Apparently I Need A Man For That

Jacob joined Cub Scouts this week, and at the first meeting they were talking about all the really fun activities that he would get to do. One of those activities is the Pinewood Derby. The only thing I know about this is that they race little wooden cars. Or something, I’m sketchy on the details. I came home and told my mom, and she said “you’re going to need a guy for that.” I said “But they come in a kit! How hard can it be to paint and glue wheels on?” Imagine my shock and horror when I discovered that the “kit” is a freaking block of wood, and I’m supposed to, like, carve it or something. Anyone who has met me knows that I shouldn’t be allowed within 50 yards of any sort of tool. Still, I said “I don’t need a guy. I’m a single mom to a little boy, I’m just going to have to learn how to do these things.” My mom was adamant though, she once again sternly said “no, you really need a guy for that. I got a guy to make your brother’s.” She said these Pinewood Derby things are pretty competitive, and although I’m mildly offended at her lack of confidence in my woodworking skills (of which I don’t actually have any), I suppose I’ll just have to trust her on that one. I called up my friend and enlisted her boyfriend and son. Her kid builds race bikes from random parts, so a wooden car can’t be all that hard.

So this of course got me to thinking, what other areas will I be lacking in when it comes to raising Jake on my own? I’m told there’s camping involved in Cub Scouts. Like real camping, the kind where you actually sleep in the woods, on the ground, and not on a blow-up mattress 50 feet from an indoor, heated bathroom. Will I be up for that task when the time comes? I love the idea of camping, it’s great in theory, but like cooking and crafts, I’m not so good on the follow through. What about sports? I suck at sports! You know how they yell at kids and say “come on, don’t be afraid of the ball!” Well, I’m afraid of it. It moves very fast and can knock out my teeth, so you bet I’m downright terrified of it.

On the plus side, I rock at video games and although I don’t know all the Marvel and DC superheroes the way Jake already does, I bought an encyclopedia so I can learn. I know more about Star Wars than I ever thought I would. So maybe I won’t suck to bad at this single parenting. I figure when things like the Pinewood Derby come up, I can always bribe one of my guy friends to help me, right? Okay, panic attack averted! I’m totally going to rock this single Mommyhood thing!