Family Guys...Findin time

When my X started letting me work on my car a lot is when she started drifting away !! Now its just me , my little angle and my hot rods. Boy I miss her !!! N O T !!!!

 

Hooligan, you are in a lucky place right now. Your boy is almost old enough to take to the shop with you. As soon as he's able to deal with the shop toilet and listen well enough to be around cars on jackstands and power tools, he'll be a blast to have around. Start taking him with you when you chase parts and easy things like that. Let the kid give the list to the guy at the counter. He'll start asking to go. And your wife will dig it, believe me. One kid is easier than two anytime. You'll be a hero and there's where your partner in the kid thing will want to help you find time for your shit.

As far as the guys in your club: I KNOW you'll find most of the guys will be OK with the time you can't spend and the times you have to bring the boy with you. I am continually astonished by the tenderness and tolerence toward little kids shown by the most crass and rude and grizzled drag racers, hot rodders, outlaw bikers and even whacked out ozone dwelling pinstrippers. Back in the '70s when I was truckin', my kids grew up around a group of outlaw truck owner/operators. I've run with bad ol' bikers and criminals but no body was crazier than those gypo truckers. They were great to my girls, your curb grinding skater rodder friends will be alright too.

I'm surprised that all you young fellers want to do these ol' heaps in the first place. I guess the kids you take along will surprise you by keeping the flame for real wide eyed hot rod fun lit.

an', them's me 2 cents worth…

 

One of the reasons I got my 39 was so I could spend more quality timewith my family. I primarily work in the motorcycle industry for income. It is very hard to get a 4 year old involved with the events especially when we ride to places like Sturgis annually. It breaks my heart to be gone from my daughter for so long. I figured the car would be a great way we could all enjoy the rod events and crusing as well as being abloe to tow my bike behind the sedan when ever the itch to have my bike with me would hit.
I think if there as any way to get good time with your family...Get it. It is even better when your wife gives you the thumbs up to do it. Of course there were a few bribes along the way..Like rebuilding her softtail.
All and all I wouldnt change a thing. Selfemployment means working your ass off for nothing at times. It's good to take out some of the frustration pounding out a fender before you go home. My father in law is a big time rodder. It has been really cool working with him on the bikes an cars. Kind of makes up for not having that relationship with my dad when growing up. The car has and will be full of memories for my family. Including the inlaws.

Keep on keeping on..
Mike

 

How about a different point of veiw? My Dad has always been into cars, not necesarily hotrods. He bought a '48 Chevy for himself to work on... but never had the time and decided he didn't care for it much. Bought himself a '37 Ford which is what he really wants to build. However, still never got the time with 3 kids. Now look at this picture. My dad is the cameraman, thats me posing in front of my Thunderbird, in the left corner you see my last project, a Jeep, lifted, big tires, etc. Those are the only two cars that ever make any progress, mine. But, i can't take much credit as my Dad taught me everything. And in the background you see his '37 fords, which just sit because he's always helping me with my stuff. Yeah, I love him.

 

Our family is into jr dragsters. It's a fun way to share my car hobby w/ the kids while spending loads of time w/ them. It also gives me an opportunity to coach them in driving, handling losing, winning gracefully, etc. They also get to learn about cars, since they help out in maintaining the equipment. My wife is very supportive and makes it to most of the races, watching our 2 year old kid while the others are busy racing.

 

Dont get married in the first place. It's too late for you, but for the other guys out there thinking that you will still be able to work on your stuff and that you woman is different...SHE'S NOT!!! One day she will most likely say something like "It's me or the cars!" and if you happen to choose her and get rid of them she will dump you anyway! STAY SINGLE AND ENJOY LIFE!!!

 

Man I do know what all yall are sayn....My lil girl Isabella ( 2.5yrs tries to sneek in the garage when im workin Time is tuff now that im married...lost my membership to all bars known to men..buys kid toys Instead of parts and tattooes.. Get my ass outta bed at 630 take caqre of the lil one and then drag my older hmmm somewhat lazy ass to the barbershop! Then I getta have small talk with all the geezers while I cut the last 3 hairs that they comb over... Waitin for one of my friends or clients can have good car talk..gettin off at 6 pickin up the kid...feedin the kid..playn with the lil one..then she passes out and the wife comes home bitchin about the lame ass bitches that work and go to the salon she works at.

But after all that I gotta kik it with my best buddy(isabella) calm down the wife (quality time) qand finally gettin in the garage at least 5 hrs a week Not Bad....

But I can say I finished my pedal ass. for my model a tonite....

---Rich

 

It's so tough. My wife just doesn't get my love of all things old, crusty, and motorized. All motor equals to her are things that stink from the gas they burn.

Her aside, I spend a ton of time w/ my kids and only head to the garage in the evening after they hit the hay, or when the parent-in-laws are here playing w/ the little ones. It still pissed the wife off because I'm not spending time w/ her

I'll be watching this thread very closely for tips

 

I'm raising two on my own and it's seems like I'll never finish my 53 ford p/u. Luckily they're gettin older 7 & 10. I also have a lot of good and helpful friends that will do what it takes to help me out. My favorite time to get things done are one hour after the kids are asleep. On the weekend I try get in a minimum of two hours of me time on my projects.

 

I set one night a week aside for going to the shop.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I never knew what true happiness was until I got married...
And then it was too late.

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually saw a guy wearing a T shirt w/ that quote on it. I thought it was pretty damned funny.

 

Ive stayed after work a couple nights a week since my son was about 2. Ive tried to go home then go back into the garage and it seems the motivation goes out the window...
the wife and kid wines from time to time but let me tell ya how much they love to take a ride when its done

 

If you really want happiness in this life. And you have to make a choice of priorities. Your kids and wife will give you more fullfillment than any stupid car project.
Scheduling is the key. Get up early saturday morning when you normally like to sleep in on the weekend. Either that or work into the evening when everyone is sleeping. Be happy with 1-1/2 hrs shop time per garage visit and don't put any more pressure on yourself time wise. The older you get the more you realize its not the final outcome that is fullfilling.. its the journey. Thinking this way makes it easier to schedule all your priorities.

 

Petejoe, right on

 

I sold my last bike and got my car so we could all enjoy the family project. My son (5) and daughter (2) color my sketches, and when I first brought it home, I let them draw all over it with markers - flames, squiggles, whatever. Now it's cleaned up and in primer, but they love sitting in it and making Vroom noises. My princess points at it and says "hotwod!" My wife actually persuaded me to get the project car. There was even an old Ford truck that she offered to buy me for my birthday. Now not only do we all tinker with it, but her dad is involved too. I think it's a way for her to reconnect with him, as he has always had a ton of cars. Mostly El Caminos, but he's always in the garage.

I still make sure not to spend too much time on it. Fri nights, Sat mornings are about it. Every now and then I'll trade for a day in the garage. She gets to go shopping or a girly movie. I guess the best thing is to involve them in it, share the passion for cars, but share what they love too.

My dad didn't do much more than change the oil in the cars, so I basically taught myself. But, my best memories with him are playing catch in the front yard! I am very fortunate to have such a great wife and kids. Can't wait to take them for a spin, someday.

 

I had a guy tell me once the best thing he ever did was to hang a front-porch swing out in his shop, put a little carpet on the floor and stick a TV in the corner for his wife--that way when he'd go out into the garage, she had a place to sit and relax, too--they'd spend the time together every good couple needs, and he'd get shop time. Remember, even being in the same room together makes things healthy.

-Brad

 

[ QUOTE ]
...One day she will most likely say something like "It's me or the cars!"

[/ QUOTE ]

She wasn't going to stay if she asked that in the first place, if she knows you, she would never give you that ultimatum.

I met Margueritte 12 years ago in a beach bar when I had to stop and wait for the muffler that fell off my Corvair to cool down before I could put it back on. She knew from the beginning that cars are my passion and that if she asked me to sell my cars, the resentment would tear us apart anyway.

Sure she gripes about the stinky, smelly clothes, the pile of parts in the back yard, the time away.

I do stuff with her at least twice a week (no kids), Once in a while I'll do the dishes, do some laundry (she has to work very early so she starts and I finish), I cook most of the time, then I go to the barn and get dirty.

<font color="green"> Oh and one more thing, after 12 years, she no longer cares what I did or didn't get done in the garage when I come home all proud of myself.

To her it's "I got blah blah, blah, blah finished, put a coat of blah, blah blah, on blah blah, so I can blah blah blah, next week". Unless your wife knows what you are talking about, don't expect her to care or be excited about it. Kinda the same as when she tells you about "cute" shoes she just bought.

what makes a shoe "cute"
</font>

 

I find it difficult to find time for any "extra" stuff. I've got two teenage daughters 18 and 15, both active in sports, so spare time is non-existent. I get up at 3:30a to get ready for work. Get home at 2:00p, sounds like lots of time before the kids get home from school and the wife from work. Wrong, I, well, I guess I'm a wuss. I generally spend my afternoon trying to catch up on laundry, dishes, general picking up of the house. Play with the 3 mo old Lab pup we just got. I have been known to doze off for a nap, then try to help out with dinner, spend time with the wife and kids, generally get to bed around 10:30p every night, hence the nap. 5 hours a night just isn't getting it done, but I feel that the time I spend with my family is more important than the 53 chevy sitting in the garage. Besides, it's cold and the garage isn't heated.

 

First, I have to say that I feel for Pontiac Slim.
I'm sorry you lost your daughter, but that's a nice story.

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. I spend a lot with my son, and other than that I'm off at work, or asleep. (Although maybe I should take a lesson from 286Merc and spend less time on the computer!)

I put my son to work when I can. He's not even a year and a half old yet, but he does a pretty decent job at most tasks. He gets pretty banged up now and then, but he never gives up.

He still can't weld for shit, though.

--Matt

 

You furst got to see what all she wants done or has planned for the weak. Then once she has let you know then you can daily sneak in the things you need to do on your car. Or just start saying " man I ahve to get this or that done before a certain time" After a couple of weeks she will start feeling somewhat bad and wont pay much attention when you knock the task out. Has definatley helped me but you always got to remember that they aint never gonna be 100% happy so make your self happy and hope she likes it. Good luck brother cause I know how you feel.

 

After building, painting, crashing, and selling bikes over the last 10 years, I have learned a few things. My daughter is now almost 3, and I decided the last bike wasn't "family oriented" enough (the cops tend to frown when you put her into the saddlebag). After getting the greenlight from the wife, I picked out a body style i wanted for a rod(fat fender anything). The wife and i spent a few months looking at ebay, and leafing through mags and the local paper. She made up her mind and decided a '46 coupe would be the new "family" project. I should add that she has rebuilt a car before...her 1st car was a '94 Mustang basket case that she and her dad worked one winter rebuilding, repairing, straightening, sanding, priming, and painting. Now we have a family rod project, and get everyone involved. We occassionally hire a sitter, go out to dinner, and then disappear into the garage, but more often we put a Sesame Street CD in the garage stereo, give our daughter a plastic hammer and a rusted out fender, and let her go nuts while we work on the '46. We have 3 ground rules: 1. Eye and ear protection for everyone, all the time 2. no welding or grinding with the kid in the garage 3. whenever something doesn't want to go on or come off as easily as you think it should, we all take a timeout for snacks, naps, or kicking a ball around the yard.

This is what has worked out for me. Sure, it takes a little longer to get stuff done, but the first time you come home from work and see your 2 year old sitting on the floor reading LineChaser or StreetRodder and telling you about the pictures she likes, it pays for itself!

 

I usually only fix things if they are broke or breaking... which I still get in trouble with the wife over. Backing would be great, but doesn't always happen... oh and mine is a daily driver to boot.