Pinewood Derby Q&A

Not sure what to do, can you give me some advice?

Currently, I am the Den leader of 7 tiger cubs, one of the kids ha severe mental problems (which I have been able to deal with). About a month ago and our troop leaders house, we were at a pine wood derby workshop and the little boy went into their house and took several of his son's awards and belt loops. The mother told me about it shortly after is happened. She said she was going to make him take them back and explain what he did, but as of last night nothing has been returned. The troop leader son still hasn't noticed the items are missing. Should I tell the troop leader what happened so his son can get his stuff back or wait and see if the mother returns them on their own?

Public Comments

1. I would give the Mother a little more time to make good on her promise of returning the items. If she does not in the next day or so, I would either contact her directly to see why she has not returned them, or contact the troop leader and tell him about the incident. Sticky situation isn't it.......
2. Go to the mother and tell her you'd like to return the items personally since you are the Den Leader and ask her to give them to you. This way you will ensure the people get them back. As the "leader" you were in charge of this group and therefore somewhat responsible for what happens.
3. Well...this is a tough one......normally I'd say stay out of it....but since your the den leader, you should go ahead and speak up....it kinda seems like its your duty to. Give it another day or so, and if nothing has happened, see what you can do. Good luck!
4. Go to the mother and check what is going on ... what action has been taken...or not taken.... am sure you know what to do from there
5. Give it another day or so. He should be taught that cubs don't steal. He needs to be punished for his actions, so he knows that a cub doesn't do these kinds of things! I don't care if he has mental problems or not. If we started letting all people with mental problems get away with everything, that wouldn't make the rest of us any better!
6. Yes and tell the mother. No one is doing this boy any favors by allowing him anti social behavior. You might be able to prevent him from stealing in a store and maybe getting into legal trouble if you nip this in the bud. If he doesn't, then he may not be able to go to other people's homes.
7. A hole week? Hmmmm...yes tell the troop leader so he can deal with it. They need to talk about honesty and about being a good cub scout!! No need to tell everyone...but the mother lets this slide...next time it will be a car when hes 15!!!
8. Yes it is tricky, but I agree as a leader, you are in a position of trust and should do something as this is stealing. Also, it has been a month and the longer the mother leaves it, the harder it could get for her to do the right thing and return the items. If you think she will not get defensive, I would suggest you remind her about it and that you are in the position where you can't just let this go by knowing about it. Maybe you could offer to help her eg. say you could try to return the items in an anonymous parcel (if that is better than nothing) or that you would be happy to go with her and help explain if necessary about the boy's problems and that he should not be kicked out of tiger cubs as it is helping him. If that is no good, maybe you can talk to the Den Leader on the quiet - maybe he is a kind and patient man who would know how to approach the boy and his mother about this. Good luck with it. I think if you do nothing, you will continue to feel bad about it, and that might affect how you go as the Den leader.
9. I would hold off a little longer.
10. Tell the troop leader and let them handle it from here on out.