I'm not bragging or anything....

cowpatty · Jan 20, 2012

I'm not bragging or anything but my kids are the smartest, most intelligent, and best looking kids in the world...

Here is a pic of my seven year old running the backhoe. After about 10 minutes she was a driving it around like a pro and after that we went down to the pond and let her dig a little. She dug down an honest 6 feet to bedrock and kept all her dirt in a surprisingly neat pile. To say the least, I was one proud guy.

kf4uda · Jan 20, 2012

That little girl looks like a natural sitting up there operating. You have a right to brag a little. I am just glad she has a good Dad that will take the time to teach her things like that. Keep up the good work, just keep a helping hand close by.

bullbreaker · Jan 20, 2012

Enjoyed pic/post ! :thumbsup:
Super clean looking B-21 too !

Boone

JB4310 · Jan 20, 2012

Either she's real smart or it doesn't take much inteligence to operate a back hoe :laughing:

Not a good toy for such a young child though, except under very close supervision, which I'm sure you did. Accidents can happen.

JB

Bob77064 · Jan 20, 2012

Great picture.

Stihlrunner · Jan 20, 2012

Whew whew whew, here come the safety police! Pull over and drop your loader!

Great picture cowpatty! My young ones cut their teeth on a CUT also. Pun intended.

I would guess you were probably passed out drunk on Ol Grandad somewhere and just tossed her the keys so she wouldn't bother you?

No, wait....maybe you are actually a responsible parent that is trying to instill some confidence and self-dependence in your kids so they will be better adults. There are parents like me that teach their kids to run chainsaws, drive tractors and shoot guns. All very dangerous endeavors to be sure.

However, my 23 year old daughter lives in a major metropolitan city, carries a .38 and has never taken her car to mechanic...choosing to do all the repairs herself. My 17 year old daughter is a volunteer firefighter. My 13 yo daughter is a competitive skeet shooter.

I don't say all this to brag. I'm trying to get across that I have exposed my kids to danger and challenges. I was there to supervise and coach because I knew that I couldn't be beside them forever

So get off cowpatty's azz and compliment him on his beautiful, capable daughter.

cowpatty · Jan 20, 2012

I was very close by the whole time, trust me. I am amazed with how mechanically inclined she is. She loves her little fourwheeler and now it seems like I am going to have to talk the ole lady into getting another tractor just for me!!

The B21 is new to me, I have only had it about three weeks. It has 670 hrs and is in very good shape. Amazing what this machine can do. I really like it.

DennisFolsom · Jan 20, 2012

Growing up on a small dairy farm, I was driving tractors as soon as I could reach the pedals. The tractor I first started on was a Farmall H with no fenders. The safety police would have a field day with that! To top it off, my Dad stood on the drawbar, holding on to the back of the seat while he taught me to drive. The safety police now would probably turn him in for child abuse! Regardless of all of that, those are some of the best memories I have of my Dad.

Now to the little girl on the backhoe. I see absolutely no safety problem at all with that. She is obviously concentrating on what she is doing. Her Dad was supervising, and I'm quite sure he had the throttle at a low setting. Kids learn eye-hand coordination amazingly fast and well. With a half hour's practice, she probably became a better backhoe operator than many adults would with a half day's practice.

I think it's a great skill for her to learn. At 7, I don't think she's too young to learn it! Good job, Cowpatty!:thumbsup:

RaydaKub · Jan 21, 2012

DennisFolsom said:
Growing up on a small dairy farm, I was driving tractors as soon as I could reach the pedals. The tractor I first started on was a Farmall H with no fenders. The safety police would have a field day with that! To top it off, my Dad stood on the drawbar, holding on to the back of the seat while he taught me to drive. The safety police now would probably turn him in for child abuse! Regardless of all of that, those are some of the best memories I have of my Dad.

Learned on a '51 Model A JD when I was young enough that I couldn't push the clutch in hard enough to get it to lock. Did primary tillage on the Case 730 when I was about that same age. My dad put me in the seat and talked me through 3 rounds, stepped down and let me finish the field. Best way to grow up there ever was.

Keep it up, cowpatty! You're bringin' her up right! :thumbsup:

PossumHound · Jan 21, 2012

Very intelligent and good looking young lady there in that seat. Kudos to you Cowpatty for teaching her! That kind of experience builds confidence that will support her all her life.

I'm like Sthilrunner, DennisFolsom, and RaydaKub. Grew up around equipment working on the farm with three brothers, and while there were accidents and close calls we were all better off for the experience. I hate it when the safety police jump in to criticize the least little thing that they view as an issue. How the heck can you learn without taking a little risk?

PH

k0ua · Jan 21, 2012

I can't imagine what a thrill that must have been for your young daughter to have some fun and operate that backhoe. Heck I would like to operate it too and I am about 50 years older!:thumbsup:

James K0UA

blunosr · Jan 21, 2012

That's Awesome!!! You're a good Father!

Mike476 · Jan 21, 2012

Excellent! Have two daughters, both have been using my tractor since they were 10-11 years old to groom our horse paddock, I was more concerned with them riding 1000 lb horses with a mind of their own.

Both were brought up to know their vehicles, last year my youngest helped a friend (young man)who was giving her and a few others a drive home after late classes at University, of the four of them she was the only one to isolate the park switch as the reason the young man's car wouldn't start. Start em young I say, great job!

TripleR · Jan 21, 2012

Great picture, thanks for sharing.:thumbsup:

Like others I grew up on tractors and raised my kids pretty much the way you are.

creekbend · Jan 21, 2012

:thumbsup:

Thomas · Jan 21, 2012

Indeed you should be very proud father...pics worth 1000 words.

veresjwv · Jan 21, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
Whew whew whew, here come the safety police! Pull over and drop your loader!

Great picture cowpatty! My young ones cut their teeth on a CUT also. Pun intended.

I would guess you were probably passed out drunk on Ol Grandad somewhere and just tossed her the keys so she wouldn't bother you?

No, wait....maybe you are actually a responsible parent that is trying to instill some confidence and self-dependence in your kids so they will be better adults. There are parents like me that teach their kids to run chainsaws, drive tractors and shoot guns. All very dangerous endeavors to be sure.

However, my 23 year old daughter lives in a major metropolitan city, carries a .38 and has never taken her car to mechanic...choosing to do all the repairs herself. My 17 year old daughter is a volunteer firefighter. My 13 yo daughter is a competitive skeet shooter.

I don't say all this to brag. I'm trying to get across that I have exposed my kids to danger and challenges. I was there to supervise and coach because I knew that I couldn't be beside them forever

So get off cowpatty's azz and compliment him on his beautiful, capable daughter.

HEAR! HEAR!:thumbsup:

JB4310 · Jan 21, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
Whew whew whew, here come the safety police! Pull over and drop your loader!

So get off cowpatty's azz and compliment him on his beautiful, capable daughter.

Wow!!! I knew I was taking a chance with that comment and,
I don't usually take the safety police position, but I will in this case just for the sake of argument.

I truly do believe without risk there can be no reward. And I have done things that I wouldn't brag about with my kids, bringing them up on church roofs and letting them operate all kinds of equipment.

The picture by itself is adorable I agree, but when you tell me such a small child is digging an 8 foot deep trench, that means she's using the machine at it's maximum capabilities. When I look at the picture I see a tiny little 40 pound kid that can't reach the floor with her feet, and is sitting at the edge of the seat (with no seat belt

).

If no one sees the potential for risk of an unnecessary accident with that, It makes me wonder... As a staged picture it would be great, doing what's done on a heavy construction job by experienced grown men, IMO is not a great idea.

Absolutely no offense to OP, But if he were my friend I would tell him exactly what I stated here and my reasons.

Sounds like some of you are the ones that think it's still OK to mow the lawn with your grand-kids on your lap, on the lawn tractor?

JB

TigerfaninAR · Jan 21, 2012

Love it!!

Here's my oldest helping bring some wood up to the house.

MikeD74T · Jan 21, 2012

Turned my son loose with my 580ck when he was 12, was not allowed to start or dismount with engine running. He's now a masterful equipment operator. Am starting to teach a grandson as well, however I will insist that he use the seatbelt, both because it's availible to use & he's used to using seatbelts in vehicles anyway. Why discourage good habits? Teaching kids early in IMO is great preparation for life in general, danger is always nearby whether you recognize or not. MikeD74T :thumbsup: