For the first year and a half after my mother’s passing, one needed wild horses to get me to leave the house.
After nearly nine months of fighting with ER doctors, brain surgeons, social workers, hospital administrators, attorneys, and medical flight coordinators, I was simply talked out. Not to mention, I had waged a five month-long battle with her insurance company that I ultimately won, but at a very exhausting cost. Unfortunately, it was all short-lived since my mother ultimately passed a little bit after returning home.
When my daughter came home from school and announced that she had enrolled herself in Girl Scouts, I was intrigued. Her show of initiative suggested she saw something that I should pay attention to.
A colleague shared about her daughter’s experience with the Highest Awards and scholarship opportunities. After completing an advocacy project in high school, college scholarships came flying in. I started paying a little more attention.
Once In a Lifetime Opportunities-Wait a Minute, On Broadway?!?!?
The funny thing about the Scouts is there’s always something to get into, even when you’re not looking. Liz entered a “Wicked on Broadway” essay competition about doing things “For Good,” which included a special performance for Girl Scouts across the nation.
Next thing I knew, my baby was standing on stage with a handful of other finalists at the Gershwin Theatre. Liz had written an essay about her effort to collect donations in support of asylum-seeking families who had been shuttled around the city in the cold. Looking out at an audience of 1,300 Girl Scouts was a far cry from the Junior Broadway shows back at the school auditorium. The magnitude of how far we could take this thing was starting to sink in for her mother.
Mom got Activated for Cookie Season
When Liz’s troop entered cookie season in February 2024, she asked her marketing, fundraising mother for help. Our plan was to work smarter and not harder because selling cookies in the cold would not be the move.
By the end of the week, we had worked out a partnership with the ice cream shop around the corner because we realized that he likely wasn’t selling a lot of sundaes in 20 degree weather. Our guess was that Thin Mint-flavored sundaes might move the needle and bring more traffic to his location. We were right. After our first successful cookie booth, both mom and daughter were totally drunk on the Green Kool-Aid.
Within a month, I had somehow joined the school troop as a volunteer leader. I immediately began coordinating booth sales and causing traffic on Merrick Blvd.
Cookie Season May Lead to a Lifetime of Self Confidence
There is no feeling on this earth quite like witnessing a Girl Scout sell her first box of cookies. The positive affirmation, the huge grin, the relief once the sale is made, the increased self-confidence, and then the resolve that sets in as they start calculating how far they are from their goal before they get right back to selling — it’s truly a great journey of discovery.
Creating that core memory may help to set an ambitious foundation for years to come. It’s also exactly what the doctor ordered for families needing a boost heading into testing season.
Where the Cookie Money Goes
One of the biggest questions that people have is what happens to the money raised for cookies.
Here’s your answer: While a portion of sales go back to the organization’s local council to pay for cookie production and organizational expenses, a percentage of the money goes back to the local troop.
Each troop relies heavily on cookie sales to fund transportation to service projects, team/troop-building and bonding activities, and sometimes to pay for fun fellowship activities after a year of academic responsibilities. The organization has done a remarkable job evolving its curriculum to maintain a focus on four key areas: life skills, outdoor exploration, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) and entrepreneurship.
Grief is Never Linear, But Authentic Joy is Everlasting
This year’s cookie season took a backseat to algebra for awhile, but I’m happy to report that the seal has been broken. We are finally resuming more social activities after more than 2 years of bereavement hibernation.
Liz has been able to pursue some noteworthy service projects including serving runners at the New York City Marathon, and she most recently traveled with her troop to Albany to advocate for legislation in support of Green Healthy Schools.
While there truly isn’t a set deadline for healing (and grief therapy is highly recommended), there is always an unexpected blessing waiting around the corner. Liz is currently working on her first Highest Award project, and we’re looking forward to see what else the scouting journey has in store for us.
