Navigating the world of parenting can be a delightful yet chaotic adventure, especially when it comes to activities like selling Girl Scout cookies. My daughter, who is 7 and proudly a member of the Brownies, has had her troop engage in a range of enjoyable activities, from visiting animal shelters to delivering baskets to veterans. While I appreciate the dedicated moms who plan these outings, I typically take a backseat approach. That was until the cookie sales came into play.
For reasons I still can’t quite comprehend, I decided to dive into the cookie-selling frenzy. After all, there are invaluable lessons to glean from this experience—lessons that a former Girl Scout recently discussed on CNN.
Lessons Learned
- Marketing Skills: My daughter would learn to persuade people to purchase cookies.
- Handling Rejection: She’d encounter potential buyers who would say no, teaching her resilience.
- Courage: Approaching strangers is daunting at any age, but especially for a 7-year-old. Selling cookies, however, requires a brave face.
To my surprise, my daughter excelled in these areas. She tackled marketing, rejection, and courage like a pro. But, oh boy, what a mess I made of it all!
My first mistake was deciding to sell cookies to former coworkers. At that moment, I was between jobs, and with my kids having yet another day off school (don’t even get me started), we hopped on the train to Manhattan. Armed with her order forms and an adorable smile, my daughter sold cookies while I handled the cash. She was a hit! I was patting myself on the back for my brilliant plan.
Then I received a call from my mother-in-law. I excitedly recounted our success, and she casually asked how I planned to transport all those cookie boxes on the train when they arrived. It was at that moment I realized my oversight. While carrying a form and cash is manageable, transporting multiple boxes of cookies via two subway lines is an entirely different beast. By the time the cookies were ready for pickup, I had secured a new job, meaning I’d likely need to take time off just to deliver the cookies.
And then came the real blunder. The cookies needed to be collected from one of the Brownie moms. In my frantic attempt to grab my order lists—lists I didn’t even need since the Cookie Mom was way more organized than I could ever be—I managed to spill an entire cup of coffee into my laptop.
It didn’t stop there. After I picked up the cookies, I had the delightful experience of trying to back out of the Cookie Mom’s winding driveway, only to accidentally crash into her iron gate. It took an excruciating ten minutes to navigate out, and once home, I discovered the damage I’d inflicted on my brother’s car. I dealt with my feelings by consuming an entire box of Samoas, as if that would miraculously fix everything.
Now, I was left with a damaged vehicle, a stomach full of Samoas, and ten cartons of cookies—somehow needing to figure out how to distribute them, possibly with my daughter, who I was now dragging out of school for “cookie closure.”
Hard-Earned Wisdom
So, here’s my hard-earned wisdom on how NOT to sell Girl Scout cookies:
- Avoid Complicated Locations: Don’t sell cookies in places that are difficult to reach or require navigating multiple subway systems, especially near crowded tourist spots like Times Square.
- Keep Your Sales Modest: Aim for a smaller quantity rather than a massive order.
- Skip the Extras: Don’t over-order “just in case,” because you’ll likely end up devouring them.
- Beware of Samoas: They are dangerously delicious. One box is never enough.
- If You Struggle with Temptation: If you have a weakness for Samoas like I do, consider reading this article for some helpful tips.
Selling Girl Scout cookies can be a fun and educational experience, but it’s essential to approach it with a clear plan and reasonable expectations. For those considering home insemination, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while the lessons learned from selling cookies can be invaluable, ensuring a manageable approach is crucial.
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