RICHARD
08-13-2007, 06:44 PM
For years my dad was the handy man at our house.
For most of those years I was the pain in the arse-hanging over his shoulder-
getting screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches. I learned about sockets, metric and standard measurements.
I learned how to change drum brakes, disc brakes, oil, do simple wiring.
I learned the basic skills of "how to do it" from him.
Those skills got me home with a broken throttle cable on a motorcycle, bad alternators in my truck and flat tires on my cars.
I learned now to tune up my bikes, change broken parts and other fixes that got me on the road again.
In the last month and a half I have fixed a broken pipe, a clothes dryer, installed the plumbing on a sink, repaired a vacumn cleaner, pulled some bad electric lines to a garage.
I still can't do roofing though..... :eek:
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I just want to tell all you parents out there that organized sports are fine and dandy. Music and art are O.K. too.....
But in the end, challenge your kids to be handy with a screwdriver and a wrench-hammer and nails.
Don't get flustered when they ask you questions about "how does that work?" or "what are you doing?" Let them in on the secrets!
-----------------
One of the most satisfying things in life is to fix a pipe, your car or something around the house!
I thank my dad everytime I am able to fix a problem around the house. When he passed away I lost my knowledge and my support. I lost the encyclopedia of advice, wisdom and calm.
I did gain the confidence to go on and try to fix things.
There were times I have struggled, times I have admitted jobs were way over my head, time where I have failed,
And even in failure I know that my dad is looking down saying to himself, "Oh well, at least he tried.." Or "Dang we never got to THAT lesson!".
This isn't a thread to toot my own horn...It's just a little reminder to get your kids involved with what you are doing around to house.
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One of my old aquaintances owns a house- his tool is the cell phone-call up the Fix-it- Guy, then complain about the cost...
I laugh and shake my head....
This guy is a computer programmer and knows about programs -but, he would kill himself with a screwdriver.
-------------
There are things that are far beyond me and most homeowner/renters/squatters. ;) But you can save yourself tons of money and walk a little taller when you fix something around the house.
So, the next time you start a home project and the kids come around and ask
"what are you doing?" Think ahead....In a few years they will be telling you, "Look at what I am doing!"
For most of those years I was the pain in the arse-hanging over his shoulder-
getting screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches. I learned about sockets, metric and standard measurements.
I learned how to change drum brakes, disc brakes, oil, do simple wiring.
I learned the basic skills of "how to do it" from him.
Those skills got me home with a broken throttle cable on a motorcycle, bad alternators in my truck and flat tires on my cars.
I learned now to tune up my bikes, change broken parts and other fixes that got me on the road again.
In the last month and a half I have fixed a broken pipe, a clothes dryer, installed the plumbing on a sink, repaired a vacumn cleaner, pulled some bad electric lines to a garage.
I still can't do roofing though..... :eek:
-------------------
I just want to tell all you parents out there that organized sports are fine and dandy. Music and art are O.K. too.....
But in the end, challenge your kids to be handy with a screwdriver and a wrench-hammer and nails.
Don't get flustered when they ask you questions about "how does that work?" or "what are you doing?" Let them in on the secrets!
-----------------
One of the most satisfying things in life is to fix a pipe, your car or something around the house!
I thank my dad everytime I am able to fix a problem around the house. When he passed away I lost my knowledge and my support. I lost the encyclopedia of advice, wisdom and calm.
I did gain the confidence to go on and try to fix things.
There were times I have struggled, times I have admitted jobs were way over my head, time where I have failed,
And even in failure I know that my dad is looking down saying to himself, "Oh well, at least he tried.." Or "Dang we never got to THAT lesson!".
This isn't a thread to toot my own horn...It's just a little reminder to get your kids involved with what you are doing around to house.
--------------
One of my old aquaintances owns a house- his tool is the cell phone-call up the Fix-it- Guy, then complain about the cost...
I laugh and shake my head....
This guy is a computer programmer and knows about programs -but, he would kill himself with a screwdriver.
-------------
There are things that are far beyond me and most homeowner/renters/squatters. ;) But you can save yourself tons of money and walk a little taller when you fix something around the house.
So, the next time you start a home project and the kids come around and ask
"what are you doing?" Think ahead....In a few years they will be telling you, "Look at what I am doing!"