Phoebe, now six and a half, loves to help in the workshop. The other day I was at the lumberyard and saw a small pink tape measure on the shelf. I immediately thought of Phoebe and how much she could enjoy and use such a tool. I bought it of course.
On the way hone, later in the day it occurred to me that Phoebe was old enough to have a tool drawer of her own - complete with her own tools of course. I called her into the shop and asked her to pick out the drawer she wanted. She picked a nice deep one - to hold LOTS of tools. We peeled off the sticker that was there, emptied the drawer of my tools and the she used her shiny new measuring tape to decide how big the decal would need to be to identify it with her name... in blue of course - her favorite color. Donna will cut the letters this coming week.
Then we got a piece of paper and started in on the list of tools she needed. Phoebe decided she would start with the tools she was familiar with, tools she had been borrowing from me. A hammer was a must, as was her own set of screw drivers. Box end wrenches also needed to be there, along with some pencils and felt tip markers. Last on the list was an apron to keep things handy and sorted when she worked.
We made an appointment for Saturday to go to the tool store and she even rescheduled her play date scheduled for that day. Saturday morning she was at our place nice and early, ready to go TOOL SHOPPING at last! We had a few other errands to run and chores to do which she suffered through quite cheerful and patient. Then at last it was time to go to the tool store. Uncle Peter came along too for he also was a tool expert.
The small hammer was the first tool to catch her eye. It was perfect! There were a lot of screw drivers to choose from, but the yellow handled ones caller her name the loudest. Yellow happens to be grampa's favorite color and that was cool because she would use the tools in my shop for the most part.
The box end wrenches was another hard choice, but eventually she decided on the black anodized wrenches. I looked the price of that set too, for grandma had us on a limited budget. The tool pouch was the next item on the list. There were many tool belts to choose from but only a few adjusted tight enough to hold on to Phoebe's slender hips. The colorful red one seemed perfect for her needs. It was on sale too!
With each selection she would read her list and take the time to place a big 'X' in the box she had carefully drawn beside each tool name. Then it was off to the pencils and felt markers to bag a selection of them for her tool drawer. We went through the checkout and lugged the tools out to the truck. The hard part was waiting to get home to unwrap them. She happily posed for me with all her tools on arrival.
Then she asked me the question I had been waiting for... 'What are we going to build with my NEW tools?'
That is the next great adventure.
-grampa dan
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
(five smileys = one big wide smiley!)
Thanks, Dan!
Posted by Bob Moroney (Member # 9498) on :
Grandaughters/sons are truly the essense of life. Phoebe is lucky to have such a talented and imaginative grandfather to help her build her future.
Posted by Kelsey Dum (Member # 6101) on :
That's awesome, Dan! My 6 year old already made me start her a pinstriping kit. Now she just needs to learn patience. Kids are great.
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
Wow, she's growing-up so quickly.
Adventure awaits around every corner.
Good stuff.
Peace, Bob
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
Outstanding smiles for the future enjoy
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Well, Grandpa, you did it again - made me smile all the way through the story because I could hear your voice and your loving manner involved in the making of the lists and the shopping trip.
Another page goes into Phoebe's book.
How blessed you both are to have each other. You know it now and soon so will that young lady that develops into a grown woman. And it won't be long.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)