<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3133" style="margin: 8px;" title="all about me boy" src="http://writingtosanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/all-about-me-boy.jpg" alt="all about me boy" width="247" height="278" /><strong></strong>

<em>This was originally posted on November 24, 2009 for New Jersey Moms Blog, under the title “Rude and disrespectful: 'Scuse me while I lose my mind”</em>

<strong>This is an open letter to parents in a certain northern New Jersey Cub Scout Pack.</strong>

Dear Parents,

You know, I'm really disappointed in you.  A good majority of you are  just plain rude and disrespectful and I'm about to lose my mind over  the stress of it all.  Perhaps it's my terrible luck to have been  subjected to your ways.  It's not like I've never known such behavior;  and, even though I try my best, Lord knows I've been one of "those  people" before.  Unfortunately, I'm starting to re-think my opinion of  you, and I don't want that to happen.  I want to like you, I really do.   So, help me out here, will ya?

<a href="http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspx" target="_blank">Scouting.org</a> explains the purpose of a Pack Meeting:

<em>"The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders,  and their families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as <strong>a  showcase for everything the boys have learned and done</strong> in their individual den  meetings. The pack meeting gives the boys a larger experience beyond their own  den, and helps them to connect their individual activities to the entire Cub  Scouting program. ..."</em>

Yeah, um... hold that thought, 'cause I'm thoroughly confused.

From the moment we arrived, you took center-stage.  Did you have  eight cups of coffee before you showed up for our Thanksgiving feast?   I'm trying to understand why you felt it was necessary to keep up the  background noise while our boys were being exalted for their good work  in the community.  Hey, parents!  I thought the focus was supposed to be  on the kids, not chatting it up with your neighbor!  Good grief,  people, what is the deal?!  Our sweet, sweet den leader was <strong>SCREAMING</strong> to talk over you; even the Cubmaster was stifled at times by the dull roar of your chit-chat.
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<strong>WHY?!</strong>

Your children are watching everything you say and do, whether you  realize it or not, and respect starts within your family.  Show your  kids how a mom and dad are supposed to act, and save your conversations  for before and after the meeting.  These are the times when your boys  deserve your full attention.

Going back to the <a href="http://scouting.org/About.aspx" target="_blank">Scouting.org</a> site, the organization describes their mission:

<em>"The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that <strong>builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.</strong></em>

<em>For nearly a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows — that <strong>helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.</strong>"</em>

I know that you are a group of parents who care deeply for your kids  and each other, but you are out of control.  Regardless of what <span class="removed_link" title="http://www.persuasive.net/interrupting-someone-is-not-rude-it-is-persuasive/">AJ Kumar</span> says, your conversations are not more important than our boys.

Very sincerely yours,

Desiree

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