Tuesday, June 15, 2010
1:44 AM
Brownie's
I had to beg and beg my mom to let me join the Brownies. She wasn't big on such things. I had to beg to be in just about everything I was in, not because she wanted to deprive me of fun but because she had social anxiety disorder even way back then, though we didn't realize it at the time. She never felt comfortable attending group events where all of the other parents, etc. were going to be. Bless her heart. I just didn't get that at the time so I drug her just about everywhere - Brownies, 4-H, basketball, softaball, band, choir, and several other things I can't think of at the moment. Now that I know firsthand how hard it is for someone with S.A.D. to do those kind of things, I love my sweet mama even more for the many, many times she gave in to my pleading and let me be a part of things.
Brownies: Mrs. Minter had somehow acquired a troop dress that fit me perfectly so mom's initial "it costs too much money" excuse for not letting me join Brownies was shot out of the water. And once I had made Mrs. Minter promise to save the dress for me, Mom had no hope of stopping the moving train that was my incredibly determined child self. She paid $3.00 for it. It was in excellent condition and I was so proud to wear it that you would have thought that it cost a million bucks.
I was so excited when my mom took me to Hunt's to buy all of my Brownie gear. This was our handbook. It had all of the Brownie info, as well as some songs inside of it. I couldn't wait to get started so I learned the Brownie pledge and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (which was the first song in the book) before our first meeting. My Brownie leader was very impressed by my enthusiasm. Or maybe she could not have cared less and I just choose to remember it with a positive spin. It's one or the other. LOL
Random Brownie memories:
1. It was held at the home of a girl whose family scared all of us. We went ahead and joined just because it was our only choice if we wanted to be in the group but we desperately wished some other mom had volunteered to lead us.
2. Brownie Halloween Party: My first time to do the dunk-for-apples thing. And of course, because I have always been insanely crazy about anything related to swimming or getting wet, I didn't stop at just dunking my face into the water. I put my whole head under the water and someone else's mom tattled on me. I can't remember who it was but I do remember being embarrassed and really, really pissed off at the woman who made it her business to ruin all of my water fun. : )
3. All of us new Brownies were told that we were not allowed to wear our uniform until after we had attended two or three times, which I thought to be insanely cruel. All of us newbies were dying to wear that very "official" uniform. I was the only one whose mom did not intervene and make me follow the rules. Go mom. LOL I wore mine and although the older girls made sure to tell me what a cardinal sin it was, I ignored them and strutted that dress all around school and to the meeting that first day. I wore it every meeting day after that, as well.
Third meeting. Whatever.
I make my own rules.
: )