review was to take place just before our community weekly prayer meeting (our Scout troop is through our school, thus through community). This week’s meeting was a patriotic meeting. Charlie went after one or two other Scouts also working towards First Class and by the time he was to present, the prayer meeting had started. So they moved the Review to a room upstairs, above the meeting space. Charlie told me at one point he had to stifle a giggle (his exact words) because Scoutmaster Ken was talking about our great country America and what an honor and privilege it is to live here and in the background, wafting up from the meeting, was the sound of 500 people singing “God Bless America.” It was awesome. Charlie felt like he was in a movie.
5. One last shout out to all those men who help with Scouts. We are huge, huge fans of Scouts, of what it does for our boys. Scoutmaster Andy (who was a classmate of mine since we were in 4th grade) could have told Charlie “nice try, see you next year.” But he was willing to work with him to get him where he needed to be. He was the same guy who, when we showed up last winter to drop Elliott off for a big camping trip, gave Charlie one last chance to go on the trip. Charlie had decided not to go and when we pulled up to drop off Elliott, I saw the look on his face: regret. Andy looked at Charlie, recognized those feelings and said “can you be ready in 15 minutes?” And don’t ask me how, but we were able to pull off in those 15 minutes what it had taken us two-and-a-half days to do for Elliott.
6. Having said all that, there is still a part of me that’s nervous. Do you remember way back when that trip when Ethan (easily my most capable and responsible child) got LOST IN THE WOODS during the WINTER IN THE PITCH BLACK? Yes. Well the other day I was going through archives and found where I had asked everyone to pray right before that trip because there were some kids who might get lost (never considering my child to be among them). I wondered, as I read that old blog post, how much those prayers contributed to Ethan and his friend Andrew’s safety. A lot. So on that note, I would appreciate your prayers for all those boys on the trip — and I will be praying for your intentions as well!
7. I found this while clicking around this morning. I might frame it for Ethan.
Hi, Jen. I like your new running shoes!
My husband and youngest have yet to start packing, but theirs is only a one night overnight, Dad n Lad for Cub Scouts. Can I camp out somewhere until they are done????
But…my oldest son just finished his last required merit badge for Eagle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!
Now he has to talk to Fr. Bob about his project….
Love love love the Puddle Jumper. We’ve had one for a couple of years and it’s been through two kids. I hear you on the safety concerns, but this is actually a Coast Guard certified life vest. So I’d say it gives a TRUE sense of security. Obviously I always watch my kids in the water, but it’s nice for them to have a little freedom of movement even before they’re really ready to swim on their own.
I am big supporter of Scouts too! As a single mom, boy scouts have provided the wonderful outlet for my son to be around good and fun men, while learning many skills that I could not teach him. All around a great organization, and worth all the effort involved. And if the boys can stick around up until they become Eagle Scouts they will reap the benefits later on in life, including financial ones like an automatic $10K scholarship at Florida Institute of Technology, just for being an ES!! But most importantly, the boys will have learned SO many life skills that are required to achieve ES status. I truly believe they start the project being one person, and emerge a totally different young man.
My son is almost done with the Eagle Scout paperwork, and we love Scouts but I agree that as a mother the packing and the unpacking is a chore. When C went to Leadership Camp a few summers ago (the same camp that 3 boys died the summer before in a tornado) I felt like my heart was in my throat the entire week. It rained, it poured but God kept the “bad” stuff away. It was a week of deep prayer.
Praying that your boys will have a great week and come home with wonderful memories. I’m sure the laundry will be a treat.
I just returned two weeks ago from Northern Tier. It was an adventure of a lifetime. 14.5 inches of rain our first day. It rained everyday. I would go again in a heartbeat. I am still amazed at the strength God gave this whimpy mom!
Wait! I want to read the back of “What to Do When Lost in the Woods,” but it doesn’t turn over! Seriously, having Boy Scouts in my family has made me more aware of things like this. My tendency *would* be to use my legs instead of my head. An older woman I know recites: “When in danger, fear or doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” And I get it. I love the Boy Scouts and what they have done for my boys, and on a larger scale, for our country. The part I don’t like is sewing on all those patches and badges. Great post!