VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions VCCA and your kid

Maybe we ought to move this discussion away from the gas guage thread.

The thought here is our kids. Even if you are empty nesters or have a child that lives with you, you might have some input here.

There has been some comments regarding VCCA members kids and what they may be into these days. Our future as club members might resort to our kids becoming members and filling our shoes right here on Chatter.

Therefore...It's time we talked about our kids and what they might be into today...

Let's be honest. I'll start off by say saying that my daughter of 15 yrs. has a deep respect for what I am doing in the garage on weekends. She thinks my 32 is very cool and can't wait to go for rides. She also thinks that cruise nights are the "bomb" and a great place to meet guys.

However, am I not spending enough time with her regarding her needs? Is she forced to rely on her mother for all the answers in life?

In short, are we being Dad's?

... or slaves to our hobby?

...(or even addicted to the computer)

Man , this is another thread that makes daddys wonder , "Am I doing the best I can?" We all have those guilt trips, just listen to your heart and not your accountant when the subject is your kids. I thought I knew a few things about parenting, then along comes those grandkids, that is a whole different story. I find that I got to go to God in prayer much more than I did when I was young , invisable and bullet proof. But I wouldn't trade any of my kids for a smart speckled bird-dog pup. I have them from 33 up to 45, two boys and two girls. the youngest son is so much of a man, been to Iraq in the gulf war back in this last one and faces another tour of duty next spring. But so is his oldest brother, he beat drugs back in the 80s. I some times loose sight of the dangers and demons the others are facing.

Mr. Mack;

You hit the nail right on the head!

Exactly my friend. Are we realy paying attention to life or are we too much into ourselves and our hobby?

Can we somehow get these kids into what we are doing, and teach them the values of history and comradary that our hobby has to offer?

Along with that might hold the family togetherness that my Father and I enjoyed for so few years.

It sure made me a better person.

RGwiz and others,

About kids, its tough being a kid even without the drug influence.
I was lucky because we grew up on a farm in WV. All the grandsons spent the summer at papa's putting up hey and doing chores around the farm.

All we had to smoke was corn silk and we did.

There were kids who were a problem and they were sent to a farm called Don Bosco near Elkins, WV.

It was church sponsored and well organized.

The boys were assigned chores, milking cows,cleaning stalls etc.. The girls were assigned laundry, cooking and domestic chores.

Could you see this today?? YES!

The only place I have seen like this today is a place in New Hampshire called HIS MANSION. What a great place. It was started by a retired Navy man and his wife and was totally non-profit.
It was funded by private contributions when last I heard.
No govt. money.

Kids take a lot of work but they are our future.

Now remember RG and all of "us," just because 'we' think something is great and wonderful and wholesome and all that, that doesn't mean that the offspring necessarily will feel the same way.

You can't "make" them do it.

"A man convinced against his will is of the same opionion still."

We can 'show' them the opportunity; but we can't 'make' them join.

There are other ways to 'share' those father/son things.

With my oldest boy (37) it is cars. But he isn't in the club.

With the other boy (34) it's sports. He's a much bigger sports fan than I am; but we both like sports.

And with my daughter (28), I think it's just me 'being there.' She's convinced that I'm ALWAYS there/available when she has a question or a need. For instance, this is just a 'little thing' but she comes HERE to check her oil, tranny fluid etc. etc. in her car. And you know what, every now and then she brings over a couple of quarts to 'replace' what she used!!! Am I blessed or what???

I'll let you in on a 'secret' of mine. I ask THEM for help with projects and things I'm working on around the house. I've found they have a helluva hard time telling 'dad' they're too busy....... I usually don't really need the help. But if we're doing something together, we're obviously spending time together. Cool, huh???

Bill.

42bill,

I think I can like you!!

Kipper raised the results of his passion with these rules.
You can't live your life through your kids. They're individuals.
Make them earn what they get.
Teach them to enjoy life but not at the cost of others.
Respect all & every thing.
Let them know you'll always be there for them but won't do it for them.
There is always something to do.

Kippers proud of his children & hopes they're proud of him.

kipper junior

SOK, K Jr, K-S, et all:

No "spam" there ole buddy.

IMHO those are dang good "rules."

Bill.

Son of Kipper
I was brought up under similar rules but I have not had much success at applying them to my offspring, and 1 of them is having even less sucess.
Tony

I was brought up on the borderline of the NYC, NJ megatropolous. To live the American dream my Dad worked three jobs. One of those jobs was doing tune-ups in the garage on weekends. At about ten yrs. old I would wax the cars he worked on and he passed along the money to me.

I guess that's where it all started for me. I did learn that work and effort paid off and along with it Dad and I got real close.

The big city attitude got hold of me at about 16 and soon I was out on the town mostly in my twenties. (including six years in the Navy)

But, ya know all those early years in the garage were never forgotten. When Dad didn't need the cash anymore we fixed up antique cars. Only now it was for pleasure but we were still together and still parteners.

I'd love to have that situation with my Daughter but she's a girl and at 15 she's not really into spending an entire day in the garage.
She babysits and shows good work ethics and, with my giudance, hopefully can grow into a fine adult.

Will she become a VCCA member? I don't think so. I will continue to teach her the values we all have here, and in that way this Club has touched her.

Just had a call from kippers son in Australia looks like kippers goin' to become a grandfather.

Kipper junior

Congradulations!!!!
A "mini-Kipper"?

Just thought

Must be a herring....Too young to smoke!!

kipper junior

two kids one drives a twin turbo 5 cylinder Volv and a jeep grand wagoneer, the other drives junk which is about all they ever will drive. No follow ups here.

My 2 cents:

The biggest mistake the U.S. made was getting rid of the draft.

Most of us I expect 'grew-up' serving our country...it turned boys into men and gave us values and opened our eyes to the world.

I would like to see 2 years of national service required of everyone...not just the military but national service...working where needed...a lot like the old CCC programs in the '30s. Giving back to our country...instead of expecting our country to give to them. IMHO

Maybe it would be a way again to move people from the home 'nest' to adulthood.

Gator,

Yes, girls and boys, no conscientious objectors.

All "AMERICANS" must serve. No dual citizenship without service to the United States!!

..Somehow this old Jarhead still has a problem with females serveing as riflemen and a being committed to outright combat.

"RifleMEN" or rifle person, MM? LOL

Remember MM for every one jarhead holding a rifle there are about 20 non-combat surport personnel behind them.

There are many, many ways for both males and females to serve this country...in and out of uniform.

Bottom line it would be a "win-win" for everyone...

If my Daughter said that she wanted to sign up and join the infantry, I'd talk her out of it. If she said she wanted to get educated in the high tech area, or even support outfits, I'd say go for it.
No offense MrMack, but in this day and age we should no longer have to put kids on the ground with rifles to do away with the likes of osama and company.

DITTO!

I agree, Force is never the answer, dialog is.

I do not agree with "talking them out of it" thats enforcing your will on the child & not accepting them as an individual.
By all means attempt to discourage & show them the error in their intentions but if your arguments fail then give them your blessing & support ...AND never ever say "I told you so"
Also PC & equality have no place in the field of battle.

Kipper

KS,

"PC & EQUALITY HAVE NO PLACE IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE"

"I told you so"!!

Don't make our troops apologize for doing their job. We train them to kill then we prosecute them when they do??

RGWIZ Quote
There has been some comments regarding VCCA members kids and what they may be into these days. Our future as club members might resort to our kids becoming members and filling our shoes right here on Chatter.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I think the youngsters today want more than we at their age. I'd have loved my son to have a love for vehicles as I have but it was not to be.
To him a car, truck or bike is to get from A to B, not to drool over & lust after.
I expect many members of this site have children who see their fathers as a bit dotty with his rusty old oily toys having his 2nd childhood?
But there will also be the siblings who will inherit their fathers love of the Chevrolet & there will be children of non Chevrolet parents who will become to love them & these will bring new thoughts & ideas to the hobby.

Kipper

Gator, Not in My day. Every one wearing the Marine Corp uniform was a rifleMAN! Cooks, Mechanics all had their rifle with them and they were required to spend time at the rifle range every year and qualify with the rifle.