Kids in the shop

ultrarunner · Sep 15, 2014

Every year I would add things for the Christmas Stockings... one year it was Klein Screwdrivers and another year it was 25' tape measures...

When the youngest was 7 they had a birthday party in the park... about 20 of her 7 year old friends were invited...

Most of the presents were Barbie, My Pony, etc... all made in China plastic except for mine.

It was a small tool bag with her name embroidered on it and basic hand tools... safety glasses, gloves, a Stanley quick cut tool box saw, wrenches, sockets etc... and a Stanley Utility Knife...

First off... all of the little girls suddenly lost interest in Barbie and My Pony... all they wanted to do was try out the tools... Moms were commenting on who knew and several of the girls said they had asked for tools but there parents said no... not for girls.

By the way... the Box Cutter was kept for safe keeping with Mom until she had a chance to go over the rules and then only when supervised... which is the way it should be.

Last year the now 10 year said Bacon when asked what she wanted for her birthday... being one to oblige I gift wrapped 20 pounds of Apple Smoked premium bacon... now that was a hit and again had the kids saying they were going to ask for bacon on their birthdays....

Rio_Grande · Sep 15, 2014

Thanks for the replies, when I posted this I was kind of aggravated, the reality is I am happy they want to be out there with me. I have been mr mom for most of this year since their mom returned to work and the issues with the kids has kept me out of the shop most of the year. Now with little daylight after work I am trying to get them out there more so the at aren't just sitting around watching tv. I have bought them both tools and a small carry around tool box. Usually when I loose something I find it in my sons tool box.

smiley · Sep 15, 2014

My grandson now 4 1\2 likes to make small projects like simple boats etc. and follows me around the garage handing me tools. One day when he was about a year and a half, I was wire brushing something and laid the brush on the floor, I heard a squeak behind me and looked around and he was sitting there holding the wire brush in front of him looking at it with a strange look and rubbing his head with the other hand. He'd tried brushing his hair with it!!!!!!!

breadtrk · Sep 15, 2014

My daughter, an only child and raised by me alone since she was 6, followed me like a puppy. She knew all her fractions and the nearest metric equivalent by the time she was 10. Started changing the oil in the cars and trucks when she was 12 (for 20 bucks). She is 26 now and founder and GM of an autocross club near the Army base near here. She keeps them soldiers in line I tell you!

She can do anything mechanical, troubleshoot and fix, frame a house, handle a worm drive Skil saw like a man, shoot, field dress and butcher a whole assortment of critters and still win a local Beauty Queen contest at the fair last year. She is 26 now and living with her fiance who owns a gun shop right outside the main gate of the Army base. She has been hanging and working with him for 3 years, has Type 10 FFL. I get to go on Demo's when they play with the big stuff.

I've very, very proud of her.