We May be Starting Scouts

My 9 year old son who is on the autism spectrum has wanted to start Cub Scouts for well over a year now, but I didn’t really think we had the time for it. We’re at TaeKwonDo classes between 4 and 5 times a week, which when added with school and just being a kid, accounts for a pretty full schedule as it is. Add to this that mommy (that being me) works from home, via a variety of self-employment angles, I was afraid to commit to anything further…. Can I just tell you I’m zapped at the end of the day? Also… can I further say that I think A LOT of America over-schedules our kids?

Today I discovered that Cub Scouts only meets twice a month and on the occasional Saturday for various events scheduled throughout the year. What’s more, it’s not nearly as expensive as some of the other extra-curricular activities he could be interested in… so hey, maybe this is something we can work in after all. I also like that he can continue with scouts for years to come. It’s not just a club for 9 year olds or something that has to end in a year or two. I like anything that builds upon itself, rather than something that flatlines over time.

I have a friend whose son is also on the spectrum and she’s actually the troop leader for his pack! Apparently he loves scouts and the socialization (something kids with Autism struggle with) has helped him immensely. It’s not that kids on the spectrum don’t want to socialize… they’re just awkward about it. They have a hard time reading other people’s body language, and sometimes don’t know how to engage in normal conversation.

My son isn’t as socially awkward as some kids I’ve met, but he is really quite good at one-sided conversations about subjects that may or may not be of interest to his targeted audience. Lol God is good though and this past year he made his first “best” friend (a HUGE accomplishment for someone with Aspergers), who has many of the same interests, so it all works! This boy is also a scout by the way and would be in the same troop. Another reason I’m thinking to press forward.

I wonder how many homeschoolers have their kids involved in scouting activities? My daughter also wants to join scouts… that would mean Brownies at her age, but I’m thinking it’s probably more important for my son than for my daughter (the social butterfly of the family). Not that I’ll tell her no, but I’ll probably tell her to hang onto her hat for a few months so I can adjust to one new activity at a time.

Given my boy is special needs, I want to be involved with anything and everything he’s involved in… which means I’d be at every meeting and event he would attend. There’d be no dropping off one kid here to deliver another kid there… if that makes sense. I’d be as present at scouts as he would be. It’s that scheduling thing that makes everything worth doing so challenging! Were there’s a will there’s a way though!

I’m fully trusting God will provide us the flexibility to do whatever it is we need to do to help our son be all that God has planned for him to be!