"Holiday Fun"...

I went to spend the day with the Girl Scouts on Saturday. There are a couple of folk I know who have been active, involved, committed (all these add up to my definition of 'devoted' to scouting) with younger girls for many years. These two women, who have no reason to be still supporting Scouts, daughters long grown and gone, still keep at it. Planning events, and doing things to interest young girls, teaching them skills, and having great fun: still participating in helping Girls Grow Strong.

The Holiday Fun event was originally planned to be at the Scout outdoor facility in Harris County. Where the Council has run a summer camp over the years. But the Council staff chose to make their property not available on Saturday, so plan B. was to have our activity in a local church fellowship hall. With the weather cold, drizzly and messy, it was probably a good decision.

I think there were nearly a hundred girls who signed up to show up for the day, plus numerous hangers-on: siblings, parents, and troop leaders. One of the most interesting things we did was practice our sewing skills. Some of the girls readily admitted to having no experience. They were sewing buttons on little felt cut-out stocking shapes, then sewing two stockings together, adding a bit of fluffy stuffing, and a loop hanger, sewing it closed to make a tree ornament.

I spent most of my time threading needles. I'd remembered to bring a number of the little gadgets that make needle-threading a breeze (so simple to operate and get the thread through the eye, you don't even need any four letter words to accomplish the task: perfect for the under ten set!).So I showed some of the older girls how to use the needle threader, and told them to pass it on, show the younger ones how it works, and know they enjoyed demonstrating that skill,  teaching friends and siblings how to thread the needle, then sew on a button, put the project together.

There was a dad there, with three daughters, who was very interested, watching the girls working, observing our project. So much so that when the girls finished their sewing, he wanted to do it himself. I gave a few pointers, and watched him work. It turns out he was making an ornament for the third daughter, who was so young she did not participate in the sewing class. I told him that I did not know his story, if he was a single parent, or why he was there, but complimented him on wanting to be there with daughters. And told him how meaningful it was to see him involved in their lives - that his presence was such a unique gift he was giving to them, to be willing to devote his time to going with them to this event, and not just standing along the edges of the activities, but getting involved, really being a dad. It is so rare to see a guy want to do crafts, especially something that is traditionally thought of as being in the female domain. I was delighted to see  him sewing, especially when the youngest daughter came over, and discovered he was making it for her.