1. I am NOT a fan of scouts! I think it's great for the boys and I'm glad they get to do it, but I don't think I (or any unwilling women) should have to be involved in it.
2. No one cares that that's what I think.
3. I was asked to come help decorate by the other primary presidency counselor, and could not in good conscience refuse. She had to bring a 4 year old and a 2 year old with her (they were stellar) and is currently 4 months pregnant; while I only had to leave Whitney at home sick on the couch and am just fat.
4. There were 4 of us working that whole time, plus we had a husband there helping me set up the tables and chairs for the first 2 hours. That equals 20 hours of labor for a freakin Scout banquet! And that's just the decorating labor, not the planning meetings, shopping, baking and stressing. (It is such a good thing I'm not in charge of this!)
5. So the question is...Why do we do this? I thought about this much of the time while there because I felt waves of begrudging, unity, annoyance, and pride. So I decided it all comes down to our love of Christ and our desire to serve Him by doing what is asked of us, and when everyone does their part we all benefit. But for now I need a nap.
**How do you feel about scouts?
Would you have been annoyed?
Why do you do the things you do?
How does it look?**
Would you have been annoyed?
Why do you do the things you do?
How does it look?**
29 comments:
Yes, I am glad Schmalentine's is OVER! Apparently hand made gifts and eating in are not all they are cracked up to be afterall.
Scouts are not big here at all. I actually don't know anyone who is in boy or girl scouts, although I used to be a Brownie and a Girl Scout - and HATED it! My mom forced me into it and I finally quit in 4th or 5th grade.
I am totally going to remember this post when my day comes...I'm still not there yet with Jake.
You guys did an amazing job with the decorations! It looks so festive and completely transformed...well done, my friend!
What always bugs me is that no one will understand the full magnitude of your sacrifice. Especially since this is boys that we're talking about...
Glad you documented this...it was fun to see...
I think Scouting is a good program. I just don't want to have any involvement in it. None. Any time I have been involved with it, I've felt irritated pretty much the whole time!
That said, I think it looks fabulous -- we have never had such a fancy Blue & Gold banquet in our ward. And I would much rather work with other adults and get that feeling of being unified than be a den leader...
It did turn out looking great. I just pasted this post into my evernote file so when my day comes :(I will be ready.
Seeing that I'm Primary President I probably should leave a glowing comment about Scouts but I just can't. I think it is a good program for the boys but all the pomp and circumstance (so to speak) involved with scouts is too much for me. I also happen to think that Faith in God for the boys tends to get lost in the shuffle of scouts which I find annoying.
The gym does look terrific, Jill.
Wait till after you go to the Blue and Gold banquet before you evaluate whether or not it was worth the time, effort and expense. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
How's Whitney doing today?
WOW! ok, so IF i post anything about our upcoming b/g banquet- don't look. it won't look nearly as good!!! (fyi: i don't even know what is going on decorations-wise).
i don't so much enjoy scouts, but i believe it CAN be a good program. i'm still trying to come up to speed as i'm apparently the committee chair (?!?!?!). we only have 6 and things have been R-O-C-K-Y. as in, i want to cut it out all together and send the boys elsewhere...but it seems to be getting better.
way to go to go and help. that is so much more than i think i'd get if i asked. i don't even get answers to my emails (and since we can't get our schedules together to meet....that's kind of an inconvenience). i'm complaining a lot today. wow- scouts touched a nerve!
it looks beautiful- i hope they appreciate it!!! :)
i hope the whitney is doing better!!!
I personally, if get to choose, would be in the cleaning committee rather than the decorating one...it looks fabulous....I wouldn't mind attending this. I don't know anything about it, yet, I am sure I will with two boys, but I only remember my mum sewing in the patches for my brothers....I am sorry about all your work in a non enjoyable form, but it was for sure a good work out...right?
The decorations look stunning...that's an awful lot of work to go to for scouts that really, really don't care. Yeah not a real fan of cub scouts. And I truly cannot put into words how much I despise the Dadwood Derby. Last year my boys didn't even participate because I couldn't deal with the drama.
But I am really proud of you for having the right perspective that it is more about the service and the willingness to do what is asked of us. Sometimes I let my grumpiness interfer and then I don't have the joy that comes from the service.
I am on the cub pack committee and am in charge of the food for next week's blue & gold. I am not a super scouter, that is for sure! The decorations look great, ours will not look that good, let me tell you!
Why do we do this? The boys don't care. Sometimes I think we go over board and that is how Satan creeps in and gets our eyes off the real prize. I don't know.
Hi Jill, I love your blog. You inspire me! And your honesty about this event just cracks me up! I know moms in my ward that feel the same way as you. Yes, the boys won't care now and they will take it for granted, but just think of the memories when they will appreciate it, say like in 39 years? I've never served in Cubs, but as a mother of one Eagle Scout and soon to be a second, I love scouting and what it has done for my boys. Heck, I've knocked myself out for Enrichment Meeting and felt the same way you do now. The decorations are great, and I hope every little cub scout gives you a great big hug. Oh, and 20 hours is maybe a bit too long for any decorating! ;)
Oh, I have SO many opinions here. Be back later tonight when I have 3 seconds to string together coherent, kid-free thoughts.
You are seriously such a funny writer!
no effort goes unnoticed by the Savior. did that sound cheesy? sorry. what i meant was that a bunch of smelly, fart-obsessed, video-game-playing scouts may not appreciate all the time and toil you put into the banquet, but the Savior saw your efforts and thought, 'look how hard my jill worked to do something nice for those dorky little scouts.' He totally gets it, you efforts weren't lost.
I'm going to comment before reading any other comments (which may be good but also may be bad...). I grew up in a "Scouting family". My grandfather spent so many years as a truly dedicated Scoutmaster that he earned the Silver Beaver Award. When Scouting is done correctly (read: not necessarily the way many LDS wards do it) it is an inspired program and more than worthwhile. It teaches boys how to be men, gives them self-confidence, and keeps them out of trouble...to name a few benefits.
Having said that, I once served as a Cub Committee Chair and condsider it one of the hardest callings I have ever had (especially since I didn't have a boy in Cub Scouts).
I have conflicted feelings about yoru post! :) I can understand where you are coming from but I am always sad when someone says they don't like Scouting. I read that as "I don't get the purpose of Scouting." I think that the banquet set-up looks *amazing* and gorgeous and awesome...but I can't help think about the many general conference talks that tell us to simplify...maybe that is the real solution here???
I have served in a Young Women Presidency and had a girls' camp calling and both of those give me the same conflicted feelings you have mentioned here :)
Wow...did I write a novel or what? I will console myself with the thought that you asked for my opinion. :)
Hope you get some much-needed rest and that the boys love the banquet!
Your title says it all, "The things we do for love." For what it is worth, it looked amazing!
Jill, you crack me up!! Not only was I laughing out loud from your post...but that little comment about Shmalentine's day.....I am dying...I cannot stop lauging!
I don't like scouts either, and that is the one thing about having a son I DO NOT look forward to!
Those decorations look fantastic, by the way, but that was WAY TOO MUCH time for anybody to have to spend!
Thanks again...still laughing..
Oh...and if it makes you feel better I got 0.00 for Smalentine's also.
1) I had a pretty good Valentine's Day, but yes, I'm glad it's over. Alot of pressure, really.
2) LOVE how your B&G decor turned out, and you've saved me, b/c I'm supposed to be helping with ours next week and you've given me some ideas!
3) I love Scouts for my son. However, whenever I'm the one helping with all of those boys, I really need a long bubble bath when it's over. :-D
First of all, it looks amazing! Seriously, I am dumbfounded that all that is for a scout thing, which leads me to my next point:
I hate scouts and I think that if I ever get called to scouts I might have to switch religions. I know that's a terrible attitude, especially when I have a son, but I just think a lot of it is a joke and it is more for show than anything. I hope my view doesn't offend anyone but it is what it is. Plus I'm paranoid about my kid being molested at a scout activity 'cause let's face it, the scouts have a bad reputation when it comes to that. Okay, I'm done now.
But seriously, the gym looks great! Well done.
I don't mind Shmalentines Day being over. Pretty much we just focus on the kids. My husband has decided that he can't make a big deal about all holidays so I got a bag of hershey kisses and a card, which I guess is at least something.
The hard work did turn out beautifully on the banquet. I feel grouchy about this already because I have my own pack at home and I feel like it's scout-o-rama crazy over here when we have just one friend over. It doesn't seem fair to think I'll have to do the headache-inducing ringer of scouts too.
The room looks amazing. How cool would that be for your backdrop on the 4th of July.
That was a labor of love, indeed! I would have been so annoyed, but the end result probably would have melted that feeling. The room looks great!
Holy Fifty NIfty! What is your budget? Good to see the recession hasn't made it to your little Pack yet.
I think the problem with scouting is women are involved. We forget who this is for, women plan like that for other women. All little boys need or want is a cupcake, a few knock knock jokes and a lot of attention. Imagine if those same leaders had spent those same 20 hours interacting with the boys?
But kudos for doing it because you were asked.
It looks amazing! Here's my theory: the effort is worth is if it's appreciated. I don't know if the scouts will appreciate your efforts, but perhaps their moms will.
Wow- that looks amazing. But for scouts??? Do the boys really even care? Maybe I don't get the magnitude of what this banquet entails? Does the Governor show up or something (totally kidding...sorta)
I have no feelings on scouts since I don't have boys. I just remember their activities were always so cool compared to ours.
I do the things I do because I want to be a good person and it makes me happy and feel good when I can do something to brighten someone else's day. I do the things I do because sometimes I need to sacrifice (time money talents) to be grateful for what I do have. I do the things I do because if I don't, how do I know someone else will?
Oh the humanity! I have never seen such work go into a scout banquet. Is it Utah, or all of the USA? Normally I think we Canadians tend to undercelebrate (except Marie) but in this case I think Canadian is the way to go.
i have so many comments to make on the subject that i am going to keep them all to myself, "bite tongue now"
I have been so busy... I haven't had a lot of time to comment. (inlaws here) I haven't read the other comments on this post but I have to comment here!
I love scouting- having 3 boys (2 are now EAgle scouts) I can see the wisdom in the program. that doesn't mean I like doing it...when we found out trent was a boy the first thing I said- oh no, cub scouts again...
I hope Landon's scout leaders take their other scout responsabilities as seriously as decorating!
talk about fancy?! Gee whiz- I thought I had seen it all?
That is some serious stuff!
I think that would have taken our whole budget for the YEAr!!!
I have been thinking so much about this that I had to come back and comment.
I applaud you for helping out when asked- and about doing it with a not so happy attitude, well you helped anyway! That is amazing to me. There are too many people that just say no.
I agree with so many of the other comments here-
Sometimes we don't know if our work is worth it-
Sometimes we overwork it.
Sometimes we need to.
Sometimes we don't.
Its hard to find a balance, of what we think we should do and what we need to do.
I did a blue and gold (10 years ago- before I had any boys!) and put way more work than I needed too. I was so busy getting everything to "look" the way I wanted it to. Those decorations sure were great, but I don't think the boys cared what I did. But maybe their parents did. Its hard finding the balance, its for the boys, but also for the families. I had a Bishop once tell me "you do as much work for one as you do for twenty." Maybe you helped make the difference for one family that night.
your title sums it up, jill.
your title sums up my friday GS sleepover to a tee. and my Sunday afternoon spent with both GS troops for Thiking Day.
Your ward and children are lucky to have you!
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