The Adventures of "UberMom & Slacker Mom"

...also known as Day 1 of Cub Scout Day Camp.

I mentioned in a previous post that, in my attempt to pass for a reasonably mediocre mother, I allowed myself to be coaxed into volunteering as co-den leader at the Cub Scout Day Camp. Son #2 is a Cub Scout, as is his best friend. His best friend's mother (I affectionately refer to her as UberMom) was a den leader last year and volunteered again this year. Feeling like a slacker (hence the SlackerMom self-moniker), I too stepped up. WHAT was I thinking???

Let's lay out a few facts here:
1) I am not an outdoorsy kind of gal.
2) I hate bugs.
3) I hate to sweat.

Sweat & bugs are a staple here in southeast Louisiana in June.

Nevertheless, as I mentioned in a previous post, I will not suffer alone. I've got all the kids involved in one way or another. Of course Son #2 is Scouting. There's a camp program for younger sibling so Son #3 is enrolled in that (and enjoying far more that I thought he might - he can be rather shy at times). UberMom's daughter is also enrolled in the sibling program.

Son #1 is a Boy Scout, as is UberMom's oldest son, so we signed them up as Junior Volunteers. Her son is our den chief. My son has been working at Camp Headquarters - he's more or less a "gofer," a position for which he's well-suited. He's very energetic and doesn't have to stay in one place very long.

As for our den - the scouts for which we're responsible - there 13 ten-year old boys (including Son #2 and best friend). Keeping them focused, making sure they have all their belongings, keeping them moving from place to place on schedule, well, it's a lot like trying to wrangle a herd of .... cats.

So far their nefarious deeds haven't bested UberMom and SlackerMom. We sound like a crime-fighting duo. Which, come to think of it, it an apt description. :-)

UberMom is fun to work with, though. She's one of those women who seems to keep everything running smoothly: shuttling three kids to various music lessons, sporting activities, taking care of her live-in father. I'm in awe. Nauseous, but in awe.

We leave the house at 7 am, arrive back home from camp around 5. And after camp on Monday, she still managed to drop her son off at baseball practice, dash to the store, pick up some art supplies, and craft a den spirit flag for the very next day.

Me, I drag myself through the front door, shuttle the three kids into the shower (one at a time, of course), start the laundry (we have to wear a camp t-shirt everyday - they only gave us one shirt each), pre-pack as much as I can of the next day's lunch, consider serving cereal for dinner (I decide against it and actually cook something), shower, and forget the three or four other things I'm supposed to be doing.

If her life is a well-oiled machine, mine is held together with duct tape. Of course, I'm writing this with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek. She's a very nice person, one I consider a friend. I admire all that she does. I don't think I lack the energy per se to accomplish similar feats of greatness, but rather I lack the focus. My brain is simply just too scattered.

But I'm having fun at camp. There. I've said it. Monday was a great first day. Things ran smoothly and the weather wasn't too ridiculous. We still have the same number of kids at the end of the day that we had at the beginning (no small feat) - AND they're even the same kids! Woo Hoo!