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Whew. We have almost survived another year of selling Girl Scout cookies. Five more days…just five more days and we will be done for another year. Hang in there, Girl Scout parents!

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Don’t misunderstand me. I am glad Kiera is a Girl Scout and am proud of her for selling cookies. It has taught her a lot. The differences in her from last year to this year are amazing.

She can count money. For the most part, she knows how to give change back properly. This year, she and I have been working on how to thank people, even when they tell us they are not interested in buying cookies.

It has overall made her more independent and confident.

For all these things I am thankful. But, I am tired! Saturday, Sarah, our troop leader, and I had to laugh as we carted over 60 cases of cookies out to our vehicles….  three to four cases at a time.

As we passed each other for the umpteenth time going in and out of her house, I said in a singsong tone, “Sell cookies… they said.”

She smiled broadly and answered back, “It’ll be fun they said!”

Even though it can wear us out, it is all worth it. The money our troop raises helps us do activities with the girls through out the year. We also donate a lot back into the community. For example, one of our projects that we did this last year with the girls involved taking them to different stores, buying toys, food and other items that were needed and then delivered them to the Corrine T. Smith Animal Shelter.

That is just one of the many projects that we do with the money raised from selling Girl Scout cookies.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am proud of what Kiera has learned from being in Girl Scouts. In fact, sometimes, she winds up being the bigger person.

One day, recently, we were walking through a store parking lot. I was holding Kiera’s hand and mentally making a list of what I needed from the store. As we paused to look and make sure there were no cars coming, Kiera looked down at the ground and tugged my hand.

“Mom.”

I glanced down and looked into her upturned face. “Look.” She stated as she pointed at a 20-ounce soda bottle lying on the ground. “Do you want to do something good?” She asked innocently.

I tried to hide the revulsion on my face as I glanced at that bottle. It wasn’t empty, just so you know. I’m fairly certain the dark liquid that resided in that bottle was someone’s spit. But, thankfully, it did have a cap on it, holding the revolting liquid in.

Scrunching up my nose, I peeked back at my child wondering if I could get away with saying no.

My conscious outweighed my OCD…barely.

“Sure.” I responded, briefly closing my eyes. “Let’s do something good.”

She beamed at me and without a moment’s hesitation bent down and picked the bottle up, avoiding the cap. We carried it to the trashcan where she dropped the bottle in. I swiftly uncapped my hand sanitizer, pouring a generous amount on to her hands.

“I’m a Girl Scout. We do good things.” She explained as she rubbed the sanitizer on her hands.

How can you argue with that?

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member admin_label=”Rowonna McNeely” saved_tabs=”all” name=”Rowonna McNeely” position=”Graphic Designer – Mommy to Kiera” image_url=”https://brownwood.onecmsdev.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1378/2016/12/RoandKiera.jpg” animation=”off” background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Rowonna McNeely works with her husband, Aaron, at Willie’s T’s in the Art Department, regularly volunteers in the community, and has her hands full with her daughter, Kiera, along with two dogs and one cat.

Rowonna is a graduate of May High School (Go Tigers!) and grew up on a dairy farm. She enjoys reading, creating, swimming, and planning events. She’s also a bit of a klutz.

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