September 11, 2007
always be prepared
Henry has a Cub Scout meeting tonight, his second this week. And yes, I realize that it is ONLY TUESDAY, but this is our SECOND Cub Scout meeting. THIS WEEK.
These Cub Scouts are hard core.
No, not really; there was a complicated scheduling thing this month because the FIRST Monday of September is a holiday, which meant that the Pack Meeting (for ALL the scouts in the school) had to be held LAST night (if you want to buy some Boy Scout popcorn, I’m your girl) and then TONIGHT is the Den Meeting (for just the little kids).
I know you don’t really care about all that. Frankly, I wouldn’t either except that I have had to GO to BOTH of these meetings, because my husband, who said, “Scouting will be FUN! Let’s do it!” is on a business trip and will get home about the same time we return from Cub Scout Hell: The Sequal.
Nice.
Wade has been in Washinton DC since Sunday, which means both that I have been left alone to feed and haul the children AND that he’s flying out of Washington National on 9/11. But I’m not worried, you know, because really there’s nothing to worry ABOUT, although when he called this afternoon while we were at the Boy Scout Store buying Henry’s uniform (Henry: Can I have THIS patch? Me: That’s a badge and no, you have to EARN it. Henry: Okay, but how do I earn it? Me: You go to your meeting and find out. Henry: Okay, but why can’t you just BUY it for me? Me: Oh my god why don’t they serve liquor at Cub Scout meetings?!?) and I ignored my cell phone because SON YOU HAVE TO EARN THOSE BADGES THAT’S WHAT SCOUTING IS ALL ABOUT! I felt a little bad that I hadn’t talked to him before he got on the plane, just to tell him I loved him and make sure I knew where the wills are.
Ha ha! I kid! I know where the wills are!
So I called him back and when he said, “I should be home by 8:00″ I said “Yeah, WE WON’T BE!” which made him a little nervous I think because I probably sounded crazy.
What’s new, really?
The scout meeting last night was fine, I guess, and I got to visit with Henry’s den leader, who is a very nice woman about my age. Although we may have gotten off on the wrong foot because when she asked if Henry was going on the camp out at the end of the month, I said no, because I was pretty sure my husband was going fishing that weekend.
“You could bring him!” she said, so very kindly.
And I said, “Oh no, I don’t do camping.”
And there was a long silence. But seriously you all, I do NOT do camping. Popcorn sales, okay. Soccer, yes. Camping? Dear god in heaven, NO. Hell, if my husband would COME HOME already, I won’t even be doing Cub Scout meetings.
Of course, sometime in the next two weeks I have to figure out how to sew all the patches on Henry’s uniform shirt. I lucked out today because the Boy Scout store was out of about half the things he needs, and the very nice Eagle Scout who waited on us suggested that I just wait until I had EVERYTHING and THEN sew it all on at once, because it would look better.
I like to think that my laziness has been sanctioned by the Boy Scouts of America.
Anyway, sewing is not one of my strong points (see also: CAMPING and possibly COOKING). And so, for just ONE SMALL SECOND, I wondered if I could take the shirt and the patches to my tailor and have her sew them on.
Because you know, Always Be Prepared! With the number of a good tailor, I mean.
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September 11th, 2007 at 5:58 pm, liz Says:
I would totally take those patches in to the tailor to be sewn on. I can sew but I still take my kids’ letter jackets in to have the patches put on because there is some plasticky stuff on them that makes them hard to sew. It looks way better and is not that expensive. Just don’t tell the other moms or they will laugh at you.
September 11th, 2007 at 6:06 pm, M&Co. Says:
Oh I’m SO with you about that camping thang!
And head directly from the Boy Scout Store to your tailor. You REALLY do need to have those patches sewn on by machine. I’m sure they get that all the time.
September 11th, 2007 at 6:25 pm, Wendy Says:
WHAT?! They don’t have iron-ons. Must remember to get the boy hooked on video games early.
I am right there with you about the camping, unless they mean at the Holiday Inn. You know they don’t have room service after 9pm. Now, that is what I call roughing it.
September 11th, 2007 at 6:35 pm, Jack's Raging Mommy Says:
My grandmother sewed on the letter for my letter jacket. (Flag Corps baby!)
Anyway, you could totally tell the people whose moms had sewn on the letters with no clue how to sew. Which is to say, totally use the tailor. Not cheating at ALL.
September 11th, 2007 at 6:49 pm, Shash Says:
From one Cub Scout mom to another, I wholeheartedly suggest sending that uniform to a tailor to have those patches sewn on. It saved my sanity. Not to mention my kid’s life. Trust me on this.
Also, the camping thing? We did 4 years of Cub Scouts and didn’t camp ONCE. We would only go up for the day and do the activities (to earn those badges and belt loops), then go home to our nice, comfy beds after the campfire. Or to a hotel. Yep, and I was even the mom who was the Awards Chairperson. Nice role model, huh?
Ask me if I care. All I know is I didn’t have to sleep on an air mattress and they never saw me without makeup. I think everyone benefited, quite frankly.
Especially me. Yay!!!
Hey, when are we going to eat copious amounts of meat together again? Soon?
Shash
September 11th, 2007 at 7:14 pm, annette09 Says:
Have been lurking for a few weeks, but I just wanted to say, as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout mom to another, the scout shop has something called “Badge Magic” which is a sheet of super sticky adhesive material and is used to attach badges, etc. to the shirts. Once the badges are attached with this stuff, you heat up the area with an iron or throw the whole shirt in a dryer to help it set. The adhesive isn’t toxic, but you have to used Goof Off or WD-40 if you want to remove a badge from the shirt.
Or, ditto what everyone else said about a tailor sewing on the patches. A good friend of mine does this and her tailor charges about $2 per badge/patch.
September 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm, Leigh Says:
I had no idea there was a boy scout store. Wow, I learn something new everyday. Guess I have this to look forward to in a few years.
September 11th, 2007 at 7:57 pm, Melissa Says:
Go. Tailor.
Do not bother sewing those yourself; if you happen to screw up (which would NEVER happen, I’m just saying), you still have to look at that uniform for at least the next year. Seriously, let the professionals handle this one.
September 11th, 2007 at 8:05 pm, Mary Says:
Watch out for those camp outs. My totally cute, charming, smart and entertaining nephew(okay, he may be a little bit too much of each of those)was demoted after one of those. I mean they actually took away a few of his badges…for being disruptive and not doing his assignment. It totally devastated my brother who was hoping scouting would be the solution to the attention span problem. I can just imagine the pathetic little shirt (he was only a cub!) with two ripped patch spaces…need I tell you that scouting didn’t last long?
September 11th, 2007 at 8:12 pm, Mary Says:
By the way, I didn’t mean to imply that this would happen to Henry. My brother thought that it was probably the first and only time this had ever happened. But campouts are just too much stress for most of us gals….definitely a dad time.
September 11th, 2007 at 8:12 pm, Barbara Says:
i have to second the suggestion of the Badge Magic. that stuff is AWESOME!!!! its super easy….even your son could do it, well, unless you want it to be perfect!!!!
September 11th, 2007 at 8:24 pm, Susan Says:
Oh my god I think I love EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
I am SO taking that shirt to the tailor, although I am also going to keep the Badge Magic in mind for those last-minute OH MY GOD I TOTALLY FORGOT TO SEW THAT ON! moments. Because we all know I will have those moments.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:04 pm, Mark Says:
Manhattan’s Cleaners on North May will do it, and they know where the patches go (They are owned by Scout Leader).
I am an Eagle, and have been a Cub and Boy Scout leader, and always used them to sew the patches on my uniforms.
Mary, I have 38 years in Scouting, and have never heard of anyone taking a patch from a kid, tell your brother to find a new Pack/Troop and try again, there are some real asshole’s out there running Scout programs.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:14 pm, Heidi Says:
Uhm, yes you can take those patches to the dry cleaners and have them stitched on. And no, you would not be considered wrong, bad parenting or whatever else any really insane person would think if you actually had someone else help you. And you know what is even cooler? You can take total credit for the patches being on the shirt. You aren’t lying either. You did help get the patches ON the shirt. Even if you didn’t sew them.
Your welcome.
Creative parenting
September 12th, 2007 at 2:04 am, Amanda Regan (madamspud169) Says:
The best thing about camping is getting the house & bed to myself while the rest of the house goes somewhere to sleep on the floor in the name of fun.
I’m not against camping it would just have to have beds, maid service & hot, soothing baths for me to enjoy it & no insects, bugs, spiders or other creepy crawlies.
Luckily (?) I have arthritis which means no camping, I never thought I’d say it but there is something to be said for having a good, unarguable reason as to why camping isn’t for me.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:57 am, Lisa Milton Says:
I am lagging behind and surely repeating good advice: don’t sew them by hand. It will hurt and you need your fingers to not die so you can write funny posts.
{I finally broke down and bought the forementioned badge magic and fell in love. It’s easy peasy.}
September 12th, 2007 at 7:49 am, jaime Says:
Yes! That’s what tailor’s are for! To help us keep our sanity!
Also, I can relate to being nervous about husband travelling yesterday on 9/11. My hubs had to fly out of O’hare yesterday afternoon and I was a nervous wreck until he called to say he landed safe. It’s funny, he has the same meeting on the same date in Chicago every year, and I HATE IT! I wish they would move it to another date. Any date. I wouldn’t care if they put it on our anniversary, just so he didn’t have to fly out of Chicago every year on 9/11!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:57 am, Christine Says:
Note to self: ignore husband and son when they bring up Boy Scouts yet again.
Oh, and Jack’s Mommy - I had a flag corp patch too!! Everyone is jealous because we are SO COOL!
September 12th, 2007 at 8:06 am, Sherry Says:
Yes! Badge Magic!
And when it is your turn to bring snacks, don’t fall into the rut of juice pouches and Goldfish. Do what I like to do - a small cooler full of ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! and extra napkins.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:09 am, Susan Says:
Sherry, you are a GENIUS. Thank you.
I signed Wade up to host the meeting when it’s our turn; technically, I am not even allowed to participate because I didn’t fill out the Official Boy Scouts of America Paperwork (and yes, I COULD fill it out but then I would have to participate, do you see how this works?). Wade is very excited and was actually talking to Henry at breakfast this morning about what they might do for a craft when they host the meeting.
Which isn’t until NOVEMBER. Geeks.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:57 am, Sherry Says:
{{{Blushing}}} Well, I do what I can.
If you have any questions about what to do at the meetings, feel free to email me. Is he a Tiger Cub or a Wolf?
(I tagged you with a Meme. Enjoy.)
September 12th, 2007 at 1:23 pm, cce Says:
I feel like I spent the whole of last year sewing on boy scout patches until my fingers bled. And the real fun began when I was asked to host the den meeting at our house. Boyscouts gone amuck in my living room
September 12th, 2007 at 5:42 pm, Suniverse Says:
You could always staple the patches on.
Not that I’ve ever done that.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:36 pm, dawn f Says:
In Illinois the scout crossroads shop out here will sew all the badges etc on for a small fee. It was way too expensive to have them sewn on at the cleaners. the martial arts uniform patches were 10.00 per patch.
Also for the craft at the meeting we did bird baths with mosaic tile. Two terracotta planters flipped one up one down and the small plate under the pottery was used as the bowl for the bath. We took regular tile smashed it up & let them use the putty/silicon glue to attach the mosaic pieces together. It turned out awesome. Better than the derby car! Good luck
September 12th, 2007 at 10:08 pm, Heather Says:
My oldest was briefly a Tiger Cub. I had to take Valium just to get through the meetings. We never got as far as the Magic Badge because I tried to hot glue the badges on. After the pine wood derby debacle, where I called in sick to work so that I could get his car down to the required weight and had a mild breakdown requiring more than one Valium, the thrill wore off for him. Now he’s a skateboarder. Wonder where I went wrong. Good luck with it!
September 13th, 2007 at 8:37 pm, sozzled Says:
My daughter came up to me with her new patches last year and said “mom can you staple these, too?” not only do I NOT sew (bad gs leader) but I am too lazy to remember to take them to a tailor in advance of an actual gs event. In my defense i do camp (but I take alcohol along with me
September 27th, 2007 at 12:41 pm, Kari Says:
We have a tailor in town that specifically advertises that she does Boy Scout and Girl Scout patches.