It's that time of year again when my daughter, age 12, starts her science
fair project, which means I usually get to help make the display case, the
box or something. She has some good ideas this time, but she needs two
boxes, about 20/16/4 to hold her ideas. Well, yesterday it was just the two
of us (SWMBO had some other duties) in the shop. This year she wanted to do
all the building. I told her other than the table saw that would be OK.
(She's on the short side and the reach would be, IMNSHO, too dangerous.)
With daddy hovering over her shoulder she jointed the boards, ran them
through the planer, used the router table to cut rabbets and grooves,
applied the glue and clamped them up (although this time I provided the
extra hands to hold the clamps as she tightened them, usually this was
reversed).

If I may brag (try to stop me, dammit!) she did a great job. All those
years helping me paid off, she actually was watching, not just hanging out
in the shop. Her two boxes, although not yet finished, look very good. I
reminded her to check for square and one was dead on, and the other, with
some help from some corner Besseys, needed a bit of tweaking. I'll post on
abpw when she's done.

Secondary gloat - she took first place either in her school or in her
school district in the sci. fair for four years running. This is her first
year in junior high, so she hopes to keep the streak alive. As far as I am
concerned the time we spent together yesterday already made her a winner!

Brag mode off,
Glen

Great to have the kids in the shop, isn't it? Especially with daughters,
who too soon find some guy they'd rather spend time with than dad.

Kids at school use the tablesaw only when they can clear a board past the
blade without touching the table (~5'5").

"Glen" wrote in message
link.net...
It's that time of year again when my daughter, age 12, starts her science
fair project, which means I usually get to help make the display case, the
box or something.

This year she wanted to do
all the building. I told her other than the table saw that would be OK.
(She's on the short side and the reach would be, IMNSHO, too dangerous.)
With daddy hovering over her shoulder she jointed the boards, ran them
through the planer, used the router table to cut rabbets and grooves,
applied the glue and clamped them up (although this time I provided the
extra hands to hold the clamps as she tightened them, usually this was
reversed).

If I may brag (try to stop me, dammit!) she did a great job.

Glen wrote:
As far as I am
concerned the time we spent together yesterday already made her a winner!

Brag mode off,
Glen


Sounds to me like you may have both been the winners yesterday.
....Mike

I'm blessed with two daughters myself ages 12(almost 13) and 10. You are a
brave man. Every time I consider letting my oldest use a tool I remember
this is the one that ran her bike into a parked car breaking her nose.
Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I know I
need to get over this.

My Daughter grew up around the shop and me allways doing work around the
house,
It takes a certain knack to be able to go afrer a two year old after she
picks up a sharp chisel and start running away from because she knows you
need it and you got to chase her to get it, Never held my breath so long in
my life.

She went on the roof one day when i went in to get a bite to eat and left
the Ladder on the side of the house
Another Breath holder she was maybe 3

Now 24 almost thru with nursing school and miss those times more that one
can know.
So Glen trust me when i say You are a very rich man and you can Gloat away
al you want.
Now get your damn feet on the floor and stop floating G

"Glen" wrote in message
link.net...
It's that time of year again when my daughter, age 12, starts her science
fair project, which means I usually get to help make the display case, the
box or something. She has some good ideas this time, but she needs two
boxes, about 20/16/4 to hold her ideas. Well, yesterday it was just the
two
of us (SWMBO had some other duties) in the shop. This year she wanted to
do
all the building. I told her other than the table saw that would be OK.
(She's on the short side and the reach would be, IMNSHO, too dangerous.)
With daddy hovering over her shoulder she jointed the boards, ran them
through the planer, used the router table to cut rabbets and grooves,
applied the glue and clamped them up (although this time I provided the
extra hands to hold the clamps as she tightened them, usually this was
reversed).

If I may brag (try to stop me, dammit!) she did a great job. All those
years helping me paid off, she actually was watching, not just hanging out
in the shop. Her two boxes, although not yet finished, look very good. I
reminded her to check for square and one was dead on, and the other, with
some help from some corner Besseys, needed a bit of tweaking. I'll post
on
abpw when she's done.

Secondary gloat - she took first place either in her school or in her
school district in the sci. fair for four years running. This is her
first
year in junior high, so she hopes to keep the streak alive. As far as I
am
concerned the time we spent together yesterday already made her a winner!

Brag mode off,
Glen

Sounds like my oldest (now 30). She could pluck a duck, skin a squirrel,
filet a fish as fast as I could, or fetch a downed dove or quail better than
the dog. The youngest (now 18) told me in no uncertain terms when she was
about nine - "Daddy, I'm just NOT a country girl!".

The latter, however, is the one who designed and built her own bedside table
.... go figure.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/18/03


"George M. Kazaka" wrote in message
My Daughter grew up around the shop and me allways doing work around the
house,
It takes a certain knack to be able to go afrer a two year old after she
picks up a sharp chisel and start running away from because she knows you
need it and you got to chase her to get it, Never held my breath so long
in
my life.

She went on the roof one day when i went in to get a bite to eat and left
the Ladder on the side of the house
Another Breath holder she was maybe 3

Now 24 almost thru with nursing school and miss those times more that one
can know.

Your a GREAT Dad. You are teaching your daughter among other things
confidence and self esteem. I too have my 11 year old daughter helping me
build my dream workshop. She loves the time in the shop and is always asking
me when we are going to work in there. We're almost to the point where we
can buy the equipment to fill the shop and start generating saw dust.

Enjoy the time because as any dad on the Wreck will tell you they grow up
fast !!

May you and your family have Health, Happiness, Prosperity, and plenty of
Saw Dust in the New Year.

Rich


"Glen" wrote in message
link.net...
It's that time of year again when my daughter, age 12, starts her science
fair project, which means I usually get to help make the display case, the
box or something. She has some good ideas this time, but she needs two
boxes, about 20/16/4 to hold her ideas. Well, yesterday it was just the
two
of us (SWMBO had some other duties) in the shop. This year she wanted to
do
all the building. I told her other than the table saw that would be OK.
(She's on the short side and the reach would be, IMNSHO, too dangerous.)
With daddy hovering over her shoulder she jointed the boards, ran them
through the planer, used the router table to cut rabbets and grooves,
applied the glue and clamped them up (although this time I provided the
extra hands to hold the clamps as she tightened them, usually this was
reversed).

If I may brag (try to stop me, dammit!) she did a great job. All those
years helping me paid off, she actually was watching, not just hanging out
in the shop. Her two boxes, although not yet finished, look very good. I
reminded her to check for square and one was dead on, and the other, with
some help from some corner Besseys, needed a bit of tweaking. I'll post
on
abpw when she's done.

Secondary gloat - she took first place either in her school or in her
school district in the sci. fair for four years running. This is her
first
year in junior high, so she hopes to keep the streak alive. As far as I
am
concerned the time we spent together yesterday already made her a winner!

Brag mode off,
Glen

mel wrote:

Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I know
I need to get over this.

You need to get over that.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Glen wrote:

Brag mode off,

Nice tale. I wish my own daughter took more of an interest in what I do.
She's Mommy's little girl. Barbie dolls and stuff. I have tried, but
there's just no interest there. My shop can't hold her attention for more
than five minutes.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Take it slowly, but you've got to do it. People don't grow up and suddenly
wake up with new skills. She'll never learn to avoid parked cars unless she
keeps riding her bike and she'll never be able to run a table saw unless she
can run a cordless drill and she won't be able to do that until she can use
a screwdriver and ... baby steps, but you've got to do it. Both for her and
for yourself. You won't get another chance with her so take it now!
Today!! I said now, instead of reading this post, can't you take a hint???
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"mel" wrote in message
. ..
I'm blessed with two daughters myself ages 12(almost 13) and 10. You are
a
brave man. Every time I consider letting my oldest use a tool I remember
this is the one that ran her bike into a parked car breaking her nose.
Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I know
I
need to get over this.

Based on my own experience, you may never "get over it". I never worried too
much about my oldest daughter coming to any harm. The youngest has been
constantly in my "worry conscious" since the day she was born ... SWMBO
feels the same way.

I am starting to think it is nature's way of letting us know which ones need
the most protection.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/18/03


"mel" wrote in message
I'm blessed with two daughters myself ages 12(almost 13) and 10. You are
a
brave man. Every time I consider letting my oldest use a tool I remember
this is the one that ran her bike into a parked car breaking her nose.
Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I know
I
need to get over this.

Need not to worry Mike, she will still make your eyes water, your heart skip
beats and then pound out of your chest
and your head to swell to twice its normal size,
She will do this unknowlingly and in her own time and her own way.
You will have no doubt in your mind when that happens
George


"Silvan" wrote in message
...
Glen wrote:

Brag mode off,

Nice tale. I wish my own daughter took more of an interest in what I do.
She's Mommy's little girl. Barbie dolls and stuff. I have tried, but
there's just no interest there. My shop can't hold her attention for more
than five minutes.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

You've got to find the "what's in it for me" from her perspective. Perhaps
a simple box to hold some Barbie's, then a bigger one, then something else,
pretty soon you might have her hooked. Or not. Get her excited about
wanting something the two of you could make then you let her know that
she'll have to help. I have no doubt she'll be there in a minute. Get her
to design the size of it then mark out the boards, you can cut them, she can
spread the glue, etc.
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"Silvan" wrote in message
...
Glen wrote:

Brag mode off,

Nice tale. I wish my own daughter took more of an interest in what I do.
She's Mommy's little girl. Barbie dolls and stuff. I have tried, but
there's just no interest there. My shop can't hold her attention for more
than five minutes.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
Based on my own experience, you may never "get over it". I never worried
too
much about my oldest daughter coming to any harm. The youngest has been
constantly in my "worry conscious" since the day she was born ... SWMBO
feels the same way.

I am starting to think it is nature's way of letting us know which ones
need
the most protection.

You Are right
Always trust those instincts they are always right
Isn't it Scary


www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/18/03


"mel" wrote in message
I'm blessed with two daughters myself ages 12(almost 13) and 10. You
are
a
brave man. Every time I consider letting my oldest use a tool I remember
this is the one that ran her bike into a parked car breaking her nose.
Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I
know
I
need to get over this.

Mel,
Better get ready for the day when daughter asks to take "driver's
ed" at the high school (and you are the one to sit in the front seat
while she uses her "learner's permit").
The sharp tools and broken nose will fade rapidly. And wincing at
every intersection will NOT inspire confidence. I've been through two
sons driving with me in the vehicle as beginning drivers. One must
project confidence and serenity. They are now 22 and 27 and I
survived.
Tom

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:46:01 GMT, "mel"
wrote:

I'm blessed with two daughters myself ages 12(almost 13) and 10. You are a
brave man. Every time I consider letting my oldest use a tool I remember
this is the one that ran her bike into a parked car breaking her nose.
Scares the heck out of me to let her use even the simplest tools. I know I
need to get over this.

Larry C in Auburn, WA wrote:

You've got to find the "what's in it for me" from her perspective.
Perhaps a simple box to hold some Barbie's, then a bigger one, then
something else,

Not bad thoughts. Maybe build a doll house or something...

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Silvan wrote:
Larry C in Auburn, WA wrote:


You've got to find the "what's in it for me" from her perspective.
Perhaps a simple box to hold some Barbie's, then a bigger one, then
something else,


Not bad thoughts. Maybe build a doll house or something...

One of my brothers had a similar quandary with his two daughters. He
started them out building bird houses. The first batch of bird houses
were "pre fabbed". All the girls had to do was to squirt some glue and
drive a few nails into pre drilled holes. Decorating the houses was
more of a project and more messy than the actual assembly.

Later he progressed to teaching them to use hand saws, tri squares and
block planes. That took care of the next series of bird houses.

As it stands now, the older girl lost interest in wood working while the
younger one is a dedicated wood shop helper.

At last count, the girls still had ten fingers each.

Tim

The Guy wrote:

As it stands now, the older girl lost interest in wood working while the
younger one is a dedicated wood shop helper.

At last count, the girls still had ten fingers each.

Interesting. I did something like that with the boy already, but I didn't
think of doing the same with her. I guess I'm a sexist after all. Bad
Daddy!

Bird houses it is. I still have a kit or two laying around from days of
yore.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/