Thread: Father Son Project..........NOT.....

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This is something I can relate to! I ended up with six kids... 3 natural... and three that life brought me. It's been an honor to try to be a good dad to them all. I always had such a passion for cars that I thought that the four boys would certainly have some of that. It just seemed natural!

In the earliest years I took my kids to every car show and drag race in the area. The only result was that my Daughter would come help me sand on paint projects... but my two sons only wanted to skateboard.

Later my boys got hooked on sport bikes, but only wanted to ride.

When my second marriage came along, my oldest step-son liked hunting and four wheel drives, but didn't want to work on them. The youngest stepson was always chasing girls and riding sport bikes with the other two. My stepdaughter just had a passing interest. By then my birthdaughter daydreamed of drag racing, but it never amounted to more than pipedreams.

Today the youngest stepson has discovered cars, and has a passion, but has no patience or focus to get things done. If he can't buy it, he never gets around to it. Nothing else has changed a lot.

In 2009 I did have a brief bit of excitement, as one of the many grandchildren came over for about a week in the summer, and I helped him to custom paint his bicycle. (He did the spraying!) He was proud and amazed... but only talks about how much work it was.

Lately I have been giving model car magazines to a grandson of a neighbor. He has the passion, and is actually building and customizing them. His own grandpa is a pinstriper... and he is always hovering close by. He might get the bug. :-)

I guess it takes a certain combination of "obsession"... "motivation"... "commitment"... "determination".... and "cars" need to be their focus. Not too many people end up with that combination. I have enjoyed many small moments when I could see that amazement that I always had... in their eyes. ...but it was not long-lasting.

I guess you have to be willing to feel blessed if your kids at least have a passion for something positive... and are lucky enough to have a happy and satisfying life. {:-) In the meantime... I spend much of my time with the many fellow motorheads I have befriended! :-)

Too bad our children cannot be controlled, but they are not so different from us. My dad never understood why I wasted all of my time laying under cars, instead of fishing! :-)