Scouts have enough obstacles - don't be one.

Jerry at the Scoutmaster's Minute blog encourages us to encourage autonomy in our Scouts;

And so it goes with everything in Scouting. Let them do it. Parents...Leaders... Get out of the way for a minute and let your Scout set the limit...pass the limit... find a new limit... and challenge himself to great things.

Your son is a perfectly capable young man that wants to prove to you that he can do it. He is used to having everything handed to him and is not used to earning his way. He needs to be challenged and allowed to conquer those challenges without mom and dad hovering with a first aid kit and kid gloves. It does not hurt him to get a little dirty..or tired..or cold..or hungry... he learns from those conditions. He wont starve on a camp out..get the flu.. or learn to shoot craps on a Scouting outing. He will learn to be a part of a team, develop life long skills, and habits for life with value.

Our kids have enough obstacles in their lives, we don't need to be one of them. Rest assured the Adult leaders of the troop have nothing but the best intentions for your Scout. We want them to develop Character and Citizenship, and to be physically fit. We want them to leave Scouting with a set of skills that they can pass on to their sons, Scouts, or friends.

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