One of my favorite cartoons and very GRM.

If you have kids, or even nieces and nephews this is worth remembering. 

Let them use the tools. You won't regret it. 

Very true.  Both my kids, (boy and girl), know their way around tools, and how to use them.

Great job Dad!

Supercoupe!

I don't have or want any kids but everytime I hand a ratchet to my dog, she runs away and tries to bury it.

Neither SkinnyKid1 (16) nor SkinnyKid2 (14) show skill, aptitude, or interest, in working on cars.

I love them and support them, but I still wrestle with this internally.

SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:

Neither SkinnyKid1 (16) nor SkinnyKid2 (14) show skill, aptitude, or interest, in working on cars.

I love them and support them, but I still wrestle with this internally.

I had no inclination till I was about 15-16.  Whether I have aptitude is still up for debate, but hey look at me and my projects now!

Tunadaughter 4 (nine) loves to work with me on whatever project I do. Last time we were painting a door. She has her own creeper and toolbox. The toolbox came from TunaDad, who had previously bought boxes for Tunaboys 1-3. He called her "Do you want a pink one?" "no, just a toolbox." "Do you want a blue one?" "No, just a toolbox." She's the only kid with her won creeper, too. She's great.

iansane said:

I don't have or want any kids but everytime I hand a ratchet to my dog, she runs away and tries to bury it.

A buddy of mine had a teenage kid that operated at about that level...

This is awesome.

When I think back on the auto (and farm equipment) maintenance / repair jobs that my Dad gave me to do as a boy, unsupervised, I'm still in shock at the level of trust he had in my developing abilities.  I am truly grateful for those times.  My daughter gets the same opportunities, but is not as interested as I wish she was, although changing oil or a tire is in her wheelhouse, so that's something.

SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:

Neither SkinnyKid1 (16) nor SkinnyKid2 (14) show skill, aptitude, or interest, in working on cars.

I love them and support them, but I still wrestle with this internally.

I don't know that any of my kids enjoy working on cars but they all have that capability and know their way around the shop. I required them to do repairs to their cars when they were at home so they would never be standing at a service counter without a clue. They still come to my shop to work on their cars. It's probably more because they are cheap like dad than any true joy of the work.

All we can do as parents is expose them to as many possibilities as possible and let them make an informed choice. 

SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:

Neither SkinnyKid1 (16) nor SkinnyKid2 (14) show skill, aptitude, or interest, in working on cars.

I love them and support them, but I still wrestle with this internally.

Working on cars wasn't really a thing available to me until I was in grad school. I wouldn't be surprised if my kid didn't get an interest in cars until he's older if he ever does. Even if he shows up when he's in his 30's and I'm in my 60's I plan on being available to share the experience.

My mother has told me several times that when she was younger she lamented over having a child that wouldn't get to enjoy working on cars or speeding recklessly through the world because of fuel injection and speed limits.

I lament that she sold her c2 427 4speed vette before I was born.

I finally got my son to learn some taking things apart when he had a toy train locomotive which kept having a switch inside it get stuck off or on. I told him if he wanted to keep playing with this toy, I'd show him how to take it apart and fix the switch once, but he'd need to get it fixed from now on.

Our youngest is 4 so we still have the kitchen knife drawer locked with one of those magnetic release "keys." We misplaced it one day, and my 7 year old says "no problem, here" and uses a piece of paper to unlock and open the drawer. HA! They sure do figure out stuff fast without us micromanaging it.

Also, I love that comic strip.

My daughter was one of the first to use my lift. My dad built her a tiny replica lift that functions and she still uses it with tools and a creeper while she "helps" me in the garage.

My oldest daughter(she's 41 now) used to help me work on my cars.  In college she changed the battery in her girlfriends car while the boys watched.  I was real proud of her.

One of the prerequisites for driving I gave my daughter, besides having to take the Tire Rack Teen Driver Survival course, was to change a tire twice while I watched but gave no physical or verbal assistance.

So she was out one evening with friends and got a flat.    The friends were totally amazed she knew how to change a tire.