Youngest son and British Grandma bonding by breaking pallets apart. These will soon become part of the compost bin part of the composting toilet system.
Notice Youngest Son using a crowbar almost as big as he is. Every trip to the garden is a chance to use dangerous tools.
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October 5, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Oldfool
As a child I was never denied access to the tools. That was a mixed blessing for my parents and grandparents as I’m sure you can imagine. It scarred me for life. By making tools available and somewhat sacred here my grandson has been learning to use tools only causing me to fall into a loud swearing rage when he leaves them where he used them last (in the yard, in the grass, in the rain and I recently found one in his trash).
October 5, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Frits B
Yes, but is he good at using them now? My father was a mechanic and kept his tools in a very orderly way, every piece in its own place. I keep mine, a lot of them his inheritance, in a bin and dig them out if and when necessary. This won’t change: I’m in my seventies now. And back to my question: my dad was quite a bit better at using his tools.
October 6, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Andy in Germany
@OldFool: Our boys have a habit of leaving tools out, but they inherit it from me so I have to be careful how much I shout at them: five minutes later I’ll probably do the same…
@Fritz: Our tools at the Very Smallholding live in a bucket, and most of the tools I own have migrated down there. I have a very small selection which I inherited from my Grandfather who I remember as really knowing how to deal with tools.
October 5, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Zweiradler
It’s great to see your kids outside all the time. Far better than placing them in front of the TV like other parents do.
Nico
October 6, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Andy in Germany
Thanks Nico. It helps that we don’t have a television (in fact I realised last night that I am totally ignorant of any German TV stars or programmes, which cheered me up for some reason).
The boys seem to like being outside, it’s just getting them past the doing homework and getting ready stage that’s difficult. I really want thm to grow up with contact with the outside world, and also feeling they can try things out and experiment with tools (with a grownup watching of course).
Right now I’m working on a toilet so they don’t have to pee in the bushes, this doesn’t bother them, or the bushes, but when my goddaughter comes I think she’d prefer some privacy…