Oh swell...I've failed as a grandpa!

Mule Packer

Mule Packer

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Dang! The last couple of nights, I've been tossing and turning in bed and feeling like the proverbial gob of spit because I've come to the sad realization that I have "dropped the ball" when it comes to being a grandpa.

The other day, our daughter called and announced that she, our son-in-law, and their three little ones (ages 22 months, 5 years, and 7 years) will be coming out to the ol' homestead for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Easter week. They live in a major metropolitan area about two hours away and find any excuse they possibly can to come out to the farm for the weekend. Which, of course, we thoroughly enjoy.

During the course of our conversation, I was shocked to find out that my seven-year-old grandson and his five-year-old sister had never been fishing. Never! I just about lost my lunch and figured that was impossible. I mean, I've been fishing with all of my other grandchildren...how could I have possibly missed these two?

Then it came to me. All of my sons fish and I've taken them and their kids fishing when they've been out to visit. But, while my daughter was brought up fishing, her husband wasn't. In fact, I found out that the only fishing gear he has is the fly rod, reel, and gear that I gave him for Christmas a few years back...and he's never used it, although we've invited him on several family fishing trips. I felt terrible.

I immediately told my daughter that we would remedy the situation and take all of them fishing the first evening they were out. There's a big pond just south of town that is stocked regularly with trout. While it is open free of charge to the public, most of the old timers leave it for the kids and grandkids who are just learning to fish. It's one of those special places where a little guy can almost be guaranteed to hook into a nice little rainbow and have bragging rights about catching his first fish.

I guess I'd better go out and get the old green skiff off of its stagings behind the barn and get it ready for the kids when they arrive.

My daughter apparently lost her fishing gear somewhere along the line while she was away at college and asked if I had enough gear for everybody. WHAT???!!! I mean, what kind of a dumb question is that to ask your old dad? I mean...is the atomic weight of Cobalt 58.9???? Of course I've got enough gear for everybody!!!

Anyway, I'm trying to repent. Hmmmm. I might even set up the ol' BB gun range out by the northeast pasture and let my grandson try out the Daisy Red Rider that I keep in the bunkhouse.:)
 
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Mule Packer said:
During the course of our conversation, I was shocked to find out that my seven-year-old grandson and his five-year-old sister had never been fishing. Never! I just about lost my lunch and figured that was impossible. I mean, I've been fishing with all of my other grandchildren...how could I have possibly missed these two?

Then it came to me. All of my sons fish and I've taken them and their kids fishing when they've been out to visit. But, while my daughter was brought up fishing, her husband wasn't. In fact, I found out that the only fishing gear he has is the fly rod, reel, and gear that I gave him for Christmas a few years back...and he's never used it, although we've invited him on several family fishing trips. I felt terrible.

I immediately told my daughter that we would remedy the situation and take all of them fishing the first evening they were out. There's a big pond just south of town that is stocked regularly with trout. While it is open free of charge to the public, most of the old timers leave it for the kids and grandkids who are just learning to fish. It's one of those special places where a little guy can almost be guaranteed to hook into a nice little rainbow and have bragging rights about catching his first fish.

I guess I'd better go out and get the old green skiff off of its stagings behind the barn and get it ready for the kids when they arrive.

My daughter apparently lost her fishing gear somewhere along the line while she was away at college and asked if I had enough gear for everybody. WHAT???!!! I mean, what kind of a dumb question is that to ask your old dad? I mean...is the atomic weight of Cobalt 58.9???? Of course I've got enough gear for everybody!!!

Anyway, I'm trying to repent. Hmmmm. I might even set up the ol' BB gun range out by the northeast pasture and let my grandson try out the Daisy Red Rider that I keep in the bunkhouse.:)
Click to expand...

You've got some catchin' up to do or you'll have to turn in your Grandpa card!

The BB range is worth extra credit, so if the visit goes ok, you aren't in danger of losing your carrd.

So does having all the equipment.

Can the five year old sister shoot if you help her hold the gun?

How did your daughter lose all of her equipment? Was it a tragic boating accident?:D:D:D
 
I have a couple of tiny "snoopy poles" that even my children fight over because they seem to catch more fish than any other rig they have used. The grandkids have to use my regular trout rods.
 
I got a sneakin' suspicion that a ride in the skiff, a little worm drownin', BB guns, and perhaps a short ride on a mule and you'll be right back up there in the top ranks of "Grampas" in the world.

Them Grand kids will be purty forgivin' with all the stuff you got to keep them entertained.:)
 
Sounds like taking them fishing and even shooting the bb gun will restore you as a proper grandpa, maybe even add in a little snack while fishing.
 
Mule Packer said:
Dang! The last couple of nights, I've been tossing and turning in bed and feeling like the proverbial gob of spit because I've come to the sad realization that I have "dropped the ball" when it comes to being a grandpa.

The other day, our daughter called and announced that she, our son-in-law, and their three little ones (ages 22 months, 5 years, and 7 years) will be coming out to the ol' homestead for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Easter week. They live in a major metropolitan area about two hours away and find any excuse they possibly can to come out to the farm for the weekend. Which, of course, we thoroughly enjoy.

During the course of our conversation, I was shocked to find out that my seven-year-old grandson and his five-year-old sister had never been fishing. Never! I just about lost my lunch and figured that was impossible. I mean, I've been fishing with all of my other grandchildren...how could I have possibly missed these two?

Then it came to me. All of my sons fish and I've taken them and their kids fishing when they've been out to visit. But, while my daughter was brought up fishing, her husband wasn't. In fact, I found out that the only fishing gear he has is the fly rod, reel, and gear that I gave him for Christmas a few years back...and he's never used it, although we've invited him on several family fishing trips. I felt terrible.

I immediately told my daughter that we would remedy the situation and take all of them fishing the first evening they were out. There's a big pond just south of town that is stocked regularly with trout. While it is open free of charge to the public, most of the old timers leave it for the kids and grandkids who are just learning to fish. It's one of those special places where a little guy can almost be guaranteed to hook into a nice little rainbow and have bragging rights about catching his first fish.

I guess I'd better go out and get the old green skiff off of its stagings behind the barn and get it ready for the kids when they arrive.

My daughter apparently lost her fishing gear somewhere along the line while she was away at college and asked if I had enough gear for everybody. WHAT???!!! I mean, what kind of a dumb question is that to ask your old dad? I mean...is the atomic weight of Cobalt 58.9???? Of course I've got enough gear for everybody!!!

Anyway, I'm trying to repent. Hmmmm. I might even set up the ol' BB gun range out by the northeast pasture and let my grandson try out the Daisy Red Rider that I keep in the bunkhouse.:)
Click to expand...

Hey doesn't sound like you failed to me. Id just say you took longer to get the job done. In fact id say their at a good age still to learn :D I wsh when I was younger I had a grandpa to take me out fishing. I actually picked up the sport from a friend, and as a teenager I was a fishing maniac. Of course a move to my current location kinda resulted in me not fishing in ten years or so. Well I tried but didnt have much fun. I've fished once here and once at elephant butte a couple hours away. I've forgotten most to what it takes to catch a fish and my yea was sold by family members :/

Anyways, I bet those kids will have a blast!
 
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There's a stocked 2 acre pond at the cabin....... sunfish to bass...... not to mention a half dozen submarine size carp..........and the rare snapping turtle

I never fished it.... but spent hours... baiting hooks, untangled line and released hundreds of fish back into the pond...... or was it just one fish...... hundreds of times?
 
Good on ya grandpa! I'm sure them kids will have a ball. I can still remember my fishing trips as a young boy with my dad and uncles...will NEVER forget them.
 
I am sad to say that you have company in the dog house :( I spent so much time in the desert (trying not to get blown up) that I have yet to take any of my grand kids fishing.

I was sucessful last weekend getting my son's family to the shooting range. My daughter in law and grand daughter had a hoot!!

Snoopy fishing poles, some games to play, and good snacks will help the time by while they are watching the bobber on the fishing line and while Grandpa gets his nap!!
 
Well, try not to be too hard on yourself. I have a similar situation. It is a little different for me because I have at least TRIED to expose my two kids to fishing. Neither one wants anything to do with it. My daughter said she thought it was gross. We were at a camp grounds at Lake Livingston and fishing off a bulkhead and caching some really nice sand bass on light tackle. Every cast caught a fish. Robyn wrinkled up her nose and ran off to the nears swing set to play.

My son wasn't much better. I took him on the big fishing pier off the Galveston Seawall and he caught 2 hammerhead sharks. a small one that weighted about 10 lbs and one somewhat bigger that weighed a bout 25 pounds. He put his rod down and said he was going to the truck to take a nap. He was out-fishing everyone on the pier and he didnt think it was any fun at all.

I had a boat for a while and he liked to go with me in the boat but he didn't care anything about the fishing he just wanted to drive the boat. He told me one time that he'd rather die of dysentery in Iranian prison that go fishing.

I have always felt like a failure as a parent but they both have told me not to sweat it. Still..........

My grandson now, that's a different story. He is just like his grandpa. A natural born fisherman. He can cast a spinning rig or a bait caster or fish with a cane pole if there's fish he'll catch 'em.
 
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