Scouts Parade v family life

[ParadiseCity]

My 11 yo is in scouts and tomorrow there is a St Georges parade through town. His leader told them all 'it's compulsory and you can't be excused unless you are dead or dying'. However, DS is reluctant and I just don't have the inclination to jolly him into it. I'm glad he does scouts but at that age I was a guide and remember how embarrassing the public parades were. I'm normally ultra supportive of all their activities and think that when you have committed to something you stick with it etc. But he committed to Tuesday evenings down the road not a Sunday afternoon in town. I work full time, juggle a lot of stuff (as we all do), and just for once I CANNOT BE ARSED. AIBU and should I woman up and make him go?

becles "Guiding I'd about all faiths and none but at the core of the promise is a commitment to 'develop my beliefs' throughout my Guiding journey and life."

What if you don't have beliefs? I assume this clumsily worded phrase is talking about religious beliefs?

When my DD joined Rainbows, it was just so she could do a bit of craft and make new friends, I didn't even realise she was supposed to be committing to something profound.

Mind you, she didn't like it that much as the other girls were a bit cliquey and mean so we didn't bother with Brownies. Is that where it goes all hardline?

why do it then? It's not compulsary, but if you commit it should be wholehearted.

Because at 11 children should not have to give up other activities for just one. You could easily say that the football coaches who show up 2-3 times per week are as entitled to be annoyed that Scouts would take priority on a day it is not normally on.

I think if they are in scouts guides etc it's more than a Tuesday night they are part of an organisation so really need to go to patrades and what not . it's like if he was part of a sports team but only went to training

allowisthinkalot "He has to. What if everyone decided they couldn't be arsed?"

Good point. It's not about being lazy though, it's about questioning whether it's important, significant or essential.
Nothing we do in life is above challenge.

Dunno, Draylon. According to IFS statistics , I'm doing pretty well relative the the population as a whole.

And I manage to show all sorts of commitments and help make things run. I just will not participate in religious activities and my children do not either (they are welcome to do things differently as adults if they choose). And I'm not teaching them to bow and scrape to the monarchy either. But I will make them stay behind to clean up after events and do the visiting old folks homes bits with them, and offer other families lifts places. I think that may be more valuable than sitting on a bloody pew twice a year.

it's like if he was part of a sports team but only went to training

So what about the sports teams tomorrow who will be short of players because the kids are enforced parading?

Should our Brownies not compete in sports, sometimes at a high level, at the weekends because they have committed to us on a week night and there might be an occasional thing on a Saturday?

It's not difficult

That is ludicrous. I'm sitting on my hands here.

Scouting sounds quite scary...

He committed to Scouts and the Parades are an important part.
If you join something you don't pick and choose just the parts you like.

It's not mystical or profound.

It's like joining a football team but only playing in matches, or only going to matches you think you'll win.

Im a Scout leader and all we ask of our members is to attend St Georges Day and Remeberence day. The leaders give up their time to do it as well

Oh and it's Once A Year, not every weekend

As a former leader I used to have near on all my cubs attend on St Georges Day as the children were aware of the importance of the day. They even told me off the year I didn't attend as I was at the national service at Windsor Castle as a Queen's Scout.
It's one day a year, and if your son has been every year since being a Beaver then you and he both know it is expected.
It's strange how the family time/granny's birthday/essential appointment always crops up on St George's day, never camp.
We used to organise trips for those that attended both St George's Day and church parade (it was a church sponsored group and a requirement of membership very clearly explained on joining) and did have parents complain when their DC weren't allowed to attend. Funnily enough, they all turned up the next time.

But Narp, as I've said, there will be matches (or other things) that clash tomorrow. Why should the Scouts thing take priority? Especially if it isn't usually on that day. Should kids at 11 be narrowing their activities down to just Scouts?

Primal

There aren't though

The OP can't be arsed, her son is mildly reluctant.

Why does it not matter that the children who are REQUIRED to parade tomorrow might be letting other people (volunteers) down?

like joining a football team but only playing in matches, or only going to matches you think you'll win.

It really isn't. A scout parade can go ahead whether or not the full group turn up. A sports match cannot.

Primal
Sorry, that was unclear

1. There is no clash for the OP's son tomorrow, she just can't be arsed

2. I think if you play football you could miss one match. If it was a Final or something I'd take a view, but again, not relevant here

Soup

You support your team, whether you play or not. You are there on the subs bench, handing out the oranges at half time even if you don't play

And it's one Day*

I agree that "can't be arsed" is not a valid reason though.

There was usually one parade out of rugby season and I forced my DSs to go to that one. Assuming they were with me and not with their father.