Comments on: I don’t like tools. What is that teaching my son?

By: Amy @ Never-True Tales

Amy @ Never-True Tales — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:07:47 +0000

I have a major problem with teaching my boys that tools=manhood too. I hate building things/putting things together, and I’m horrible at it. I’m a total female cliche. Sigh.

By: Sarah Carmichael

Sarah Carmichael — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:21:56 +0000

Ok, so the next time I have a project like this, I shall call you to come over and help me. I will pay you in iced lattes.

By: Sarah Carmichael

Sarah Carmichael — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:20:31 +0000

I hear that – not every action/inaction needs to/should be politicized. People have preferences. Leave it at that.

…and I prefer not to clean a litter box – as such, we have no pets.

By: Sarah Carmichael

Sarah Carmichael — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:18:39 +0000

YOU don’t like tools!? How did you manage to build a house? Wow – good for you. I had just thought it was something you liked to do.

Yeah, you are right – there is a lesson in the reality that people has different preferences and it doesn’t always mean something.

By: Sarah Carmichael

Sarah Carmichael — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:16:00 +0000

Yes! Exactly! I don’t need to change who I am to prove that point to him… what would that be teaching him? Oh, this is so confusing!

By: Sarah Carmichael

Sarah Carmichael — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:15:00 +0000

That is so true… not the tool you use. I like that.

By: Maria @BOREDmommy

Maria @BOREDmommy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:50:00 +0000

It gives owies – awesome. Nice swing – good job wimpy. For the record, I like tools – I build all the crap we buy from IKEA, otherwise Jonathan ends up with a handful of pieces that shouldn’t be left over. I used to help my dad with that kind of thing when I was little – I was always the first one to volunteer, and still am.

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:46:42 +0000

Hey you at least you finished what you set out to do. Nice job! I also am not a fan of tools, and daddy does a lot of the “manly” things in the house but perhaps when they’re old enough they can understand the difference between stereotyped tasks and personal preferences?

“I really don’t like emptying the litter bin at home – it doesn’t mean it’s a man’s job. It just means your daddy’s stuck doing that job because I won’t. But now that you’re old enough to wield a pooper scooper…”

By: Christine LaRocque

Christine LaRocque — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:34:24 +0000

You did it!! I HATE tools too. But my aversion comes from the fact that I always associated them with my dad’s work, and now with Jay’s work. But hey, they built me two houses so I shouldn’t complain. And yes when building I hammered and sawed with the best of them. But do I worry about modelling that behaviour for my kids now? Not so much. I think it’s okay to just not like something and to just be up front with Q that you don’t like tools. They aren’t your thing. Just like some things won’t be Mr. T’s thing. There is an important lesson to be learned in just the reality of that.

By: burnttorange

burnttorange — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:12:22 +0000

I remember my hubby laughing when my then 3 yr-old said “you are using mommy’s lawn mower”.