Tonight after over a MONTH of waiting, Dude was so excited to get to his WEBELOS Pack meeting. He’s been to all day outings in 15 degree weather and snow, Den meetings where he’s earned 3 badges, and has worked really hard to earn some belt loops and pins on his own. And since he’s new to scouting, he also had to complete the requirements to earn his Bobcat Badge, so he can actually get the other badges - gotta have that Bobcat Badge first!
So he waited patiently after school until I got home.
Then he worked really hard at his tennis lesson for an hour.
Then he waited patiently while we picked up Duma from doggie daycare.
He waited even more patiently in the car in the drive-thru of McDonald’s.
He did not patiently eat his food in the car - he inhaled it!
He ran up the stairs to his bedroom to change from tennis attire to WEBELOS attire.
He talked nervously the entire time we drove to his Pack meeting.
He sat in the front row quietly watching the science demonstration given by the folks from the Air Force Academy.
He looked at the clock every 10 minutes.
Was it time yet? Time for the awards ceremony?
He could hardly contain himself - he was FINALLY going to get his first badges to put on his uniform!
One more glance at the clock.
Then another.
And another.
It was 8:00 - and they were starting ANOTHER demonstration.
Wasn’t the meeting supposed to be over at 8:00?
How would we have time to get our badges handed out?
He turned around and looked at me with that nervous smile on his face. Was I feeling his anxiety?
Another glance at the clock - 8:10.
The science demonstration was FINALLY over!
It was finally time . . . time to get his first badges.
He waited patiently while the Cub Master walked to the front of the room.
He had his eyes trained on the manilla envelopes that contained the badges and other awards for the Scouts.
His legs kicked nervously in the air.
He waited patiently while the Cub Master raised the microphone to his lips.
He waited patiently as the Cub Master spoke . . . “Unfortunately, we’re out of time for tonight. We’ll award all badges and pins at the next Pack meeting on December 2nd.”
What?! Did he REALLY say that? No awards tonight?
My disappointed little Dude dropped his shoulders in his chair.
He waited patiently for the removing of the colors.
He helped stack up all the chairs and sweep the floor.
Then, finally, he came to see me, a sad little look in his eye.
I gave my Dude a hug - he let me.
I told him I was sorry.
He looked at me, smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and said: “It’s not like it’s the end of the world. I’ll just get an even huger stack at the next meeting after I’ve earned a bunch more stuff.”
Ahhhhhh - that’s my little Dude - always looking at the bright side 
What a disappointment for him. What a good sport he is to look on the bright side. I am sure he was so proud of himself to have earned the badges. I wonder, if a mother was in charge of the group, if she would have handled the evening differently, knowing how excited the boys would be for the recognition.
Poor guy! Those leaders need to (also) know it’s easier to sew on a few at a time rather than sit sewing for hours and hours and hours. Can’t wait to see his uniform once he does get all his new stuff!