- Joined
- Nov 13, 2001
- Messages
- 234
My stepson will turn eight this summer. The topic of discussion between his mother and I is whether he's ready for a pocketknife. Obviously I'm biased .
Jack is a great kid. I couldn't have wished for a better situation. He and his sister both are thoughtful, funny, smart and just all-around great to be with. For someone who never thought he'd have kids, this is about as good as it gets. My wife owes me for some very painful surgery .
I got my first knife, a Camillus scout model, when I was about eight. I still have it. My grandfather taught me that a gentleman is never without a pocketknife and a handkerchief. Never been without one since. But things are a little different now. He won't be able to carry it to school to show off to friends, he doesn't have the woods that I grew up in where he can whack on trees, we don't fish or camp so that I could call him over and ask him to cut or whittle something for me (as my dad did for me -- making me feel as important as I've ever felt). In short, I don't know what he'd do with it, but I feel it's important that he have one. A right of passage, if you will.
Of course I also carved my initials into the bannister and did all sorts of other stupid sh*t that caused my parents great anguish and me great gluteal pain .
I realize that a first knife depends on the maturity of the child, but how old were you when you got your first pocket knife, and -- most importantly -- how old were your children when you gave them theirs?
Thanks,
Chad
(edited for spelling of gluteal)
Jack is a great kid. I couldn't have wished for a better situation. He and his sister both are thoughtful, funny, smart and just all-around great to be with. For someone who never thought he'd have kids, this is about as good as it gets. My wife owes me for some very painful surgery .
I got my first knife, a Camillus scout model, when I was about eight. I still have it. My grandfather taught me that a gentleman is never without a pocketknife and a handkerchief. Never been without one since. But things are a little different now. He won't be able to carry it to school to show off to friends, he doesn't have the woods that I grew up in where he can whack on trees, we don't fish or camp so that I could call him over and ask him to cut or whittle something for me (as my dad did for me -- making me feel as important as I've ever felt). In short, I don't know what he'd do with it, but I feel it's important that he have one. A right of passage, if you will.
Of course I also carved my initials into the bannister and did all sorts of other stupid sh*t that caused my parents great anguish and me great gluteal pain .
I realize that a first knife depends on the maturity of the child, but how old were you when you got your first pocket knife, and -- most importantly -- how old were your children when you gave them theirs?
Thanks,
Chad
(edited for spelling of gluteal)