interesting....

i have had some interesting things happen since becoming a camp fire leader, more than a few, but so far the only negative thing has been this. why is it that several people we approached to buy camp fire candy said, "oh, i am sorry, we are girl scouts, we don't buy camp fire candy."

ok, now this comment just does not compute with me. i never realized there was a competition? is that the word? or maybe some kind of conflict between camp fire and girl scouts? or maybe rivalry is the word? it really bums me out (nice california phrase) that anyone would even think that or say something to a six year old, who's mind is open and accepting of everyone, that there is a distinction between the two groups that excludes one from the other. i guess during all my years in camp fire as a member and now a leader, i just never looked at boy/girl scouts as anything other than a really neat organization that supports kids. ANYTHING a parent does with their kid can be special. if you were a girl scout growing up then you have a fondness for it and will enjoy watching your kid belong to the same group you belonged to. i feel the same way about camp fire, it is just the choice i made between the two because i have fond memories and associate a good feeling with it.

i had to comment on this because my other bluebirds said they have heard similar responses and i just can't believe people feel they have to choose between the two groups or feel some sort of rivalry between the two. i have bought girl scout cookies for years from my scouting neighbors (most likely from the family who made the original comment) and did so with a real desire to support their program. my husband was the boy scout leader of my stepsons troop for several years, his whole family loves the scouts. it's all good, all of it.

i hope my message is that we should support all kinds of different organizations and teach our kids that although there may be differences between them, we shouldn't feel competitive or exclusive, we should always be open to different options.