A teachable moment...

Last night Tommy had his first pack meeting as a Cub Scout. This was his first chance to meet the other boys outside of his den. They had a raffle because they are always trying to raise money. After playing for a bit, Tommy came over to me and asked for $3 for the raffle. Of course, I said no. He accepted the "no" and went about playing once again. He was running and playing all over the gym. I was just sitting back observing him interact with the other Scouts. I notice something laying on the floor in the midst of all the running and jumping. It appeared to be some folded up paper. It wasn't long until Tommy noticed the same piece of folded paper. He runs over to pick it up and then proceeds to stare at it. He then looks up and makes eye contact with me, with the same quizzical look on his face. He then tosses the piece of folded paper over his shoulder. I get up and walk over to see what it was. It was money. Someone had dropped $3 dollars. I told him to pick it up and take it one of the Scout leaders. He said that he wanted to use it for raffle tickets. Here comes the teachable moment. I told him that the money didn't belong to him and that he should turn it in to one of the Scout leaders. (Come on, we all know Scout's are honest and help little old ladies across the street. I couldn't let him keep the money in this type of environment. Besides, I knew that he would be praised for doing this good deed. So encouraged him to turn in the money.) He reluctantly walked up to one of the leaders, standing behind a table. She looked at him and said the raffle tickets are over at the other table. Tommy then speaks up and tells her that he found the money on the floor. The leader then expressed her gratitude and said that he was a great Scout for being so honest. She then asked what his name was. About that time, the Scout Master summoned all the Scouts over to one side of the gym. He then proceeds to call out Tommy's name. Tommy's face is turning bright red as he made his way off the bleachers and down to the leader. The poor little guy had no clue what was about to happen. The Scout Master boasts loudly that Tommy found money that didn't belong to him and turned it in to another leader. The Scout Master then gives Tommy 3, $1 raffle tickets for his good deed. In the end, Tommy got the 3, $1 raffle tickets that he wanted. Oh, by the way, one of those tickets was a WINNER. He actually won a new basketball. He as so excited that he won something. To end the teachable moment, I told him that he got the 3 free tickets and won a basketball because he did a good deed. I encouraged him to keep being honest and doing good deeds. He is the coolest Scout I know.

Marc