I'm really stoked!! Today, I was out welding on a project for a friend, and my 7-year old came out to check on me. He unfortunately is not really into cars, or working in the garage...so, it really floored me when he asked "if he could try that"?! Since I use a auto-darkening helmet with my MIG, I didn't worry that he would forget to flip the hood... After just a couple of minutes of instruction, he continued to weld for the next 20 minutes! (The project I was working on was more artistic, and definitely not structural). Since my divorce from his "mother" (Yes, I have custody), he has really had some confidence, and self-esteem issues... My job switching me to nights, has allowed me to spend a lot of time with him this Summer, trying to introduce him to new stuff that he can do, and take some pride in. As with all young boys, some of it he has taken to, and some he hasn't... Before I left for work tonight, he asked if I had any more metal that I needed welded together? Being the science buff that he is, he asked if tomorrow I would explain how welding works? I appreciate y'all letting me flap my jaw about my kid! This really has me almost giddy, that he would finally rather be out in the shop with me, instead of inside playing with Bionicles or a video game... I called my ex to tell her all about it...and I am sure that you can imagine her level of enthusiasm... Tonight, I just needed to tell a bunch of people who understand. -Thanks!
Very cool. Might be a good time to think about another project... If you're out in the country and have room for him to ride it, a go cart built by him, with your help as needed should solve any self esteem issues. Just don't make it so complex that it takes long enough for him to loose interest.
-Looking to the future, I actually drove out to Connecticut a couple of years ago, and towed back a project car for him... (Maybe that's part of how my divorce came-about??) In hindsight, you are right in that the project I brought back will be over his head, and just turn him off to ever wanting to work on cars... He actually asked if this is what you do, (welding) to build a go-cart frame. I did buy him a JR-50 minibike last month, but so far he is too nervous to ride it... He'll bounce back from all this...it'll just take time. I know I'm not over it, and I'm supposed to be an adult...
You are a good dad. I love my son more than my own life. I can't wait until he's old enough to work on stuff with me he likes to be in the garage with me but at only 2.5 years old I have to keep a close eye on him. He loves the hot rods around here and makes engine noises when he see's them. I'm hoping he will be in to cars as much as I am. He seems to be on his way. He loves taking rides in hot rods and on my motorcycle around the yard going very slow. Sorry to ramble on about my boy so much but I could talk about him for hours if I didn't stop myself. I agree with Les, You guys should build a go kart. He would love that and it would probably spark some interest in cars. I'm like you, divorced with custody. I feel your pain brother. MIke
If you decide to build a go cart, let me know. I might have a few parts I could donate to help get things rolling. I'd have to go to the storage unit and get pics, but would be more than happy to do it... on one condition. You post pics and updates from time to time. If you need a place to upload pics to, I can fix you up with that too, no charge.
I used to give my son rides on my old Kawasaki in the maintenance parking lot of a local country club next door to a house we rented. I'd sit him in front of me, with a helmet on. You could here him yelling "faster, faster" from inside the full face. He was 4 years old, this was 16 years ago.
Right on! Do the go-kart if that's what he wants. Keep it simple and let him see results before he gets bored. Awesome! I don't now how many guys on here had the privelege of working with and learning from their dad, but it is something I always wished for. He'll never forget it, and what it will do for him (and you) is incalculable. And don't apologise for doing it or telling everyone how proud it makes you - when you get right down to it raising kids (and doing it as well as you can)is what you were put here for! I can't wait for my own boys (4years & 10 months) to start helping in the shop - older one already does. Only one rule - don't push it, let the interest build naturally and go at their pace. Barry
I really appreciate the posts, the kind words, and the offer of the kart parts! I'll definitely keep ya' in mind! Mike, congrats on having custody! While my son's mother moved 4 hours from him, and really could care-less, I TRULY cannot imagine waking up each morning without him there... I just don't understand the stares that I get when I tell people that I have custody. I've even encountered open hostility from women who felt that I had no right "taking him away from his mother"... You guys all sound like fantastic Dads!! Thanks for the encouragement.
Your a good father, not just for teaching you son to weld but for getting excieted about it. Good for you.
Hello..First, I want to say I'm proud of you..I feel, that experiance with you will impact his life..His self esteem grew in leaps and bounds..You can push but don't force.. Duane.
Reminds me of the first time Dad let me "weld." In my case though it was just puddles on a scap piece of plate. Good memory, thanks for reminding me.
Here is a picture of my daughter when she was 15 learning how to weld. She is Hot Rod crazy! She is now 19 and bugs me to death about driveing my hot rod. Keith
I was around 12 when I first started learning to weld. My dad was a professional pipeline welder and always swore that non of his kids would be welders. Too hard on the family life. Well I finally talked him into teaching me how to weld and became very good at it. I didn't follow the pipelines but instead got my college degree and became a manufacturing engineer, but now that I have my own business, the skills he taught me are priceless.
My son was about the same age when he "welded" a stand for his dirtbike. My old man started me with the "gearhead rights of passage" when I was 6 so I am tickled that he took interest at young age also. Come to think of it, these "little buggers" better get on with it to keep the passion alive when we are gone.
Good job! Your son will remember that all his life. My 10 year old daughter wanted to help build the tudor, so I told her that we had to start with basic's (taking bolts out ect.) Well a year later and she has disassemble, sanded,primmed,painted,wetsanded and assembled the car right with me.Now when we go to shows she will not leave the car, because "people might have questions about the car dad! somebody has to answer them".Just remember the are kids, let them have fun with it. Tom
It's great to see this. These kids are learning skills that are taught less and less in schools nowadays. I gave my buddy's son a Firebird(no mullet jokes, plaese) and offered to help him fix it up, but he'd rather ride his skateboard and play video games (no offense to skateboarders or video gamers, just seems that's ALL some of these kids want to do anymore)than learn how to work on stuff. It was a hi-perf car, but his mother (she and my friend are divorced)had it hauled off to the junkyard instead of calling me to come take it back. Hell, he's 16 and doesn't even have his license yet!
Good for you and your son. Working in the garage with my dad are some of my fondest memories. Be sure to teach him how to be safe while working around welding and in the garage as well. It seems like the younger you have that ingrained the better. Keep up the good work, he'll come around someday.
Our 3 year old daughter put down her Dora toys last night to help me gap and clean a set of plugs. After reading her a bedtime story she asked "When we put those plugs in the car it will be better and then we can wax it too." It brought a tear to my eye.
Thats so damn cool. I have a 9 year old daughter. She lives in northern VA with my exwife and I live in north GA. I usually have her for the summer and everytime she comes down she knows I will be doing some type of wrenching on my car or jeep. She isn't much into it but she does come out to the shop and ask me all types of questions. Always trys to help and we have a good time. Have fun with the go-kart build.
My Dad was a boiler shop welder all his life, taught me to weld when I was maybe 12 or so. My first project I had to build a steel work bench the way it sits on the ground , no turning it over to flat or "puddle weld" as he called it. Told me your gonna weld it in place , vertical , overhead the whole deal and get burned just like I do and I saw some nasty burns on his neck and shoulders. Started my own son out when he was maybe 14 years old, now at 35, hell he's a better welder than I am. He can really do a job on Alum. I still can't weld it.
I have a 13 year old girl who I have raised for 12 years she loves to go cruizin with me and the 50 chevy, go to a few shows, & helps me when she needs something. She will be driving in 3 years and she is thinking about something old she has seen some galaxie and she saw an old buick so who knows . But your right wouldnt know what to do without her
Just FYI - I was scared shitless of my PW50 when i was 8. I rode that thing 2 or 3 times max within a year. After a while i got over it and then went to a CR80 and then to a CR125. The 125 is what turned me into a gear head. My dad wasn't around and my mom didn't have a lot of money. I was forced to work on it myself. I rode the shit out of that thing. To make a long story short, I graduated to road bikes and worked on all of them. The latest of which i built myself from the ground up. And don't get me started on all the cars!
I think your head is in the right place. I might suggest letting him "create" something by welding. My son did some dinosaurs from junk(lawnmower crankshafts, cultivator parts, etc) these are things that we still enjoy seeing 25 years after the fact. And he has the confidence to know he can weld if he needs to. Keep at it...Good Luck
-Man, these posts to me, really show what HAMBers are all about! I love to hear these stories about Dads and kids!! It does tend to warm the heart... I'm printing off all these words of encouragement, for my to son read tonight during my supper break. -Thanks for sharing!! Tony
Man that is awsome, I have two daughters, 5&10 years old. They both like cars but the younger is definately daddy's girls. When she was three she start helping me in the garage. I gave her a electric dril (the lightest I had) and showed her how to use it. She helped me build my job trailer! At three!
Thats great, i don't have kids yet but I look forward to being able to teach. I didn't learn any car related knowledge from my parents but I have a decent amount I learned my self. Welding is one of my favorite things and I finally took leasons at the votech school. best money I spent. Just bought a tig machine, hopefully I can pass it down. Thanks for sharing your story.
Mines boy's kinda young to be welding, but he does like to wear the auto dark helmet and run around the garage. He loves being out there and being around cars. I hope I can keep him interested in that instead of video games and tv watching.
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