Girl Scouts
Should I or shouldn't I let Evie join the Girl Scouts? There have been a few flyers sent home and she's very excited to give it a try. However, I'm not entirely sure I support the fact that she'll have to take an oath that mentions a divine figure (non-denominational true, but why do they have to take an oath that mentions God at all?) Nor am I certain if I agree with the obvious, that the Girl Scouts are only for girls. (I mean, what if my Sweet Pea JT wanted to join? He could join the Cub Scouts, but then Cub Scouts don't sell cookies.) I am especially not certain about their anti-discrimination policies that allow local chapters to decide on how to manage and interpret their own rules so that while one chapter might have its own version of don't ask don't tell, everyone is free and equal if you aren't different, but if you are, please keep it hush hush. Another chapter might choose to spell it out that everyone should treat everyone equally no matter what race, religion, orientation. All this to say, really, I'm not sure I'm ready for Evie to be a part of any organization that already limits half the population and has had issues in the past regarding discrimination.
I DO see advantages though. The Girl Scouts is an organized group that empowers girls and allows them to participate in activities that she might not normally try just by her lonesome. And while I've never been particularly close to my sisters, Evie won't have any and so the idea of allowing her to join a sisterhood of sorts is rather appealing in an idealized thinking kind of way.
What do you think? Do you have any experience with the Girl Scouts? Do you think we could get a discount on those fabulous artery clogging cookies if Evie joins up?
7 comments:
There is another orgnaization that is like girl scouts, but completely secular. I can't remember the name of it...
AH! Here it is, Earth Scouts, co-ed 3-13 yrs. old http://earthscouts.org/ I don't know if there is a group in your area.
I was a Brownie and I don't remember anything about it other than it being fun, including arts and crafts, and selling/eating cookies (no discount though, from what I remember!).
If Evie's excited about it, maybe it would be easier to deal with the repercussions of what it represents, as opposed to the repercussions of how she feels when you don't let her do something she really wants to do...? You can ALWAYS talk her through the policies and tell her what you believe and what you would like her to get out of it, and also what you don't like about it. When G and I talk about our childhoods, it's funny how the things that come up are always the things our parents didn't let us do, while everyone else's parents did.
Of course there are limits and I don't condone letting kids do anything they want and have everything they want. Sometimes there are moments though that you can use to your advantage to talk about a subject as opposed to just trying to keep them from it.
If the group starts to become cult-like or something, that's when you pull her out!
JMHO. :)
I'm biased... since my mom let my sister be a brownie but didn't let me... she tried to tell me that THEY rejected me because I wasn't social enough and wasn't a 'team-player'. Of course, now that I'm older, I'm thinking maybe she made that up - for the longest time I resented the Girl Scouts for rejecting me. :-)
I agree with HM - if this is exciting to her because her friends are doing it, maybe let her join and see how it goes? That Earth Scouts sounds intriguing...
I was in Brownies and I enjoyed it, it was fun learning new things and getting badges, however, I went on one overnight trip...they told ghost stories before bed..didn't sleep a wink, was terrified and saw bogeymen everywhere. Can you speak with the troop leader and get a sense of the group, every group is different depending on the leader, maybe you could sit in on one session and see if it's something Evie would enjoy and get a feel for the group dynamics. If any of her friends are part of the group, maybe you can ask some parents about it.
I think Angela is right...get a sense of the leader and the group. And if they seem good, go for it.
I was in brownies and I LOOOOOOVED it. When you are little you don't know about the psycho/social political implications of things...you know fun, you know the enjoyment of being with friends...that is all I remember. Making the brownie sign, wearing the uniform, learning that cupcakes can be made from scratch(I was an immigrant latch key child).
You are a wise and good and caring mom...I know you will make the decision that is best for Little Evie and your family!
Alice
Totally agree with Halfmama here... I was a Brownie and a Junior and loved all the craft projects, weekend events, parties, etc. There's no discount on cookies (darn!) but I made lots of new friends and enjoyed the socialization (esp being an only child). If Evie is showing some interest, I'd support it and deal with any questions that might come up when they actually do. And heck, if she joins and doesn't love it, you can always find something else to do. :)
My husband and I have had long discussions on Boy Scouts. The neighbor kid is a Scout and he and his dad are always camping out. The dad wears the shorts and the kerchief and there is much activity.
It came down to this: we just aren't scouting types. If my husband wears a neck scarf all bets are off for the bedtime festivities.
So,in my teeny world, it's ok to beg off from big groups of people with whom you don't share values...not that the scout values are bad, but I just don't want my husband and son ditching me for the weekend. I like activities we can all do.
PLUS, I ate a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies the other day and AFTER the fact, I tallied that I had consumed 70 grams of fat. That's just too much. Those cookies are evil.
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