This one has struck a chord with me.

This one has struck a chord with me. [2008-07-03]
I have been an assistant scoutmaster for 8 years now. Yes, I am a mom, and there are women scout leaders out there! My job with our troop was Webelos-to-Scout Transition Coordinator. My job was to help our youngest boys and their families become part of our troop and to make sure that the boys have fun and get all that they can from the scout experience. Summer camp was always the make or break time for the youngest boys. You didn't say if your son is a new scout, but I assume this is his first time at summer camp. Homesickness and living in the outdoors are always the biggest hurdles during the first summer camp. You are not over-reacting because your son is having a bad time. That's a simple fact, and he deserves to have those feelings validated and addressed. Since I'm female, I tend to approach the first-time scout's misery in a different way, and over the years, a lot of men have disagreed with my methods. But, they work. Men seem to like the stick-it-out approach, and I've seen some of the worst leaders actually tease and belittle homesick boys or boys who don't take easily to the outdoor experience. That really finishes off the boy for scouting. He quits. Do you think that is what is happening with your son? At summer camp with our first year scouts, I always listen to them, validate their fears, and then try to help them overcome their fears with knowledge. If spiders or animals scare them, we go to the nature lodge and find out all about them. We do a good cleaning of their tents or lean-toWell, it I and my fellow adult leaders have spent a lot of nights sitting around picnic tables talking to scouts, sometimes making a game of listening for owls or watching spiders crawl across the table in the lantern light. And if boys do call home, I would run like crazy to the camp phone to call the parents first to let them know what was going on and to tell them to expect a call from their son. In that way, parents were prepared, and we could coordinate our efforts to help their son. Basically, it just takes some compassion. The hard core approach doesn't work. Why do I go through all the trouble? Because I know the value of the scouting program. When it's done well, it goes a long way to help parents raise up honorable men. In our troop, our scouts learn to be compassionate, because we've modeled that sort of behavior for them. They learn about living in the outdoors, and learn to take care of themselves and others. That gives them a sense of accomplishment and makes them feel capable. They learn problem-solving skills and teamwork. These are all important life skills, and when scouting is done well, boys who come through are lightyears ahead of most of their non-scout peers by the time they are 18. But that only happens when it's done right. There are great troops and adult volunteers in the BSA, but there are unfortunately some real losers, as well. It's true that scouting is not for everyone, but there is no reason for so many boys to be pushed away because of issues that just need a little careful thought and attention. This is one of my most passionate issues with scouting. Even the BSA knows that the first year scout is the most likely to quit, and they spend a lot of money and time training volunteers on this subject. It seems that some adults don't learn as quickly as others, though. And there is a core of leaders who like to remember what it was like when they were boy scouts, and won't move ahead or adapt their techniques for the boy of today's times. A new 11-year-old scout should not be expected to act like a man and tough it out. He's still a boy, and living in the woods is usually a totally new experience for him. MOST boys are scared at first, but the men and other boys hate to admit it. A new scout just needs some patience, understanding and time to mature. He needs to feel safe even when he's struggling, and he needs to know that he is supported. I don't know all the details of your son's experience, but if you think that what I've said might apply to him, you might consider looking for another troop, one that will provide him with a good, supportive program. Not all scout troops are the same. Each has a different personality, so perhaps another troop would suit your son better. If that's not possible, or if at this point he is completely turned off by scouting, there are certainly other activities out there that can teach him the things that are learned through scouting. Encourage him to find out what his talents are and help him to explore all of the possibilities that life has to offer. I'm so sorry to hear that your son is not enjoying scouts. It really breaks my heart when I hear such stories, because I know that the adult volunteers could handle the situation better. My own sons had a hard time the first time they went to camp, which is why I got involved. I knew there was a better way to deal with such a common problem. My oldest, who is now 20, still works with scouts, and my youngest will receive his Eagle Scout rank in just a couple of weeks. I have seen many, many boys' lives changed for the better by the scouting program, including my own sons. I hope that your son can also have a great experience in scouting. I'm always happy to talk about scouting, and if you'd like to send me a private message, I'd be glad to share more of my thoughts on the subject.

Looks like you struck a nerve [2007-07-09]
j/k Kids are going to have accidents and get hurt, no matter how much you try to avoid it. How many times have you mothers out there been busy cooking or taking a shower or doing any of a hundred other necessary daily-life activities and your child has come to you with a bruise or scrape or cut or whatever? IT HAPPENS. No matter how good a mom you are, no matter how hard you try. No one is perfect and no, mothers don't really have eyes in the back of their heads. So come on, everybody take a deep breath and RELAX, okay?

It struck me as really really funny as well. [2006-11-27]

Hope venting made you feel better... [2008-11-16]
The thing that struck me the most in your post is that you help a friend by listening to dictation. Is this during *your* work hours? If so, try not to answer the phone. I know, it sounds so simple, but if you have kids, this can betough. Anyhow, if the friend asks why you are not answering, tell her you need to focus on getting lines so you can pay your monthly bills (stress this!). Maybe she will get the hint. I had to do this when a coworker called me constantly. I As for the friends working when they were asked not to, well, unfortunately, it is a supervisors/managerHopefullys/he will take care of this. Good luck.

Not really that amazing, is it? [2008-11-14]
I wondered the same thing - is this the most interesting thing they could come up with? I mean, when I first saw the pictures of what looked like a man with a big pregnant belly, it kind of struck me, but once you know the story, it's nothing, really. How can they make a whole show about this? There HAS to be a better story out there somewhere. Almost anything would be more interesting than this. *YAWN*

No one is judging a dog. Dogs [2008-11-09]
don They are animals. The point that I continue to make is that IT DOES NOT MATTER what this elderly man did. The pets in the home attacked and killed him. NoPET should ever be capable by temperament of attacking and killing a human being. For the sake of your argument, if the man reached out witha cane and rapped the dog on the head, in your mind would that justify the reactions of the dog to kill the person who struck him? How many other dog breeds would run behind the couch or under a table whenconfronted withabusivetreatment? How many other dog breeds wouldgrowl? Bark?Nip? Bite?No one is saying that an animalshould not defend itself, but a dog whose defense is to kill a human is a dog that should NOT be kept as a pet.A dog is an animal and does not think like a human, as you have pointed out, and that is precisely the thing that makes them unpredictable and makes the pitbull breed attacked unprovoked. It is all in what the dog perceives as a threat, whicha humancannot always predict, or more importantly, cannot always prevent.

Totally agree and I've always wondered...sm [2008-10-17]
HOW the H**L do they get away with it when they obviously are NOT the majority?!!?? I don And if they have rights to have things their way, what about OUR rights to have it OUR way??? I Especially the whole Christmas thing. It seems to me, that if 99% of the people WANT Christmas parties or Halloween parties or whatever then they should have them. It would then be the parents right to keep their child home from school on the days of the parties they do not believe in. The same goes with the Pledge of Allegiance. If you don Don I also don They have to know they are the minority, yet they took away our rights, not to mention in some cases, many, many, many years worth of history! I Can you imagine if we did our presidential elections the same way? The winnerbeing the one with the fewer votes just because some p*ss head was a crybaby and couldn To me all of it is just a DUH! situation or as Carlos Mencias says it dee dee dee! and shame on the courts/government or whoever lets these idiots get away with it!!!! MY rights have been taken away because of a FEW a**holes that apparently weren Same goes with banning books from libraries, shows from tv, etc. If you don DUH! I don DUH! DUH! DUH! FREAKIN' DUH!!!! And WHY the H*ll are WE, the majority, not putting up the same fight the p*sshead, friggin crybabies did to get these things back??? Instead we sit back and p*ss and moan and cry about it. (and go off on boards like I am right now, lol) Struck a chord, sorry. It

OH, yes, but for my son, what is the [2008-07-08]
problem is another thing you mentioned....being with the inlaws! He leaves a respectful kid (13) and comes back with a head that rotates and spitting pea soup. I rarely let him go there anymore because of it. But he has had some hormonal stuff going on, I know, for a year or better. It just struck me that you said the same thing about inlaws being a trigger for yours, too.

Huh? [2008-02-25]
All I gotta say about this is h-e-l-l to the no! This can end in a tragedy - actually the tragedy is already in place to a degree with your brother and kids. Your brother has got to get it together and leave this woman. It is easy for us women to say this because 9 times out of 10 the woman keeps the kids, but he has some pretty good evidence to support him if he wants to fight for the kids - I know this is probably what he does not want to hear right now, but, my goodness, this is outrageous. For better, for worse, til death do us part and all that good stuff, but this is beyond what I think even God would have us put up with. She must take his forgiveness for weakness. I know my ex did. Your brother must decide what his pain tolerance is and what he is willing to put the kids through, what example this woman is setting for the kids, etc. I could go on and on - sorry for the rant, but this really struck a nerve with me. I had to put up with someone who was so wacko, and I stayed because I loved him, my marriage, and my child but enough is enough - glad I left. Peace be with you and your brother and I hope she returns safely and then he gives her the boot :)

How did everyone celebrate New Years? [2008-01-01]
I Went to bed at 7 (usual time cause I work from 3 a.m.). Husband took the kids to McDonalds. Husband went food shopping. I slept through it. I woke up for Law and Order marathon stayed up to 11:15, during which Ihad a bowl of chocolate chunk ice cream fell asleep. Woke up late for my shift to type. And I have a hangover HEADACHE! What?? he he. You know, not a bad way to spend New Years. Of course the husband was not too happy, probably had other ideas.. Shame on me. Hope to hear how everyone's new year celebration went. Let us know! PS: To meNew Years Eveis a holiday much like Valentine's day, etc. I never cared for these kinds of greeting card holidays and would rather ignore them. Aren't I still a scrooge even after Christmas? The HolidayMT has struck again! LOL.

A crazy person and Christmas tree magic.... [2007-12-09]
We just don However, when I visited my brother a couple of years back, he had a real Christmas tree he cut down from his own property. That thing smelled just magical. His wife and kids decorated it with the simplest of ornaments, colored lights, popcorn and cranberry garland, a red tree skirt, and those awesome silver icicles thatcaptured the light light diamonds. Well, I saw that tree and suddenly I was 6 again. I got down on the floor, flipped over onto my back, and scooted under that tree right up to the stump and stared up. Everyone thought I was nuts but it was just...magical. Next thing I know, my twonephews (almost teenagers)joined me and were also struck silent. They had never done that before! My brother and his wife joined in on the weirdness and said they had never looked at their tree from the floor, as if they were a kid again. Itdid that! Time just stops when you look up through the boughs of your Christmas tree, with all the decorations and sparklies, and all your troubles are washed away so long as you stay under there looking up. So, yeah, if you have a tree, try that. The spirit will come back to you--I promise! If not, get a glass and fill it 1/4 of the way with egg nog, then backfill with 3/4spiced rum and pound it down your gullet--in about 10 minutes the magic will be found.

Laughing at myself...I saw a UFO, but not superstitious! LOL (sm) [2007-11-28]
just suddenly struck me as funny :-)

thank you - do my symptoms sound like ADD to you? (sm) [2007-11-21]
I went to a teacher conference recently and noticed that my son's desk had papers hanging out all over the place - just like mine used to be! It kind of struck me at that moment that maybe I should try to do something about this. He is very intelligent, but very disorganized, forgets to turn in homework, forgets to bring books needed for his homework, etc. I lose things, forget to pay bills, etc.

absolutely I would have said something [2007-10-23]
What if these kids are in his care a lot? What if he does this behind closed doors (very likely if he struck out at the little one in public) when mommy isn't around? What if he isn't their dad (or is) and he's abusing them but she doesn't know it? As a mom, I would definitely want to know if someone struck my kid. Especially if I was a single mom (which I have been) and this guy was a boyfriend who was responsible for caring for my kids while I was at work or otherwise occupied. I would never leave them with him again, I could tell you that for certain. Doesn't really matter what their personal situation is. The fact is, the kid was struck for no good reason and the jerk should have been called on it. If he made a stink or if she made a stink, SO WHAT, follow them and get a license plate number then turn them in!

Squirrel arsonists. [2007-09-12]
This article was in my local paper. Too funny not to share. :-) Squirrels' stashes sparked small firesBy TRISTAN SCOTT of the Missoulian Fire investigators are pinning several recent spot fires near Seeley Lake on an unlikely group of arsonists - squirrels.A man reported the wildfires last Wednesday afternoon outside his home on Montana Highway 83, moments after turning the ignition key on his RV.Unbeknownst to the driver, a local colony of gray squirrels had been stowing pine cones in the vehicle's exhaust pipe, and the loaded tailpipe began blasting fiery cones across his driveway like a Roman candle, igniting a handful of