Invested Role Model

Girl Scouts offers many benefits to our young ladies. It wasn’t until recently that I realized one incredibly huge benefit. In fact, as a leader, it is a benefit that is NOT afforded to my daughters.

I’ve been a leader for over 12 years. I became a leader before I became a mom. I’ve graduated four girls; three of whom earned their Gold Award and one who received the Young Woman of Distinction Award from our Council. I have three left to graduate; two this year and my final teen scout next year.

Each time they graduate, I’ll be honest, I cry. As we enter their graduating year, I start to silently sulk that I have to say goodbye to yet another of “my girls.” Then I suck it up and dedicate myself to giving those girls their best darn scouting year yet.

I remember the day I became a leader. I hopped my 25 year-old-self into my Toyota RAV4 and headed to council office to volunteer. I sat in the office with a staffer talking about my experiences as a Scout and how I might get involved now. Nearly 45 minutes into the conversation, it dawned on me, “Wait, are you saying I get to lead a troop?” I asked incredulously. I remember her look of confusion. I think she thought we were already on that same page. Me? Well, I thought they wouldn’t let me be a leader. I figured being so young and not a mom myself, that I’d not qualify for something as coveted as Girl Scout leader. I thought I would start off simply helping in a troop from time to time. I was thrilled at the idea of getting my own troop. Driving home I called my mom, my former Girl Scout leader. “Mom! Guess what?! They are going to LET me be a TROOP LEADER!” I squealed. I’m not lying here … I squealed.

The journey has been amazing. Words can’t express what joy and growth have come to me serving my teen troop. It wasn’t until this year, as a mom of nine-year-old and seven-year-old daughters that I finally understood something I’ve been told by my teen troop moms for years.

Yes, being a troop leader takes time. Yes, there is dedication and even sometimes headaches that come with the job. Yes, we are teaching girls skills they don’t often acquire elsewhere. And, yes, we are building girls with courage, confidence and character.

But, guess what?

We are doing something even greater.

As I tote my three kids from soccer to gymnastics to musical theater, it occurs to me. Even when I was a child and had my own activities; there is not one other extra-curricular activity in which I was invested where I had a constant adult; year upon year; invested in me.

That’s not to say that the softball coaches and orchestra teachers weren’t invested in us. It’s to say, they were committed for the season or the school year. It’s to say that if we moved up a rank in choir, we may have a new teacher.  If we achieved select ball, we got a new coach. Those adults may have poured into our lives, but they poured only in the capacity of the game and only for a finite timeframe.

The Scouting organization is not the same.

Often parents ask me to advise them whether they should put their daughter in Scouts or a youth group – wondering if there’s really much of a difference. I’ve never really had the answer … until now.

I still don’t recommend one over another. But, I do offer this as food for thought.

As girls advance through their ranks in Girl Scouts, typically, they keep the same leader, year after year. The same mom gets the opportunity to invest in your daughter as she guides her facilitates a developing skill set and shares in the growth of moral character. That leader gets to see your daughter learn she is capable – better so, that woman will help your daughter see that for herself. Your daughter’s leader has the unique opportunity to know your child so well that she can see when she falters and help you strategize ways to keep her walking the straight path.

And, if that leader is worth her weight in salt, she’s already doing this.

Our daughters won’t get many opportunities to have another woman pour into her life, serve as a role model, and gently guide her in courage, confidence and character outside of the Girl Scout organization. The model is set up so that we provide our daughters the opportunity to have another adult who we trust, speak into her life. So parents, be sure to pick a good leader. Leaders, be sure to be aware of your monumental responsibility.

As a teen scout leader, I’ve loved the opportunity to watch “my” girls grow. As much as those moms have thanked me for investing in their daughters, I’ve thanked them equally for allowing me to be a part of their lives. At an age when girls aren’t always quick to seek Mom for advice, and even quicker to not listen to Mom’s advice: I know my teen scout moms are happy they have an adult they trust to be there to listen. I’m always upfront with my girls that if they tell me something that will hurt them or others I will have to tell their parents. However, I’ve helped kids through some pretty rough things, both physically and socially. I’ve assisted in getting them into colleges (going even as far as calling the college admissions department). I’ve celebrated 16^th birthdays and fretted when they started driving to and from meetings. I’ve laughed, joked, cried and dreamed with them. Mostly, I’ve learned from them.

Ladies, as you consider your daughter’s path in life. I encourage you to think beyond the social parameters of Scouts, and even beyond the skills they will learn. I offer to you that enrolling and keeping your daughter in Scouts yields a far greater investment on her behalf. One that promises to be life-long.