Beyond Cookies

Very often, the response that comes back from other parents (not all) about Girl Scouts is – “Is it the one where kids sell cookies? We don’t like how the kids knock on doors and ask us to buy cookies”. To believe that Girl Scouts and cookies are synonyms is a myth.  Is this lack of awareness about Girl Scouts predominantly exists within my community? I am not sure about it.

I agree that there are some Girl Scout parents and troop leaders out there who are very aggressive and take it very personal on selling cookies so as to out beat others or just to get more revenue for their troop. I know how the people get in a spot when someone asks them to buy Girl Scout Cookies, when they are not interested to buy.  Occasionally these become an awkward situation to face either with the family, friends or at workplace. But, denying buying (if not interested for any reason) might be the best bet than to buy them out of social obligation. It would be a valuable lesson to the scout as how to deal with denial.

It is not a sensible decision not to enroll one’s kid into Girl Scouts just because they have to sell cookies. Selling cookies is just one aspect of numerous activities that the organization undertakes. Yes, Girl Scouts does talk or advertise a lot about their delicious cookies, because that is the cash cow for this voluntary, non-profit organization.

Girl scouts teaches girls to be strong, to lead, to help, to consider, to give back, to have fun and to be responsible – some or all of the basic traits a girl needs. In short, it makes the girls to learn how to be socially and environmentally survive in this competing world. It is much more beyond just selling cookies.