I(we) are very careful not to push her into our way of thinking. I dont expect that everyone thinks like I do.(most likely a good thing ) We want her to be prepared and street smart, but we dont want her to lose interest. The wife gives me free reign over teaching her stuff so long as it is safe.



Cant imagine anything better my friend. They grow up so fast.....



A Leatherman juice (in blue). I thought it would be a good starter tool for a little girl. Small, pretty color(important for her) and will do any job an 11 year old is likely to come up with.



This was my greatest fear. The wife would get all the dresses, shoes, dancing and stuff and all I was good for was help with beating a level on a video game. We had nothing else much in common interest wise. Around age 8 she saw me in the back yard playing with a blastmatch lighting a fire to see how well it worked before taking it into the woods. She walked over and said "hey dad, that looks like fun, can I try?"

I bet you could see my bright smile from space at that moment.

Since then I teach her stuff every chance I get. Not TOO much to bore her, but enough to keep her interested. I only just realized how much she is starting to turn after her old man. SCARY stuff. She humors me sometimes though I think. She will not eat red meat(her choice, so I wont protest it) but she still wanted me to show her how to skin a deer last season. Even though she did not touch it she was very interested to see how it went.

Thanks for all the kind words folks. I dont know why I posted it but I felt so proud that I had to state it somewhere. Here is as good as anywhere else I figure.