Quick!! My girls need happy thoughts...

[dizagain]

Well, I just left DD's - 8 and 10- at a Girl Scout Day Camp even though I had bad "mommy feelings". Ugh!!! First, we got almost no info ahead of time - a 1/2 page note telling us to send lunch, water, bug spray, and sunscreen. Nothing about activities, leaders, etc. That didn't sit well with me because in the past I have always gotten a packet with tons of info.

We get there and it's a campground in the woods with LATRINES (sp?). Mosquitoes the size of quarters are biting us (this is North Texas and we've had serious rain lately), and it's chaos. Finally I get the girls situated with their groups - younger DD is with a man, and I can tell she's not happy. Older DD can usually handle anything - she seemed fine. This is an American Girl Doll camp - why does DD have a male leader? Sorry if that's sexist. On top of that, he didn't know he was a leader until this morning!!!

O.k., so my friend and I decided to go ahead and leave them. We're not so worried safety wise I don't think...except for those dang mosquitoes! I just have bad vibes and I am going to die waiting until 3:00 to pick them up. Have already decided that if they didn't have fun they don't have to go back - and I NEVER let them quit things.

Anyway, please think happy thoughts for my girls - I'm a BAD MOMMY!

Thanks - I'm stressed!!!!

 

[Cthia]

Thinking happy thoughts for your DD's.

(Your not a bad mommy)

Wow I didn't know men could be leaders in the G.S. I am sure they will have a great time.

 

[rascalmom]

As a mom of two girls and a former girl scout leader, maybe I can set your mind at ease. Girls Scouts have a program called "Safety Wise" which addresses required training for leaders, adult to child ratios by ages and opposite-sex supervision issues. All girl scout leaders in our council have a background check and must have activity appropriate training. This won't guarantee that your girls will have fun but hopefully you will be more comfortable with their safety. Hope it works out well and they have a great time

 

[dizagain]

Thanks for the encouragement. I am a co-leader in both of my daughter's troops. That's probably what concerns me the most...that I'm nervous! It was just very un-organized and I didn't get a good feeling. I'm not really worried about a man being there (I know a male GS leader), but just that he didn't know what was going on and it IS a camp based on American Girl Dolls!

My older DD's head leader was dropping off her daughter also - she was concerned too, but she also didn't have a barely-8-year-old. Oh well, I'm sure things will be fine...Hope so anyway!

 

[kasar]

I know that feeling exactly - I get it every time I drop my girls off somewhere. One time I even sat in my car the whole day convinced that they'd need me! Hah - they didn't give me one thought all day and had a ball.

I'd be willing to bet that they're going to love camp and can't wait to go back tomorrow. Just keep breathing - they'll be home soon.

 

[Microcell]

I had no idea a man could be a GS leader! and I am a GS leader! My council does not do a background check, but I doubt he would be able to be alone with a girl or anything at a big event like that even if he was bad or something.

See how she feels tonight. If it is no fun I see no reason to continue with it.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I wouldn't be concerned about their safety when it comes to Girl Scouts sanctioned daycamps.... I WOULD however be concerned about the "fun" level she may have with a male leader when the camp's theme is American Girl dolls.. how much can he possibly know about that?
My husband wouldn't know diddly about that (American Girl dolls) and he has 2 girls and is involved in their activities including my oldest Girl Scouts (I'm the troop leader- he can't HELP but be involved LOL). Unless this man happens to be a father of one of the girls who is into those dolls and therefore he knows a lot about them that way- I don't see how he'd know much about it or want to be real enthusiastic about it.

I hope they have fun though!

 

[m&m's mom]

My I ask if this is Cross Timbers?
If so I am surprised because they are usually so overkill.
I did not even hear about this one. Sounded like fun.
I am the Brownie leader for my 7 YO DD's troop and have been frustrated at times w/ lack of organization.
I'm sure it will be fine. Goodness knows they require enough training!
On a side note, my Sister is a multiple specialist MD and she was required to go to 1st aid training! Too funny!

 

[4nana]

LOL....you are not a bad Mommy!

Oh my, as a former GS leader - I remember those days very well!
The first day is always the worst! Usually your instinct is right on, but the unorganized part does not necessarly mean they are doomed. Hopefully they make new friends, get involved and will have a ball wanting more!! Give it a day...

A male leader...what gives in 2004???

Good luck!
~ Sandie

 

[dizagain]

Yep...Cross Timbers. This camp was advertised with all the others in Timber Trails, but it's not done by our SU (8). This one is done through council and is at a campground in Denton. I thought it sounded neat, but now I'm not too sure. I think both Flower Mound service units are great and VERY heavy on proper training, etc. - it is obvious that not all are! In fact, my older DD's troop went to a camp-out/horse-back riding camp at Texas Lil's Ranch (VERY worth doing!) recently. Turns out it was sponsered by council and we got no info that time either - in fact found out one day before that it was tent camping! The ranch was very kind and gave us a lodge to sleep in as we weren't prepared. The council reps didn't make the girls wear helmets! We made ours. So, I am just trying to get through this day without dwelling on the look on 8-yr-old's face. She wouldn't hug me when I left which I know means she was about to cry and was trying to hold it in.

It's fun running in to fellow FM folks around these boards!

 

[avdeane]

Good thoughts going out for your girls!! Hopefully they will have a terrific time and all will go smoothly!! I can sure understand your feelings and you are definitely not a bad mommy!! I agree with giving your daughters the option of coming home if they aren't enjoying it. Let us know how it works out!!


Best of luck!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Happy thoughts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[m&m's mom]

We have someone on 7SUP that emails us ALL info. I have becomed spoiled and I admit I hardly ever go to service unit meetings. I work almost in downtown Dallas and the thought of getting home and spending an hour there is just too much.
One of my other mothers in the troop is the leader of her other DD's troop so she picks things up for me.
I got nothing on early bird registration and managed to sneek in on last day and got everything in last night.
We are 1st year Brownies and I get very little help (even though I am the only working mother) so the troop is definitely not what I want it to be.
I was in GS 1st through HS. We were the 1st troop in the nation to all get our Gold Award in 1983.
I was so looking forward to being a Mom and having girls that I would lead in a troop but find it very frustrating.
BTW- Do you have any good ideas for field trips that you have had in either DD's troops? I am out of ideas and want to plan next year.

 

[dizagain]

It is frustrating that there is little parental help sometimes, isn't it? I find that the same people do everything (class parties, GS, etc) and everyone else just drops off their little darlings!

We have done some NEAT stuff - especially older DD's troop - her leader is awesome. Anyway, here's some ideas:
- House of Bread in Parker Square does a great workshop for a badge
-Art House (over by Red, Hot and Blue) does a workshop for a badge
- Build-A-Bear is expensive but you get a badge
- Pizza Hut on Main Street in Lewisville gives a tour and the girls make pizza for FREE
- FM fire station will give you a tour
- Fort Worth Zoo has a great sleep-over program, but you might want to wait until 3rd Grade
- In the Fall, watch for info on Old City Park in Dallas - we had so much fun and learned alot at a GS day there last year - got a badge
- watch for $10 tickets to RB&BB Circus, Disney on Ice, etc - have gotten great seats that way! Always get a cool patch

If I think of any more I'll let you know. Guess I was supposed to PM you - sorry everyone!

 

[dizagain]

Just picked up two sweaty, tired, but HAPPY kids! They both had a blast and the male leader was way better than the female one my other DD had! DD can't stop talking about how much fun she had with him!

So thanks for happy thoughts today...feeling much better!

 

[frustrated]

Yeah! Isn't it amazing how much we worry?

 

[MinnieM21]

Happy Thoughts! Happy Thoughts!

And no you're not a bad mommy! I'm going to send some happy thoughts towards your way too!

 

[HollyJoy]

Thinking good thoughts!! I'm sure they'll be fine!

 

[4nana]

Yep, glad to hear good old girl scout camp is still lots of fun!!!

Sandie

 

[southernclass]

Saying a prayer for your girls!!