Thanks everyone! I know I have a problem with scenario-ing. My son tells me this is what I am most gifted in and he also tells me that I am being a helicopter mom, but at least he says I'm not as bad as his sister who is a Blackhawk. His sister tells him that she just knows more about the kinds of trouble he could get into if he is not careful. She was my wild child, way too social in my opinion, smart but not interested in academics at all once she started middle school and became a cheerleader. I was not a helicopter mom with my daughter and I probably should have been.

I think my son is at an age now where I need to step back and let him figure out how to work around his physical weaknesses but also give him a chance to show his strengths in front of other boys. He crossed over with only two other boys his age out of the 20 something that he started with in Tiger Cubs. He does have two friends in scouts that are four years older and one of them, the one who I think is most like my son (gifted, does musical theater, sense of humor) says he thinks my son will not like it.

I am worried that, at least with this group of kids, it might be more of a "manly man" competition. I am a little worried that my husband, a former first sergeant, might try to push him to do more than he can do and he will end up being embarrassed in front of the other boys and his dad. My husband thinks I should stay home if they go on a camping trip. I was thinking I could stay in our travel trailer somewhere nearby, but out of sight.

I have noticed that boys and men (even 50 something year old men) are still very competitive physically. There is another 50 something year old dad who is a scout leader, also former military, but now working as an engineer. It looked like this guy and my husband were competing with each other when the boys were working on a fitness badge. So I am wondering if this physical competition thing is something that my son will have to deal with even as he gets older. If so, maybe he just needs to find a way to deal with it now.

If he has a chance to do what he is good at, making up jokes and humorous stories and doing imitations of people, then I think the other kids will like him and maybe it will be okay. I do think he needs to try it.

Thank again, everyone.