I belong to a small pack, I have the largest den which consists of six webelos. For the most part they have a good group dynamic and we get alot of stuff done. I also have very dedicated parents. I have one parent in specific who has been a problem for several years, he is a real know it all, if you've got a story, he's got one better. If your kid did something well, his kid can do it better. If his kid lost at pinewood derby, pushcart races or tug-o-war, the winners all cheated and he has no problem voicing his opinions in front of parents and other kids, ruining the event and making others feel bad. It has even gotten to the point where parents won't come on outtings if this dad is coming, instead they send the other spouse, an uncle or aunt or older cousin. In some family cases they are running out of people who will deal with this dad and are just opting out, and staying at home instead.
At last weeks meeting we were working on some Outdoorsman and fire safety requirements. This weekend is two of the boys' first campouts at a council sponsered event, they are all very excited.
While working on fire building I started with the basics, setting up a safe area, free of dry debris that may catch on fire, you readers know the drill, then went into how to start the fire with a little dry grass or leaves, then tinder and gradually get larger. Then "super-dad" (I use this as a sarcastic yet more appropriate than what I'd like to call him, name) pulls out his zippo lighter and hands it to his son who cannot seem to get the matches lit and is beginning to cry. In front of the other kids he starts badgering him for crying and tells him just to use the lighter, no one ever uses matches anymore anyways.
I kindly took the lighter and asked another dad to help "super-dad" get some materials from my SUV to separate him from his child, whom the other boys helped cheer up quickly by encouraging him to keep working with the matches and another dad and I gave him some pointers, the situation resolved itself quickly. When "super-dad" returned and his son told him excitedly that he had gotten it started with matches his father replied with "I'll get you a lighter for camp, I don't want you to look stupid again." I immediately told him lighters were not permitted, to this I got a dirty look and told that his kid could use one just fine. (If he shows up to camp with one I will take it away)
Ok long story short, I cannot have this behavior happening. I have had like I said, complaints from other parents, specifically involving his "better" ways to use a pocket knife. I have been putting out fires for this guy for three years now and It's not getting better. I feel like if I say flat out that he cannot attend events it will cause them to pull the child out of scouting. I have seen the boys older brothers, not to mention that his parents are not what you would call upstanding citizens, he's already set up for failure. His aunt, who's son is also in my group, agrees that scouting might be the only thing that keeps this boy from a juvinile detention center.
I am at a loss, we only have one year left until he would cross over to Boy Scouts, something which his parents have already voiced he may not be doing. Do I once again talk to "super-dad" and tell him to cool off, something that hasn't worked in the past. The CM has tried talking to him, nothings changed. I just don't think it's fair to the scout that his dad is always cutting him down, or to the other scouts who are caught in the middle of it, and to me who is always being interupted and "corrected" while I am trying to work with my scouts.
Sorry for the long post, any advice is welcomed.
