My husband and I were discussing on Sunday the fact that the Scouting program cannot really be a substitute for an absent father, although all Scout leaders, men and women, can help in the type of formation a good father provides.
In Baden-Powell’s day, there were many boys either without fathers, or with fathers unavailable due to hard work. B-P knew some things about the situations Scouts and Scouters face today.
The men in this district are all Military Retirees, and we understand military demands on families. As a result we are still Scout Leaders because we know that Dad and sometimes even Mom has to be in the Zone. We don’t try to take thier place just fill in that missing space a little where we can.