We've always taken the education/permission route when dealing with guns and our kids. Don't touch any gun without our permission, but I'll let you look at them and handle them as much as you want, whenever you want...all you have to do is ask. And anytime Daddy is shooting, you're all invited.

This week my two oldest boys are in a junior police academy in our little town. Today they were shown some gear and guns and even allowed to handle some of them.

The cop running that part of the program is a family friend that we go to church with and who they've known for their entire lives. When he called the boys over to see the guns they politely refused to touch it...."No thanks, Dad didn't say we could." So he sent my wife a text and when they read that they had permission they joined in the fun.

A man they've known their entire lives, who is like family to us, couldn't convince them it was OK to touch a gun.

Sound parenting and a sound plan for dealing with guns (along with great kids) can make a home safe, no matter what's in it.

Well done!

Good job there, Mr. Blue.

Does not surprise my at all. But then I have some idea how you are raising them.

Impressive.....well done!

hats off to you Eric!
gives me hope for the next generation.

grandfather & retired LE here to say, "Well done, Sir!".

Good on your boys, your bride and you, Eric!

So....how you gonna show your appreciation for them doing what is right?

Ed

Well Done, and you are correct....Sound parenting is the key.

Great parents usually beget great children. I had the same rule in my house until they finally got their own. I asked my 10 year old daughter several months back if she was scared or nervous being home alone after dark while I was picking up her brother from football practice. She said "nope, I have your shotgun and my shotgun (in our tv room) right here so I'm good." Confidence and a firearm is the great equalizer. Good for you Blue for raising good kids.

Good on you.

For sure.

+1!

+2

Well done!!!

OUTSTANDING friend, a raising job done RIGHT!

wheres that damn like button

damn I almost quoted the old farmer in Babe

but then I recalled you're LEO

so I'll just add well done!



not much greater satisfaction in this world than to raise kids you can be proud of.

happy for all of you.

Good job!

Eric is a great dude -

Great to hear, they did well.

But if it had been a plate of donuts, what would have happened then?

Thanks everybody. They really are great kids, turning into great young men, seemingly in spite of me.

Partsman--Donuts would've been gone gone gone. And they would've mocked me later with tales of how good they are.



Well we went to Dairy Queen after church tonight, but that happens pretty regular anyway.

Without going on too much of a tangent.... We don't do rewards for good behavior or pay the kids for working around the house and such. I'm not a fan of "if you're good you get stuff" way of parenting because I think it leads kids to rely too heavily on the reward. And if there comes a time when the rewards dry up, the good behavior can too.

Instead I try to instill an intrinsic desire to not just DO good, but BE good. The boys didn't get to go to DQ because of their attitudes towards guns. I sat them down this afternoon and explained that their attitudes were an example of how intelligent, trustworthy, and resolved they were and how proud I am of them. They didn't just DO good, they ARE good. And I'm proud of who they ARE, which reveals itself in what they do.

So at our house we don't get special treats or money for doing stuff. But at our house we are good people. And since my boys are such good people I want to enjoy good things in life with them....like going shooting or camping or taking a trip to Dairy Queen.

It's not a huge difference mechanically in how it all works, but in how you approach it with the kids there is a difference and I think I can see it making a difference in them.

The world needs a pandemic of this. ;-{>8

Man! you got some good kids; rare as hen's teeth these days. That doesn't happen by accident; good on you!

strongly agree with no rewards for doing household chores or doing the right thing


it's an expectation of normal life, not an event


also strongly agree when you have great kids, you're making a huge mistake if you don't share the things you enjoy with them

and do some of the stuff they enjoy whether you enjoy it as much as they do or not.


just really makes me smile to hear how you're raising those guys