Standing up

Mostly, I just am a mom who tries to instill good values in her kids.  I don't get up on a soap box. I don't point out where others are missing the big picture. But more and more, I see that people are letting their morals go.  Once in a while, I have to say something. 

Tonight, I took my son to Cub Scouts.  Being a Tiger Scout means that he is in the first grade at school.  With the Pinewood Derby coming up this weekend, the men were talking cars. And typically, there are 2 moms there and 10 dads.   Then the conversation turns and one man, who happens to be in charge of Pinewood, decided to tell us about a man, "Bob" in a different pack.  Reportedly, "Bob" had a "barbie fetish" and every year, he'd stick a barbie doll on the car.  Quite elaborate.  And this man was chortling through the entire conversation.  And well...the first year, Barbie was in a bathtub...use your imagination.  But the second year, she was on a pole.  So I calmly piped up, "And no one objected to this car?  No parent there had a problem with it?"  Oh no, that car was for the adults.  "Did it race on the track that day at the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby?"  Oh yes sure...it was great. The pole was too tall so they had to cut it down.  "Well, that is totally unappropriate, " I replied.  "It is a Scout Event.  If they wanted to have an adult race at home, fine. But the boys were all there to see it."  He just went on and on about this other man's wife...didn't look like Barbie at all. She was completely the opposite, etc.  Right where any scout could have heard him.   So, then he mutters something unintelligible about Playboy...teeheehee.   So I asked "What? I didn't hear you."  He says well, the boys all learn about playboy at scout camp.  "I am sure that boys learn about Playboy before Boy Scout Camp.  It is still unappropriate."  I didn't talk very loud.  But very soon, everyone in the room had moved  in to hear this conversation.  I held my ground and my eye contact and my calmness.   (B/c again, I'm a mom and I don't talk to big groups of men.)  And, yes, the others started shifting a little on their feet or in their seats.  Some throats were cleared. 

They got the point.

Again, I'm just a mom.  But a mom who is there to make sure my boys grow up morally strong.  So, I sure hope that if your husband is a Cub Scout or Boy Scout leader, this follow these guidelines:

Scout Oath (or Promise)
On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,

courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,

brave, clean, and reverent.


I'm putting my soapbox away now. .  But I will not hesitate to bring it back out if I need to do so.