David's fishing pole.

[Tallen]

My youngest, David, five years old had worked with me pulling nails out of the old deck on the back of the house. I would start the nail with a nail puller, and then he would work behind me with a crowbar and pull the nail out. Most of the nails were about 10-15% out of the board to start, and he would finish pulling them. I calculated the number of nails to be around 2500, by the time we had finished pulling nails. I asked him what he wanted for helping me and he said a new fishing pole. So he easily earned that for his persistence working like a man for the entire time it took to pull these nails.

Here is his first fish caught with his new pole.

[Joe S]

Nice bass! Is that a Micro-Spin? I've got one and I love that little rod.

[Tallen]

Nice bass! Is that a Micro-Spin? I've got one and I love that little rod.

Yes, David picked it out and decided it was what he wanted. He talked to the salesman and made his own decision. It was absolutely the cutest thing. :L39:

[Joe S]

He has your smarts Tallen! Evidently an excellent work ethic as well.

[Tallen]

He has your smarts Tallen!

He is much smarter than I was at his age, Joe. Last year I taught him how to drive a nail into a 2x4. He can do it just like a man. When my brother came over and was watching Camdon (who was twelve then) and David drive nails, he told David to teach Camdon how to do it. I found that absolutely hilarious, because without saying anything to my brother he noticed that David could drive nails and Camdon couldn't. So he told the younger to teach the older.

There's a parable in there somewhere. :L39:


Evidently an excellent work ethic as well.

He does, he chastizes his older siblings for not doing their chores, and does his without complaining. If I am working around the house, he gets his tools and joins in. If I mow the yard, he gets his little plastic mower and mows right along with me. He is really a blessing.

[tking]

He is much smarter than I was at his age, Joe. Last year I taught him how to drive a nail into a 2x4. He can do it just like a man. When my brother came over and was watching Camdon (who was twelve then) and David drive nails, he told David to teach Camdon how to do it. I found that absolutely hilarious, because without saying anything to my brother he noticed that David could drive nails and Camdon couldn't. So he told the younger to teach the older.

There's a parable in there somewhere. :L39:



He does, he chastizes his older siblings for not doing their chores, and does his without complaining. If I am working around the house, he gets his tools and joins in. If I mow the yard, he gets his little plastic mower and mows right along with me. He is really a blessing.

Ted that is wonderful and touching to read; what a great little guy. I am so so thankful the kiddos have you and your wife. I know they are blessed as well as the blessing you all get from them. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do some things differently with our girls. I've always thought maybe that's what grandparenting is all about...lol.

[Tallen]

Ted that is wonderful and touching to read; what a great little guy. I am so so thankful the kiddos have you and your wife. I know they are blessed as well as the blessing you all get from them. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do some things differently with our girls. I've always thought maybe that's what grandparenting is all about...lol.

Yeah, except in our case we get to be the parents of the grandkids. I think with more wisdom than the first go around, although we are facing a whole new set of challenges and can pretty much throw out what we knew from before. I also notice a different dynamic with the grandkids that are grandkids. The investment of emotion is different. We can send them home at the end of the day and kind of get relief, but with our kids, it is a constant challenge.

[tking]

Yeah, except in our case we get to be the parents of the grandkids. I think with more wisdom than the first go around, although we are facing a whole new set of challenges and can pretty much throw out what we knew from before. I also notice a different dynamic with the grandkids that are grandkids. The investment of emotion is different. We can send them home at the end of the day and kind of get relief, but with our kids, it is a constant challenge.

Yeah, you all are in a bit of a trying situation simply because things ARE so different. Our children are only 27,22,&20, and even with them there is a tremendous difference in their childhood experiences and our granddaughter's.

Yep, completely understand that last part. And the challenge with our own doesn't end quickly either. In some ways they aren't nearly as tough or mature as John and I were (which we both contribute to having older parents and several years between us and our siblings), but in some ways they're way ahead of where we were.

You all are always in my prayers because I just think you've taken on a wonderful responsiblity, but I also know it's probably a hard one sometimes.

[Tallen]

Thank you Terri, we appreciate your prayers.

[JBaker45]

Well it sounds like this boy has a fine mentor.

So now.. Will you have the honor of teaching him how to fish :-)

[Beukeboom]

My youngest, David, five years old had worked with me pulling nails out of the old deck on the back of the house. I would start the nail with a nail puller, and then he would work behind me with a crowbar and pull the nail out. Most of the nails were about 10-15% out of the board to start, and he would finish pulling them. I calculated the number of nails to be around 2500, by the time we had finished pulling nails. I asked him what he wanted for helping me and he said a new fishing pole. So he easily earned that for his persistence working like a man for the entire time it took to pull these nails.

Here is his first fish caught with his new pole.


Nice. He sets goals and works diligently to achieve them. I have a feeling he's going to grow up and be quite successful. You have taught him well, proud poppa

:L17:.

[Tallen]

So now.. Will you have the honor of teaching him how to fish :-)

Yes. It is my honor. I didn't just give him a fish, I taught him how. :L38:

Funny story. He started kindergarten this week. He can do everything that he is supposed to do except he can't write the alphabet. My wife said I should be ashamed because I was supposed to be working with him on this. I said, "Honey he is way ahead of the rest of the kids in the class. If the country collapses or we have a nuclear war, he can hunt and fish and keep the rest of them alive." http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824MNUS)

He has a BB gun that we shoot together.

[Tallen]

Nice. He sets goals and works diligently to achieve them. I have a feeling he's going to grow up and be quite successful. You have taught him well, proud poppa

:L17:.

Thanks, I love it.

[JBaker45]

Yes. It is my honor. I didn't just give him a fish, I taught him how. :L38:

Funny story. He started kindergarten this week. He can do everything that he is supposed to do except he can't write the alphabet. My wife said I should be ashamed because I was supposed to be working with him on this. I said, "Honey he is way ahead of the rest of the kids in the class. If the country collapses or we have a nuclear war, he can hunt and fish and keep the rest of them alive." http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824MNUS)

He has a BB gun that we shoot together.
That sounds like fun.

I used to go fishing with my grandpa when I was a lad.

But I didn't fire a gun 'till I went off to visit one of my high school buddies in Saddona Arisona. I was in my teens then. And we had the whole desert in front of us.
(I'm glad I didn't shoot my eye out with that thing - lol)

[Tallen]

That sounds like fun.

I used to go fishing with my grandpa when I was a lad.

But I didn't fire a gun 'till I went off to visit one of my high school buddies in Saddona Arisona. I was in my teens then. And we had the whole desert in front of us.
(I'm glad I didn't shoot my eye out with that thing - lol)

I wasn't to hip on the idea of a gun a first, but he got it for a birthday present. Now I like the idea because we spend more time talking about life and the environment than really shooting. His sister likes to shoot it as well. :L35: