Watching the Grandson is a Joy but Today it Sucks!

[Rick Williams]

My wife and I watch our 19 month old grandson on weekdays. Normally I love it. The kid brightens my day no matter what's going on but today is different. My GTM arrived late last week and after finishing inventory, removing panels, and of course my obligatory Sunday round of golf, today was supposed to be the first full day of assembly. I had a decent morning but my wife decided to go shopping. Now I'm stuck in the house while the grandson takes his afternoon nap so I've got nothing better to do than surf the forums. I thought about sneaking up to the shop since the kid sleeps for about two hours but my wife and daughter-in-law would never forgive me if the little critter woke up, climbed out of his crib, and fell on his face while I was playing in my man cave! Of course my son would understand and just laugh but his and my opinion don't count around women.

[Ray]

That is what playpens are for!!!!

Bring him out in the shop with you. Give him a clean but old ratchet to teeth on and work away.

Ray

[ChopperJustin]

That is what playpens are for!!!!

Bring him out in the shop with you. Give him a clean but old ratchet to teeth on and work away.

Ray

X2! My son is only 2. He's got his own (toy) welder, welding mask, battery drill, angle grinder, all complete with sounds! Bring em' on out to the shop and show the boy how its done!

[Kc_Shane]

We have something like this. Works great when I am in the man-cave.

http://www.amazon.com/Levana-Digital-Monitor-Intercom-LV-TW501/dp/B004CJ9D6W/ref=sr_1_7?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1298319567&sr=1-7

[canuck1]

I'm not ready for grand kids just yet but I know how it is to try and find time to work in the garage around a busy family schedule.

Aside from the work I do to earn a living, My 12 yr old daughter plays basketball, volleyball, dances ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern. My 14 yr old son is a hockey, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and rugby player. I am involved in coaching, coordinating and chaufeuring all these activities (along with my wife) and there are MANY weekends that go by where I just don't get time or have enough energy left to turn a wrench.

Patience and perseverance will pay off for you. Both with your families needs and your build. Keeping everything in perspective helps keep you sane.

When I am not able to actually work on the car I try my best to plan my next trip in to the garage right down to the last detail. What is my next goal? What tools and supplies will I need? Do I have all the parts required? And on it goes... right down to what station I plan to listen to on the radio. I know it sounds silly but it does help keep me connected with where I am in the process and optimizes the time I do get so none is wasted rubbing my chin wandering and admiring my work.

I try to focus the time I spend on the forum as it relates to where I am at in my build (with a little bit of looking forward to the next step). Looking for new ideas and photos provides a lot of insight into the most efficient way to do things. If you are spending a lot of time posting in off topic forums then I'm shaking my finger at you!

Every builder has their own set of challenges, time being a very common one and definitely one of mine. Plan your time to be able to make best use of what you get.

P.S. I've used the baby monitor trick as well... works like a charm :D

Sean

[Fredj]

Before you know it. they need your help with the first car. Then it is High School graduation,Army boot camp and overseas to a country you cannot pronounce. All the time you are wishing that they were next to you preventing you from working in the garage!! We all have been there!

[Rick Williams]

Dang Sean, you sure are organized. I just follow the old saying "If you're going to eat an elephant just take one bite at a time" so when I go up to the shop I take a bite. If I'm still hungry I take another until I'm full for the day.

Actually I'm retired and have all the time in the world. My first post was meant as a light hearted little vignette. Guess I need to start using those little smiley things. By the way, I've had the little guy in the shop many times but we don't use a playpen so it's kinda like watching a hand grenade. All I have to do is turn my back to blow my nose and I'll bet he can figure out how to start the grinder and take off half the powder coating from the frame! He does have his own plastic tool set and can turn a nut like a pro! Well, maybe not like a pro but he gets the job done eventually.

[canuck1]

No problem Rick. I think I got the gist of your comment. I understand your desire to get in there though and I guess it just made me think about how I deal with the same issue.

It still amazes ME that I somehow found the time to get it built!? Can you convince my wife that I'm organized? :confused:

Sean

[John Sawyer]

You guys are depressing me! I've got three boys (13, 11, and 7) and none of them have shown much interest in cars. I'm a mechanic, so they've been exposed to cars from birth. So far nothing. I'm on my second FFR build- long story, but this one has been almost ten years in the making. Not sure if and when it will ever get done (maybe this is what is actually depressing me!). I keep reminding myself that the boys will grow and at some point decide they don't want to hang out with Dad any more, or they will leave the nest, but the FFR will still be there waiting for me. Or maybe one of them will get the spark. Either way, for now I spend my time coaching them in sports, helping them with school work, fixing their broken bikes, toys, etc. Visiting the forums keeps the flame lit for me until the time/money becomes available again to finish my dream.

[subyrod]

Be patient. I played sports all day every day until high school was done. By the end of high school I started getting interested in cars. By the time I was 22, I was obsessed. Now i wish I was this into cars when I was younger, I wish I couldv'e worked on cars with my dad and not played sports. :)
I've got 4 boys of my own now. 1, 4, 6, 8. :) I'm jsut starting into the sports and coaching. I try my best to take them for rides in my WRX ( future donor car woohoo!!!), take them to Car shows and soon out to Bonneville for Speedweek. I wanna get the new FFR MR kit they're developing to have a project to work on with the boys. We'll see, I hope I get at least one boy who bleeds racegas.

You guys are depressing me! I've got three boys (13, 11, and 7) and none of them have shown much interest in cars. I'm a mechanic, so they've been exposed to cars from birth. So far nothing. I'm on my second FFR build- long story, but this one has been almost ten years in the making. Not sure if and when it will ever get done (maybe this is what is actually depressing me!). I keep reminding myself that the boys will grow and at some point decide they don't want to hang out with Dad any more, or they will leave the nest, but the FFR will still be there waiting for me. Or maybe one of them will get the spark. Either way, for now I spend my time coaching them in sports, helping them with school work, fixing their broken bikes, toys, etc. Visiting the forums keeps the flame lit for me until the time/money becomes available again to finish my dream.

[Rick Williams]

You guys are depressing me! I've got three boys (13, 11, and 7) and none of them have shown much interest in cars. I'm a mechanic, so they've been exposed to cars from birth. So far nothing. I'm on my second FFR build- long story, but this one has been almost ten years in the making. Not sure if and when it will ever get done (maybe this is what is actually depressing me!). I keep reminding myself that the boys will grow and at some point decide they don't want to hang out with Dad any more, or they will leave the nest, but the FFR will still be there waiting for me. Or maybe one of them will get the spark. Either way, for now I spend my time coaching them in sports, helping them with school work, fixing their broken bikes, toys, etc. Visiting the forums keeps the flame lit for me until the time/money becomes available again to finish my dream.

It's funny how every person is different. I've got four grown boys and two are car guys, two aren't. When they were in high school I could get willing help on my cars from the car guys. I can remember getting help bleeding brakes and explaining the principle behind brake fluid and hydraulics and why the relative non-compressibility of brake fluid works but air (pneumatics) wouldn't. I could see instant light bulbs going off. One of my other sons, who is the father of the grandson we watch, would just walk through the garage without a glance at what I was doing. He's that way to this day and can't even drive a manual transmission car. I showed him the GTM kit when it came in and it was all he could do to stifle a yawn. It doesn't matter. They all have their unique attributes and all four have sharp wits that keep me in stitches. I love it when the whole family is home for a get-together.

[Bullethole]

Install a baby jail in the garage.