Scout Moms vs Scout Dads

One thing that absolutely drives me crazy is the conversation, that as scout parents, we have all the time. It starts with this sentence " We need more Dad's to volunteer".....and as soon as it is out my hackles are up and I am ready to fight.

Not because I don't believe that boys need male influences, I DO! I can't teach my son to be a man, he needs a man for that.


I can teach him, and other boys, how to be good people and how to live the scout law. I can also be there to make sure they don't hurt themselves and others when they try their many antics. I can drive the van, organize the trip, referee the arguments, supervise the younger ones, reign them in when the silliness threatens to go to far, and call them down when they step out of line. All those things, and a hundred others can be done by a Scout MOM!

I can also, coordinate a simple camp out, plan a field trip, teach a merit badge, manage money, review their books, discuss their rank advancements, give them direction and suggestions and be a sounding board.

One person recently said, "we need more Dads so that our kids can have a quality program." I tried really hard not to be offended, because I know for a fact that it wasn't a malicious statement.

Do I think we need more Dads? Yep!!!!! Sure!!!! I think we need more parents~ parents who are not just willing to show up, but parents who want to be there, who enjoy leading the boys. I don't really care if you are man, woman, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Granddad, Uncle, Aunt......whatever!

Yet I think we need to realize that there are many men who do not feel comfortable being responsible for other peoples children; there are Moms who don't either.

Let us be thankful for those who volunteer, who lead or give of their time in whatever way they can, and stop focusing on male or female.