Start them young

[James Harvey]

#6435

I’m often out and about in the bush with my dog and my boy on my back like a little asian prince. About 3 months ago I started making an effort of pointing out to my son (who has just turned 3) the different tracks we find while we’re out and what they might mean in terms of direction and running or walking.

Everyone knows they’re little information sponges but I’m still pretty impressed. He’ll independently point out dog, wallaby, pig, man and bird tracks to me now. He can tell if the wallaby was hopping from it’s tracks as well (it’s a lot easier to tell than if a four legged animal is running… the track is completely different.. plus kids like hopping so its fun for him to re-enact it) and he can generally point out which way a given animal is going.

I was also quite impressed when he was looking over my shoulder while I was reading one of Dave P’s books. He pointed out the bear print symbol used as a page break in the book and said ‘look daddy, dog track’. He was wrong, but he was as close to right as his knowledge and experience would allow him to be.

Anyway, this dad is a little unreasonably proud when I’m at the mall and see other kids pointing out cartoon characters’ names to their parents while boy is pointing out the muddy footprints left by a tradesman, ‘look daddy, man’s tracks’. 😀

[Doc Nock]

#51262

Jim,

Never be “unreasonably proud” when at only 3 yrs old he’s mirroring what lessons you teach him.

We had book covers in grade school that read, “Tis Education that forms the uncommon mind; As the Twig is bent, the trees inclined.”

These lessons you’re instilling in your young son, will outlive us all!

[David Bartlett]

#51282

Jim,

Thanks for sharing this. It is never too early to start passing on knowledge to children. We tend to take a lot for granted, but kids learn FAST!

I am 56 and I can still remember my dad carrying me on his shoulders so he could go brook fishing when I was about 3 or 4, stopping periodically to show me stuff like frogs and turtles to keep me happy.

Time flies, but some of those memories stand still.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#51324

That’s awesome, Jim – you should be proud.

And he has me beat by a few decades when it comes to identifying wallaby tracks. 😉

[David Coulter]

#51331

Yes, that’s the good stuff, isn’t it? That’s what makes a day. My son is a first year boys scout and I have to say how proud I was during a 5 mile hike last month. As a first year scout he was the one who knew the trees better than anyone, even a couple of the adults. Sometimes you think they aren’t listening and later you find out just how much they were. Sponges is right. Thanks for being a fine dad. peace, david

[Firedog]

#52382

Great post. I had similar experiences this winter with my daughter, who just turned 4 this April. She was racing across the snow (I had to go slower as I kept breaking through) identifying droppings and tracks.

So during one of these adventures, we were at my parents’ place in Wisconsin, and there is one spot on his property that tends to hold lots of rabbits (it happens to be right under his propane tank). So we walk by, and there was a large pile of rabbit droppings. She just looked at me in absolute awe and said “Wow Dad, I’ve never SEEN this much rabbit sign.” I laughed (in all your days, huh) but I was really about the proudest guy in the county that day.

Thanks for sharing and here’s to starting them young!

[Col Mike]

#52426

:D:D:D

Mike

[Cameron Unruh]

#52542

That is very cool! It is a privilege to pour our lives into our children. Enjoy every minute Jim…My youngest is 19 now and we were at a Men’s Retreat with our church last weekend. We got an unexpected blessing of snow which we need in our area. Friday night we were heading back to our cabin and my son said I think I will sleep out in my hammock tonight. It was snowing very hard at that moment and supposed to keep snowing all night. I thought to myself – that’s my boy always looking for an adventure. Here is what we woke up to the next morning…

One day your boy will be pushing you…

[Stephen Graf]

#52889

Cameron wrote: … It is a privilege to pour our lives into our children. Enjoy every minute Jim…

Well said! My oldest is 15 and those young days are some of my happiest and proudest memories. My kids have developed a profound respect for nature (although not into bowhunting yet :?) and I hope that they will make the world a better place.

And now for a little more bragging… My boy is a Freshman in high school and is taking AP calculus for college credit. He had a study session at school on Saturday to prepare for the national exam. He told his teacher he might be a little late “’cause he had to castrate the sheep” (We have 12 little lambs that needed work this weekend). I am sure my boy is one of the few, if only, kid that can work farm animals, skin deer, and drive a tractor… And get an A in college calculus as a freshman. Whew! I’m proud.

My girl is in the 8th grade. So far this year she has a perfect score and has not missed a single question on homework or tests…

We home schooled up to this year. But thought they should go to public school for high school for the social aspects and lab opportunities not available at home.

[James Harvey]

#56578

Thank you all for your kind words fellas 😀

Cameron, that’s one hell of a photo mate, it looks beautiful.

Steve, I think any decent dad would be rightly proud of your son’s achievements and his grounding in the realities of life. Sounds like you’ve been a very good dad indeed… your daughter sounds like she is on the right track too. Brag on my friend!

[James Harvey]

#56581

David Bartlett wrote:

I am 56 and I can still remember my dad carrying me on his shoulders so he could go brook fishing when I was about 3 or 4, stopping periodically to show me stuff like frogs and turtles to keep me happy.

Time flies, but some of those memories stand still.

David, your words actually made my heart melt a little, thinking that one day my little boy will be a grown man with memories of this time he spends with his dad. Thank you.

[David Bartlett]

#56895

Jim,

Thank YOU for starting this topic which brought the memory back to the front of my cobweb filled cranium.

[Author]

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