<p>
My passion is youth sports and some of our best volunteer coaches are non-parents … taking the parent/child dynamic out of the mix for the volunteer adult often allows them to do an even better job as a volunteer!</p>
<p>When I was a kid my mom forced me to be in Campfire, which I hated and loathed. I stayed in until the eighth grade before finally quitting. After that I avoided all “organized” activities she seemed remotely excited about because I figured if I later decided I didn’t like it, she would once again be trying to guilt me into staying in and throw a big fuss. </p>
<p>You might relate this little story to your husband. ;)</p>
<p>What ever happened with this?</p>
<p>I think any boy that wants to quit Scouting (or any other activity) should be permitted to do so.</p>
<p>My Stepson is a scout and would obviously prefer to quit…but he won’t ask my wife to quit.</p>
<p>He’s late for every Scouting function, he’s acquired only 2 merit badges in the last 6 months.</p>
<p>The positive for him is he likes to camp.</p>
<p>The Troop he is in is too eclectic and scattered out, so he only goes to school with only one or two of the other boys, outside of scouts, he associates with none of the others.</p>
<p>Parents that force their kids to stay in scouts do so for their own interests, not their son’s.</p>
<p>or for their kids interests who may be happy they got their eagle down the line…just like getting a kid to study a little more may be appreciated down the line also…maybe try another troop…before you throw in the towel…at least you’ll give it a good try.</p>
<p>Did this boy ever earn his Eagle?</p>
<p>I would say…let him quit! Why force your child to engage in an activity he doesn’t enjoy? If he isn’t having fun, let him try something else! Lots of other options! :)</p>
<p>ok I didn’t read through the whole thread, but I think if he has tried it for two years, doesn’t like it, just let it go and let your son find another activity that he enjoys. I think 3togo expressed it best. If your husband loves Boy Scouts so much let him go and be a volunteer there 
Your son and his dad can surely find some other things they enjoy doing together. Also, I am a big believer in letting kids just have some down time to relax, dream, putter, play video games…they don’t need to be spending ALL their time in ‘leadership’ activities…I think if they don’t have some free time to just relax and be kids it will be counter-productive with high levels of stress and burn-out. Our daughter didn’t do the Girl Scout thing but she found lots of other activities that interested her and she will be heading off to a great college next fall, so my thought would be to relax a bit and let him find something HE enjoys doing for fun! :)</p>
<p>The OP hasn’t posted on CC since November of last year. Hope she comes back to tell us what happened!</p>
<p>I never liked the “let them quit” attitude. If you child wants to sign up for something they should see it through. What I mean is if they sign up to play football and find out they don’t like it they should finish out the season. They don’t have to sign up again. Letting them quit before they finish the commitment they signed up for is teaching them nothing.</p>
<p>What in the world is wrong with letting a child try an activity and if she/he doesn’t enjoy doing it allowing them to stop? What is the point in forcing a child to participate in a sport, club, hobby, <em>whatever</em> if he/she doesn’t like it? Pointless and a waste of time IMO. Anyway, all of childhood doesn’t have to be about “teaching” children something…whatever happened to the concept of play, enjoyment, daydreaming?</p>
<p>It was my actual involvement (even as a mom) in scouting that encouraged both my sons to keep going even when friends would not show for awhile due to sports. The kids that quit are often the ones whose parents are never around…not at troop meetings, court of honor, or on camping trips. </p>
<p>Last year the whole family went to scout summer camp, although my husband and I stayed at a B&B. We showed up every other day to help out. Just today we reviewed our Life scout’s Eagle project book to help him think through the project which is scheduled in a just a few weeks…we are just always trying to keep him moving towards his goal. Our oldest is also an Eagle and it really helped him get into college. Don’t give up! Find out why they are not happy with scouting. Good luck!</p>
<p>Maybe the reason they are not happy with scouting is that they don’t enjoy camping, or fishing, or whatever else Boy Scouts do. (I wouldn’t know since I am mom to a daughter who had no interest in joining the Brownies or Girl Scouts).</p>
<p>And why do parents always have to be excessively involved in a child’s activities anyway? Why can’t we as parents expose them to a variety of potential activities they may enjoy…whether it be Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, art classes, soccer, swimming, theater groups, Church youth group activities, cooking classes, science olympiads, piano, guitar, chess, pottery, volunteering at senior centers…<em>whatever</em>…let them try it and if, after a reasonable period of time they don’t enjoy it let them try something else again? I’ve tried several hobbies myself that I thought I would enjoy, ended up not liking, so I tried something different that I ended up enjoying. </p>
<p>If a kid doesn’t like Boy Scouts after trying it, I think it should be like any other activity that your child tries and doesn’t enjoy. Let them do something else! The world won’t stop turning if he doesn’t get an Eagle project and it won’t prevent a child from getting into a good college. It just means their interests lie elsewhere.</p>
<p>And again, why does all of childhood have to be about “learning” something? What about the concept of fun, relaxation, play, daydreaming?</p>
<p>I’ve been in Boy Scouts for six years.</p>
<p>If he doesn’t want to do it, then don’t make him do it. It’s not YOUR life. Jesus Christ, some of you people are ridiculous.</p>
<p>And yes, it is quite a bit of work.</p>
<p>Repeating…The OP hasn’t posted on CC since November of last year. Whatever happened - happened!</p>
<p>“What in the world is wrong with letting a child try an activity and if she/he doesn’t enjoy doing it allowing them to stop? What is the point in forcing a child to participate in a sport, club, hobby, <em>whatever</em> if he/she doesn’t like it? Pointless and a waste of time IMO. Anyway, all of childhood doesn’t have to be about “teaching” children something…whatever happened to the concept of play, enjoyment, daydreaming?”</p>
<p>No all of childhood doesn’t have to be about teaching nor should it be. But if a child signs up for something they should see it through to completion. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to sign up again. Letting them quit mid stream teaches them if they don’t like something they can quit whenever they want. Can you do this in your job? I highly doubt it. </p>
<p>All childhood doesn’t have to be about play, enjoyment and daydreaming.</p>
<p>Nobody should be in an EC if he doesn’t want to be. Signing up for Cub Scouts should not be a life sentence. By all means, stay in if the group is satisfying and you want to take part. But this EC, like all ECs, should be about the kid… Parents hold the Eagle to such high standards but in reality, it has NO meaning if its not the kid’s choice or his work. HE should be doing the research and all the work. I’ve watched several boys slide by, following the direction of their mothers (usually) - who need to prod and remind and “help” throughout the process. In fact, a friend (mom) became an official leader just so her son would earn his Eagle. He hated every step of it, dragged his feet and she did much of the work (behind the scenes). I wouldn’t be surprised if his mother wrote his college essay for him describing how much the project meant to HIM - simply because he couldn’t write those words himself… It’s sad to watch. Same thing goes for sports, theatre, music… Kids become invested in activites they choose and take ownership of. It can’t be forced…</p>
<p>and realize that in some circles, boy scouts are a controversial group due to their discrimmination policies so you can’t really be sure it will definitely “help” get into college. You never know who is “reading” your application. It could be someone who is very liberal, atheist or gay.</p>
<p>
Yes, if you don’t like your job, you are perfectly welcome to quit. I’ve known plenty of people who have quit over crazy bosses, found better jobs and were much happier because of it. I don’t see why a child (who is likely to make a lot of mistakes when they make decisions) should be forced to see their mistaken action through. Everyone can retract their actions if they discover that something is wrong–seeing it through would be sheer stupidity.</p>
<p>“and realize that in some circles, boy scouts are a controversial group due to their discrimmination policies so you can’t really be sure it will definitely “help” get into college. You never know who is “reading” your application. It could be someone who is very liberal, atheist or gay.”</p>
<p>Earning the Eagle rank has never been perceived as a negative.</p>
<p>“Yes, if you don’t like your job, you are perfectly welcome to quit. I’ve known plenty of people who have quit over crazy bosses, found better jobs and were much happier because of it. I don’t see why a child (who is likely to make a lot of mistakes when they make decisions) should be forced to see their mistaken action through. Everyone can retract their actions if they discover that something is wrong–seeing it through would be sheer stupidity.”</p>
<p>So what you are saying is it’s OK for a kid to sign up for a something then after one meeting or practice (which ever applies) he/she can say “I quit”. What if you forked over a couple hundred bucks for uniforms or whatever and you couldn’t get your money back? Wouldn’t the more prudent method be to let him/her know they have to see what they signed up for through but don’t have to sign up for it again?</p>