I felt like Carl and Mr Van today.

B

Brian.Evans

Registered Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
3,267
My stepkids are going down to Florida with their dad this week. They are driving the entire way. I've been trying to instill in my 17 year old a sense of readiness that seems to be lacking in his generation. I was driving him to his dads house and decided it was time to have a man to man talk with him. Before we left the house I grabbed a few items that I thought were essential for him to carry on a road trip. to be continued. ....
 
Ok....sorry, my phone was about to die, so I had to wait to post the rest of the story......

The stage was set. We were chatting, riding down the road. I love this kid. He is a great kid and will make a heck of a man. I've been trying to turn him into a knife guy, and he's almost there. We got to talking about how much "fun" a road trip from IL to FL was going to be in a van with three girls under 12. I nudged the conversation towards preparedness. I pulled the items I had retrieved from my "man box" before we left the house. I gave him the Leatherman, the red bone peanut I picked up a while ago, and a Streamlight Microstream flashlight.

I explained that the difference between changing a tire in the dark or by the light of a cell phone screen and by the light of a flashlight can be huge. I told him that the Leatherman had saved my butt a bunch of times, from minor to fairly major. And finally, I explained how having good, sharp blade could mean he would be the hero when no one could get their new swim masks open, or when something more important needed cut. Explained how a dull knife is like a rifle with no ammunition.

He was very psyched. I was psyched that he was psyched. I'm glad he's growing up, and I'll turn him into one of us soon enough.

Thanks to Carl, and thanks to Mr. Van, wherever you are.
 
Sounds good.
Although I don't know your stepson.
I do know this.
At 17 he is hopefully emerging from the tunnel of adolescence that he entered around 14 and its accompanying monosyllabic caveman phase.
At least he can see the light of the grownup world at the end.
Its a good thing to bestow the concept of responsibility and helpfulness on him.
cheers
 
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

It's always an exiting time when you think your kid is at that age where they deserve the grown up stuff for 'just in case'. A first knife, a small flashlight, a tool or two for those unseen emergencies.. And it's exiting to see that they are exited. It's a conscious acceptance of their bigger role in the game of life. Some responsibility for both themselves, and maybe those that are with them. When they get to that age, where toys are replaced by tools, guidance is always needed. Just a gentle guidance, not overdone.

I remember that day with all three of my kids, and two grandkids. Different kids come to that point at different times. My daughter, Jessica, go to that point before the boys, and one boy made me think he'd never get there. But he did eventually. They got started with a small pocket size flashlight, then a Sear's keychain screw driver, then a P-38, then a small SAK. To this day, Jess is a fanatic on carrying a small SAK and a flashlight. My older boy is so-so, and my younger boy a bonafided EDC nut. My four year old granddaughter is becoming an edc fan. She doesn't go to bed unless her Fenix EO1 is in fine working order, and she wouldn't leave on the Oregon trip without making sure mommy Jess had her stuff. It is amazing what you can sometimes fix if you have a screw driver on hand.

Just out of curiosity, what model Leatherman?

Carl.
 
Carl, I carry a Wave at work every time I'm on shift. I gifted a Blast to my favorite partner at a previous job because I was tired of watching her carry hardware store brand junk, so Darian ended up with the Wave I got as a groomsman gift from my brother-in-law. It's a decent tool. I wanted him to carry a full size tool, although my home load out is a Juice and the microstream.
 
Darian would have been ready sooner, but he has never met his real dad, his adopted dad (wife's ex) only adopted him because he was a package deal with his mom (jack-wagon, I don't like the guy at all) and he is a prissy little fellow so he never did anything manly with D. I met Darian when he was barely 14, and we are just now really getting worn in together. So, it's been a late start, but we're getting there.

I try to date my kids, basically spending time with them one on one doing something they like and learning who they really are. It has worked wonders in our relationships. Guys with kids should read "Daddy Dates". It will change your life.
 
medicevans said:
I try to date my kids, basically spending time with them one on one doing something they like and learning who they really are. It has worked wonders in our relationships. Guys with kids should read "Daddy Dates". It will change your life.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. And it's amazing how much different a kid acts when he or she is alone with dad; no siblings around. It's really fun -- and amazingly important in the development of a good solid young man or woman.

-- Mark
 
medicevans, you are doing a great job, he will appreciate the go gifts more than you realize. Keep it up, the one on one times are the most important.
God Bless
Tracy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top