A New Tradition

Troop 574 started a new tradition (hopefully) with a Mom & Scout Mother's Day Tea. Run by the Bloedow family, 10 scout Moms enjoyed a classy afternoon tea party together, in which the food was made (in part) and served by their sons.

One goal of the event was for the moms to have a chance to get to know one another. With the usual turnover of families joining and aging out, combined with unusual Covid limitations, we've had a distinct shortage of events for the moms and so many of them don't know each other, and don't know the veteran moms who can teach them so much about how Scouts works. A second goal was for the scouts to learn how to help create an occasional classy, safe, feminine space for the ladies in their lives, and to practice service.

Handmade table centers, on floral tablecloths, and menus greeted arriving moms

The scouts arrived at 11:30 to help prepare the room at the church, and to start making scones and cucumber sandwiches. Moms started arriving at about 2, upon which their son would escort them to their table on their arm, where handmade placecards indicated their assigned seat.

A sample place setting

After the moms had had a chance to chat and start to get to know each other, and study the menu, the scouts went out and took a tea order from their own mom. The teas were generously provided by Compassion Tea. Scouts brought their tea out to them in individual little teapots on "silver" trays.

The food consisted of cucumber sandwiches, salmon sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, lemon squares, fresh fruit, and mini pastries presented on 3-tier plate stands.

The scouts made the bottom two plates of food before their moms arrived!

Get-to-know-you questions were glued onto the back of each name card, plus distributed on the table, in case ladies needed help breaking the ice.

Scouts serving their moms tea & scones in their class A uniforms

There was also a backdrop for some mom & scout photos to take home.

Mrs. Bloedow – the brains & beauty behind the event – and family

Everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate the event, both outside and inside the "dining room". Behind the scenes, there were plenty of planning mistakes which required last minute trips to and from stores and home. Thanks to the scouts for their patience waiting for their Costco pizzas! Maybe it can become a Troop 574 annual tradition and next time we'll have learned from our mistakes.