Girl Scouts
Last night was Emily’s first girl scout meeting. It was still mainly organizational – the girls made foam princess crowns with their names on them to help learn who each other were. As to the activity, the girl scout leader admits that she’s a girly girl, so when she asked what we were interested in learning, I stressed that I hoped we’d get a chance to do some rough and tumble things, since that seems to me to be the core of what girl scouts is. The other moms nodded.
Some older girl scouts and one of the dads were with the girls, while the leader and other moms, including myself, had a meeting to discuss fees, uniforms, and volunteers. Turnout wasn’t as good as one might hope, with about six to eight girls there. However, that can be chalked up to the fact that e-mail addresses apparently got mangled somehow, so the leader had to call people individually and I don’t know that those folks got as much notice of the meeting. I personally got an e-mail to “lill” at my address instead of “hill.” Fortunately, everything that comes to booboomonkey.com that’s not specifically addressed to my husband comes to me. You can imagine the spam I get from mass mailers trying “accounts” “billing” “admin” etc. at booboomonkey. It’s brutal.
But I digress! Apparently each troop must have a cookie mom as a matter of life and death. Because no other moron put their hand up, this moron did. So I’m now cookie mom. This means I’ll be opening up a joint checking account with the girl scout troop and handling money. If I recall correctly, it may also mean I’ll be storing boxes of cookies in my house for the girls to pick up and distribute. Now, maybe I’m not the best choice to have a crate of Thin Mints just hanging around the dining room, but I think I can master my willpower for those few days. I’ve also signed up to be an assistant leader, because again, we had to have one. I agreed on the condition that it will be a rotating position. I do know at least one other mom volunteered, and at the original meeting, there was also some interest. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to be sure we get in some non frou-frou pink glittery activities.
The meeting was from 5:30-7pm, a half hour longer than I thought it would be. Emily’s usually ready to go to bed by 7:30 at the latest. This means that her bedtime on Wednesdays will have to push back. It also means that my Wednesday night knitting group excursions will be cut short and my sanity may suffer. I’ll have to work something out. Last night, Steve could see I was frazzled and encouraged me to go anyway. He put her to bed without me, which is always a little rough on everyone. At about 9:15pm, she popped out of her room and had me sit with her for a minute in bed while she told me a short story about her dolls. This morning she actually got up late and we had to hustle to school. Bedtime’ll be another thing to work out.
When the kids came back in the room from making their crowns, we all sat and had snacks. The leader made brownies. Apparently she really likes to bake. We volunteered to take turns bringing healthy snacks. We never had snacks when I was a girl scout, but if the meeting’s an hour and a half at dinnertime, it might not be a bad idea.
As they sat, Emily pointed at the girl next to her and said, “what’s her name?” The other girls looked at her and the noise level dropped for a minute. This made me think that probably, as is her wont, she had been asking this same question of the other girls about a bazillion times while they were meeting. It worries me. However, it’s just the first meeting, there’s going to be some adjusting. Nonetheless, I share my husband’s concern as in this conversation:
Him: “They’re not going to be mean to her, are they?”
Me: “I don’t know. I don’t think so. It’s just the first meeting, everybody’s still getting to know each other.”
Him: “They’d better not be mean to my little girl. She doesn’t deserve that.”
Me: “I agree. I wouldn’t let that happen. Let’s give it time and see how it goes.”
Him: “Because if they’re going to be mean to her, I’m going in there and kick some Brownie ASS!”
Me: “Good to know.”
Her friend Danielle wasn’t there tonight, but she still had fun. It’s going to take a few meetings for her to get into the routine and calm down so she can focus better. They’re going to start right in earning “Try-It”s, which is the Brownie Lite version of badges, next week. I think they’re starting with “Healthy Habits”. I’m going to schedule a time for my mother and me to bring Emily out to the Girl Scout store so we can get a vest. I think she’ll be excited about getting a uniform.
I’m cautious but hopeful. We’ll see how it goes.
I know you’re apprehensive (rightfully so). Because of your cookie mom status, people should get to know you anyways. Maybe you could send out e-mails to the other parents to introduce yourself, and add on a little note about Emily. I know they’ve probably met her and you, but especially in the beginning it might not hurt to just reiterate the “she’s actually very nice, and she’s very easy to work with when you know some of her habits, and please feel free to contact me if you feel like anything is out of line or overly odd” angle. I imagine that being bombarded with questions is still better than seeing her get made fun of 🙁
I know you’re apprehensive (rightfully so). Because of your cookie mom status, people should get to know you anyways. Maybe you could send out e-mails to the other parents to introduce yourself, and add on a little note about Emily. I know they’ve probably met her and you, but especially in the beginning it might not hurt to just reiterate the “she’s actually very nice, and she’s very easy to work with when you know some of her habits, and please feel free to contact me if you feel like anything is out of line or overly odd” angle. I imagine that being bombarded with questions is still better than seeing her get made fun of 🙁
Good point. I’ve mentioned her issues during both the introductory meeting and last night’s, but I’m kind of torn. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, because I’d like for them to have a chance to get to know her without already being on their guard against… whatever they think autism is. But it couldn’t hurt to let people know that I don’t mind questions, and that I’m very open to talking about it and her.
Good point. I’ve mentioned her issues during both the introductory meeting and last night’s, but I’m kind of torn. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, because I’d like for them to have a chance to get to know her without already being on their guard against… whatever they think autism is. But it couldn’t hurt to let people know that I don’t mind questions, and that I’m very open to talking about it and her.
Yeah, exactly. The thing is that while autism isn’t so much a “think of the guy in Rain Man” thing anymore, that’s why they call it an autism “spectrum” — there are so many variations. I guess that’s what you should emphasize: since it’s not a one-size-fits-all label, they should do whatever they do when the behavior of ANY kid they see is different from what it should be. In her case, she’s still learning acceptable behavior that other kids are more comfortable with, so hints on that are appreciated.
I don’t get the feeling that you are overprotective or always shoving her issues to the forefront, which is good. It’s probably something that’s more easily dealt with in person, but parental schedules don’t always overlap that well.
Yeah, exactly. The thing is that while autism isn’t so much a “think of the guy in Rain Man” thing anymore, that’s why they call it an autism “spectrum” — there are so many variations. I guess that’s what you should emphasize: since it’s not a one-size-fits-all label, they should do whatever they do when the behavior of ANY kid they see is different from what it should be. In her case, she’s still learning acceptable behavior that other kids are more comfortable with, so hints on that are appreciated.
I don’t get the feeling that you are overprotective or always shoving her issues to the forefront, which is good. It’s probably something that’s more easily dealt with in person, but parental schedules don’t always overlap that well.
oh man, your house is going to be full of cookies. My mom was cookie mom, and our whole dinning room was taken up by cookies for like a week.
oh man, your house is going to be full of cookies. My mom was cookie mom, and our whole dinning room was taken up by cookies for like a week.
You’re the cookie mom-ster! Pretty soon you’ll have your own sitcom and be heading for the bigtime sister.
You’re the cookie mom-ster! Pretty soon you’ll have your own sitcom and be heading for the bigtime sister.
You and all my other LJ commentors can be the wacky neighbors who drop in.
Me: “But Shirl, who would be stupid enough to leap from a plane wearing a chicken suit?”
Door slams open, revealing Vaschon: “Hello, Laverne!”
You and all my other LJ commentors can be the wacky neighbors who drop in.
Me: “But Shirl, who would be stupid enough to leap from a plane wearing a chicken suit?”
Door slams open, revealing Vaschon: “Hello, Laverne!”
I hope Emily’s Brownie experience goes better than mine did. For whatever reason, the leader’s daughter *hated* me and did her personal best to trip me up at every opportunity. But then we moved halfway through the school year and while there was no Girl Scout presence at my new school, I ended up doing the Camp Fire Girl thing for a little bit, and it was cool. Sounds like there are no obvious bad apples in your group.
I think it should be a good experience for everyone once everyone knows what to expect. I know some kids we’ve spent time with think that Philip doesn’t like them because he doesn’t play with them in the way they expect, but a little explanation smooths right over that problem.
Mmm, cookies. Why are there no Girl Scouts in my neighborhood?
I hope Emily’s Brownie experience goes better than mine did. For whatever reason, the leader’s daughter *hated* me and did her personal best to trip me up at every opportunity. But then we moved halfway through the school year and while there was no Girl Scout presence at my new school, I ended up doing the Camp Fire Girl thing for a little bit, and it was cool. Sounds like there are no obvious bad apples in your group.
I think it should be a good experience for everyone once everyone knows what to expect. I know some kids we’ve spent time with think that Philip doesn’t like them because he doesn’t play with them in the way they expect, but a little explanation smooths right over that problem.
Mmm, cookies. Why are there no Girl Scouts in my neighborhood?
I’m still laughing with the simple knowledge that YOU’RE BECOMING JANE PRATER!!!! All that’s left is for you to get a job at the school teaching english. heh.
I’m still laughing with the simple knowledge that YOU’RE BECOMING JANE PRATER!!!! All that’s left is for you to get a job at the school teaching english. heh.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I’m deliberately not asking her for a reference until tomorrow so that you’ll have the glee of telling her this juicy news yourself.
Don’t say I never did nothin’ for you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I’m deliberately not asking her for a reference until tomorrow so that you’ll have the glee of telling her this juicy news yourself.
Don’t say I never did nothin’ for you.
Ew. Well, I hope it does go better. If it doesn’t, we can try another troop. And if it still doesn’t, well, there’s always my husband’s threat to go kick the asses of a bunch of seven-year-old girls.
Ew. Well, I hope it does go better. If it doesn’t, we can try another troop. And if it still doesn’t, well, there’s always my husband’s threat to go kick the asses of a bunch of seven-year-old girls.
I’ve realized that it’s not only myself I’ll have to guard against, it’s my husband. I’d better order extra Samoas for him, just in case.
I’ve realized that it’s not only myself I’ll have to guard against, it’s my husband. I’d better order extra Samoas for him, just in case.
Yeah, the houseful of cookies was really exciting until I realized only like 2 boxes were for us to eat. Then it was just sad.
You should sell cookies over LJ. I’d order some from your daughter, since I don’t know any girl scouts in town here and I miss my cookie fix.
Yeah, the houseful of cookies was really exciting until I realized only like 2 boxes were for us to eat. Then it was just sad.
You should sell cookies over LJ. I’d order some from your daughter, since I don’t know any girl scouts in town here and I miss my cookie fix.
::dies::
What a mental image.
I missed out on GS cookies this year. Usually I try to freeze some to make them last longer. Instead, we snack on them frozen (really good with the tag-a-longs).
Maybe it was for the best. 😉
::dies::
What a mental image.
I missed out on GS cookies this year. Usually I try to freeze some to make them last longer. Instead, we snack on them frozen (really good with the tag-a-longs).
Maybe it was for the best. 😉
Yeah, the group I was in had mixed ages, the leader’s daughter was in third grade (and that was a K-3 school, so they were the “big shots”) and I was a year behind, and at the young end of my grade. The near two-year spread was probably a big part of it.
Yeah, the group I was in had mixed ages, the leader’s daughter was in third grade (and that was a K-3 school, so they were the “big shots”) and I was a year behind, and at the young end of my grade. The near two-year spread was probably a big part of it.
“..if they’re going to be mean to her, I’m going in there and kick some Brownie ASS!”
This ranks up there as one of the year’s top bestestest quotes that I’ve heard.
“..if they’re going to be mean to her, I’m going in there and kick some Brownie ASS!”
This ranks up there as one of the year’s top bestestest quotes that I’ve heard.