WARNING - Overly proud Mom alert

Alex is home from his first week of Scout Camp. I survived and he thrived. He had a great week and is feeling really great about himself thanks to himself and the wonderful boys and leaders that he spent the week with. We went up on Tuesday night to celebrate Alex's 12th birthday with him. It was a surprise visit that the Bishop planned and didn't tell Alex about. Alex said he was having a good time, but he still looked scared and shy to me. The boys in his troop were really making efforts to make him feel a part of the group. They are good boys and have big hearts. Unlike school they don't seem to care about anything except that you are part of the troop and so you are accepted.
It was good to see Alex and it made him feel good too. Our Bishop had given him an Indiana Jones hat for his birthday and they nicknamed him Indi. After that we just sat back and waited for the week to be over. When we went up to camp on Friday he was definitely acting more comfortable and no longer scared at all. In fact on Wednesday night he completed the Wilderness survival overnight camp out. He built his own shelter and slept in it without a sleeping bag or anything. Considering he has only been camping about 6 times and only once without a parent it is terrific that he did this and did it on his first try.
He is very proud of what he accomplished. At the end of the week on Friday a storm blew through the camp and got everything wet. The troop decided to come home a night early and Alex was the only one who wanted to stay. I told the leaders that obviously Alex has the worst home life.
A note about tooth brushing. When we got there I asked Alex if he had brushed his teeth or changed his underwear and socks. He had changed underwear and socks, but claimed he couldn't find his tooth brush. He hadn't opened his very neatly packed toiletry kit all week. At least he changed his underwear right?