However, it was worth every second. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
Your son's leadership skills will stick with him for life. Funny, I was just talking with a couple of the guys about this...... I used to (was forced to...) teach classes in "leadership" at a former job. Argued with my boss about it, told him it was a complete waste of time.
Leadership isn't something that you pick up in a couple of mornings, sitting in a classroom yapping about theoretical problems while you surreptitiously check your email. It's a quality you either have, or don't. If you don't, you can get better, but it takes years of work and hard-won experience.
Scouts provides this, and the sooner one starts, the better. Look at the troop next time, it's easy to pick out the leaders. They're learning how to do it - and they may not even know that they are.
You’re right. We have a kid in our younger boys group who is 8 years old. I’ve already told some of the other guys he’s going to be our First Officer (Senior boy leaders) in a few years.
It’s awesome to see them mature from super squirrelly to just normal squirrelly in just a couple years.
Most of the ones I’ve kept in touch with over the years have matured well. I know of at least three in the service, some in college, one graduates in Aerospace Engineering next week (and gets to start paying his dad back for some college loans.)