ot:Did I screw up when I was young?

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steve_ne

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

I was wonder if, when I was younger did I mess up like my son does? Got a brand new 260pc mechanics tool set for fathers day.(They did good) I was using it last night when we where done I told my son to take it and put it away and whatever you do "don't drop it". You can guess what he did. Not one socket left in the box. I asked my wife, she says I screw up all the time now, so she sure I did when I was younger. Wouldn't want to ask what my Dad thinks.

 

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cj in wisconsin

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

The kiss of death is to say "don't drop it". It will almost always happen, the power of suggestion I guess, makes a lad nervous to start with. Was the case with me anyway.

 

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alabamafrog

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

I think kids are different nowadays, I’m not that old (34) but when I was young I was driving the JD A by myself at age 4 and hooking up and plowing fields while dad was at work by age 8. Most kids now seem like they can’t even drive a riding lawn mower at age 15. We would ride our horses or bikes to the river to fish and swim, my kids would spend the day in bed or on the couch if I let them. Teenage boys had rather have an automatic compact car than a straight shift 4x4 truck. I sometimes listen in on my teenagers conversations (which I think is good parenting) and they are nothing like the ones I remember from back in the day, everything from vocabulary to subject matter is severely lacking. I have watched and asked questions of my kids and their friends about stuff like history and government and general knowledge of how the world works and for the most part they are much dumber than I remember kids being in my time. Scares the heck out of me that they are our future leaders.

But dropping the tool set, that wouldn’t make me mad but it would make me shake my head, I hope he had to clean it up and put everything back in the right spot.

 

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WvaJim

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

I know you probably where happy, but just be glad you had the time and your son was willing to help out dad, count it as those times spent together where you could teach him. It was an accident, nothing more. He will be glad of the times you spend with him and the lessons learned.

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

Next time you use your tool set, thank him for the gift (tool set) and how much you appreciate his thoughtfullness on Father's Day.

After you finish using the tool set, ask him to do you a big favor; clean and put away the tool set.

Thank him for helping you and go on about your business.

Let him take responsibility for getting the tool set for you and keeping it clean.

A little bit of praise goes a long way with a child.

 

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Kruse

Guest

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

If they are tools, they shouldn't have had any breakage, correct? Take a little time, help him pick them up, tell him it's not a big deal and say that it could have happened (and does) to any adult. Thank him for his help and his memory of this will be good instead of unpleasant.
Is there anybody here who hasn't dropped a tool or a bunch of tools at one time or another?

 

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Lamar Fudd

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

One of the management seminars I went to emphasized what to tell employees to do. Don't tell them what NOT to do. Keep it positive, CJ posted down below that's what can happen and it did.

 

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Clodbuster

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

We all make mistakes if we are honest with ourselves. More when younger and learning.

 

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Cue P.

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

Thats a screw up? What are you going to do when he learns to drive and backs the car over the mailbox...or the cat...or your foot?

 

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Jake R.

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

Just be thankful all he dropped was the set. About ten years ago at work I was pushing my rollaway toolbox back to put it in my normal storage spot and while crossing the floor grate I tipped the whole thing over. Every drawer came open, top came off the bottom and spilled EVERYTHING on the floor. Besides being ten minutes away from the end of my shift, I was ten minutes away from being on vacation. It was an inconvenience that cut into my time, but it was just an accident. Just a bunch of spilled tools, no damage, no use getting excited. I screwed up when I was younger, everyone has.

 

Vito

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

Be a man ask your Dad.Oak and acorn theory.I try not to yell at my son's when they make a mistake.I always tell them it's not a mistake if they learn from it and don't do it again.

Vito

 

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plow hand

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

Sometimes you have to wait till your son grows up to show him the right way to do things...

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

my boy would be 27 in a couple of months. wish he was around to drop a few tool boxes...............

Enjoy it.


Dave

 

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

At least you didn't find the tools with the lawnmower like my dad did once...

 

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thurlow

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

You don't say how old he is........4? 12? 19? I'm having to bite my tongue (fingers, maybe) to keep from saying something hateful and sarcastic, but I'll refrain. It was an accident, I'm sure; your response.........."It's all right; I love you; I'll help you pick them up." I'm sure you didn't say anything bad, but you didn't say. Have never understood how anyone can say something hateful to a child. Constant disapproval/hurt feelings can scar anyone for life.........

 

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Spook

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

The kid didn't screw up. He had an accident. I screwed up a lot as a kid. I know. My screwups were involved with whisky, beer, weed, women, cars, etc....

 

F

Fixer

Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

He who never makes a mistake, never does anything. Bernie Steffen

 

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PJH

Well-known Member

• Jun 26, 2009

• #1

ALWAYS think before you speak.

I know from personal experience that it's easy to blurt something out that you'll forever regret saying.

I can remember severely scolding my youngest son, when he was about ten, for some minor shop infraction. I can't even remember what I thought he did wrong now. If I live to be 100, I'll never forget the hurt look on his face. What a jerk. I'll never forgive myself. I'd give $10,000 to be able to go back and relive that three minutes of my life.

Paul

 

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Lanse

Well-known Member

• Jun 27, 2009

• #1

Im 15 for a few more days... and ive screwed up so much stuff i dont even remember.

But thats how you learn. Reading something and remembering it is good, but breaking something and having to fix it or find a new one is much, much more memerable.

Ive learned beating a pistion with a hammer is a bad idea. Same with shock loading chains. Tractors are not for hearding sheep. Too much gas on a fire is a bad thing. If the grinder diddnt need eye shields on it, craftsman would not have put them on. Dont hold the T post with one hand and hit it with a big hammer with your other hand. Moving plywood without shoes on is another notable bad idea. Turning that little screw on the back of the carb too far is not advisable. Too much ether in a push mower is bad. Anything involving a paint brush and a tractor is generally a bad idea. Having a radiator shop in someones garage behind a porn store seal a gas tank is not a good idea. Low limb+being in a hurry+lights on rollover bar=bad.

I remember alot more mishaps then pages from a book.....

I bet he'll be more careful next time. Ive never dropped a whole thing of tools before, but im probabally wrong. lol.