After not getting his badge at a Camporee (that I didn’t sign us up to attend because of previous obligations), John Henry said, “I quit Cub Scouts.”
A lengthy conversation followed about commitment. I explained to him the importance of fulfilling commitments. He had committed his first grade year to Cub Scouts. He needed to finish it.
I can remember when I was in the fifth grade I wanted to play an instrument in band. That instrument? The saxophone. Yes, little ‘ol me on the sax. My parents paid a pretty penny for that instrument. In return, I had to commit to play through ninth grade. It was a breeze to maintain my commitment until ninth grade.
When it suddenly lost every bit of the cool factor.
But Barbara Goss wasn’t going to cave and bail me out. My momma wasn’t about to let me back out of my promise.
(Although, it probably would have made her life much easier as a parent.)
So, with great gnashing of teeth, I finished playing that durn thing through ninth grade.
And, while I was upset with my mother for making me finish at the time, I’m grateful for the value in her lesson.
Finish what you start.
As for John Henry, he did earn that badge. And, he couldn’t be prouder.
Are you instilling this virtue in your children?
DustyTakle.com 
GOOD WORD! you are right on! thanks for sharing that!
Great blog!! Sooo proud of that teaching you shared that you learned from your Mama and passed on to your son. What a blessing!! I agree, commitment is to be imparted, taught, reminded. Too many runners these days!
The first year our oldest played baseball, the team won every game. The next year, the team lost every game. Half-way through the season, Joshua wanted to quit. He told me it wasn’t fun to lose all the time. I agreed and told his he was right, it wasn’t fun to lose. However, he was on the team and he would remain on the team and finish the season.
He stayed on the team, and yes, it was a rough summer. The team did lose every single game they played for the entire season. Hopefully, Joshua learned a lesson. Time will tell.
We’ve always had our kids stay with every committment unless it is causing them harm. Like my oldest’s first year of refereeing soccer. He was being verbally abused by crazy parents who didn’t like calls he made (You wouldn’t BELIEVE the stories). But he stuck it out anyway, even with our permission to bail. Now he loves it and has become very discerning and wise about people, and also knows how to let things roll off his back with grace. I secretly hoped he would quit so I could stop being nauseous every time he went to a game, but now I’m glad he didn’t.
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