Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Pack Night

If you have ever had a boy who is a Cub Scout, or a brother who was a Cub Scout.....

Tonight was Pack Night. Our little pack has gone from about 4-5 families to a dozen or so, including leaders and their spouses and children. Suddenly our primary room has become too small, which is a good thing. I enjoy these little get-togethers. My son loves putting on his navy shirt with his Bobcat and Wolf patches attached, his little yellow and red beads hanging, telling tales of months and years now of efforts on the part of his leaders and his parents. My son gets to see his friends, play fun games, get awards, run relays, and have treats.

Tonight was particularly fun because Santa came and handed out the awards and gave gifts. Now here is the part where mothers and fathers everywhere get a chill down their spine. The gift my son (and every other cub scout) was given was a Pinewood Derby car kit. EEEEEEKKK! Why am I having such a negative reaction when I turned the car over to my husband and informed him that I was washing my hands of this affair? Because I will spend the next month worrying over when they will get to making the car, I will get question after question from my son over when dad will finally have the time to help him make his master creation, I will probably have to run to the store for supplies (or my kind friend will, because undoubtedly my husband will go to their house to craft the one-of-a-kind masterpiece). I will spend the next month NOT getting ready for Christmas, but getting ready for the Pinewood Derby.

Now, with the news of a Pinewood Derby on our horizon you can do one of two things:

1. Rub the fingers on each hand with one another and say aloud the words, "Crumby, crumby, crumby."

or

2. While circling both your arms together in a 2-foot diameter, clap your hands and offer a "round of applause."

Cub Scouts Rock! (and so does my good friend Ann who rocks the Cub Scout world in our ward like no other!)

8 comments:

Erin. said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who stresses about the dumb car...last year, I, yes I said I, was the one who decorated the dumb BYU car about 10 minutes before walking out the door. I'm boycotting this year. It can be ugly and slow for all I care.....

Jeff said...

I was a cub scout and I loved the Pinewood Derby. Of course my dad always made my car......I actually took 3rd place on year and I still have all my cars in a box somewhere.

Holley said...

As a 6 year Cub Scout leader veteran, I know how terrifying the Pine Wood Derby can be. The thing that used to annoy me was the father's who took over. One look at those cars and you knew the kid had no part of it.

We had two Dads who were ultra competitive and would design their kids cars. The funny thing is, they may have looked stellar, but they never won. I think Heavenly Father knew that they cheated.

The only hard part of that project is getting the body shaped. After that you just let the boy go wild with his creativity. This activity is supposed to teach the boys how to manage a project.

My boys never won the "Best" looking car, but they often won the races. They both all of their Pine Wood Derby cars displayed in their room. They have great memories, because they really owned that project.

Don't sweat it, you and Harold will be great and everything will be fun!

Sandy said...
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Sandy said...

I love Cub Scouting. The kids are so excited and willing to do anything for at least three years. Peter won the pinewood derby one year and he cried because his father was not there to see it. We just love Scouting in our family. ALL OF US, right girls?

mom/Janet said...

OK as the mother of two eagle scouts, this is what I would do. Tell him you won't be starting on the car until ________. Give some date after Christmas. That way he won't expect it. If Harold wants to do something with it before then that is his perogative. Another thing is........there is a reason mothers get pins when their scouts get awards and the eagle pin was the ultimate. I was a MAJOR part of them getting that award. I earned it!!!!!!! So, hopefully you'll be able to get M to relax and know it will happend on _________.

Cote Corner said...

I just know that Justin will be SUPER excited when he gets to help Austin with his car down the road. In fact, if Justin wasn't in school then scouting would be a calling he would LOVE!!! I hope Mack and H, have fun!!!

The Wells said...

For the first two years we were in Reno, there was only one Cub Scout in our ward. So, the Elder's Quorum held the pinwood derby. They had the "stock car" races and the "suped up" races. One year - a guy attached a rocket to his car. Another year, Jason took the motor from an RC airplane and attched it to his car. The kids with the plain "stock cars" always one.