[Joe]

Lol bit harsh... Look at it this way, lots of folks without kids aren't super comfortable keeping them occupied. I know until we had our son I wasn't really comfortable around children.

To the point, apologies.

Where has the OP mentioned anything positive about the parents or children visiting his home in this thread (even joking that one kid could be the next mass shooter at a movie theater) ?

The only thing the OP has written is negatives with the family, as well as the fact that he is NOT liking the situation.

Seems the OP even went agasint his own sound advice by bringing the subject of guns, and then talking about it with the father first, not the mother or both parents at the same time. Then again, as the OP stated, he wouldn't bring the subject up to begin with, but apparently he has. If I'm wrong in my assumption (and we all know what they're like LOL), apologies.

There is a difference between not being comfortable around children and actively looking for conflit. Seems from what the OP has written, he is choosing the latter.

 

[SPM]

Sorry, but it seems like your looking for a fight (the description of your relatives in your very first post could tell anyone that, added the fact that your making negative comments about one child having to take medication). By the way, my own boy takes medication and he shoots just fine and enjoys the activity.

You previously stated you would not bring guns up as an activity (nor would anyone know you'd have guns in your home), but I'm assuming your "conversation" with the dad was about guns? You also stated that if the subject were to come up, you'd address it with the mother first, which apparently from what you've written, you hadn't.

If this is the case, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know you're already asking for issues with the mom by not addressing it with both parents at the same time particularly since you know the mother doesn't like guns.

You state the kids aren't interested in chopping wood, cleaning the gutters or building a gas can rack? No crap, what kind of kid would like doing that when visiting relatives? You don't have a pool nearby? You don't have any playgrounds around? You can't do any day trips? Can't play hide and seek? Do you really believe that shooting guns is the only thing kids can do for fun?

The way you feel about your family, can't blame them if they feel the same way about you.

Looks like somebody woke up with a case of the A-hole this morning.

Live and let live man. Maybe the dad brought it up. Maybe he lives in the country, where pools and playgrounds are called ponds and woods. It's bad form to waltz in here on a Sunday morning, and show your ass to everyone by calling out another member for deviating from his plan as the situation warrants.

Damn.

 

[Joe]

Maybe the dad brought it up. Maybe he lives in the country, where pools and playgrounds are called ponds and woods. It's bad form to waltz in here on a Sunday morning, and show your ass to everyone by calling out another member for deviating from his plan as the situation warrants.

Damn.

Love how you're making excuses per what to do with the kids. So, you can do nothing else with kids but go shooting? Give me a break.

You mean to say your kids don't like cleanning the gutters or chopping wood at your relatives house? LMAO

Show me anywhere in this thread where the OP has stated anything positive about his relatives. Just the opposite.

If the dad brought up the subject of guns, the OP is fully aware of how the mom feels, at which point he should of told the father it would be a good idea to bring the mother in on the conversation.

 

[jayne]

This morning I pulled the mom aside and had a conversation about this with her. She feels the kids should experience it, especially since "we're visiting the country and should do country things".

I actually sat the whole family down (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and the kids) and did the safety talk, demonstrated safe handling, took a pistol apart so the kids could see how it worked inside, etc. I was actually shocked that the older one noticed the rifling and wanted to know how it worked. I guess kids do see things. I used a SERT trainer to get the kids used to grip/sight picture/trigger for about as much as I could figure they could hold of that type of info, then got out a bolt gun so I could show them how that worked as that's what they would be shooting.

The wife setup some targets outside, and had a bunch of things for the kids to try to find with the scope. Making it a game helped them focus (I guess). Once they found things, figured out how to use the rear sandbag, etc I let them load up and fire single rounds. Once they had that and were following all the rules I let them load up a few more at a time. The younger one lost interest quickly, the older shot until the ammo ran out. I didn't let him dial the scope, but he did figure out hold under on his own (rifle has a 50 yard zero and we were much closer). The dad fired a few rounds, mom stayed safely way back. CCI quiets with the element 2 can ensured that things were very quiet, but I do wonder if they kids understand just how loud actual gunfire is.

 

[jayne]

Sorry, but it seems like your looking for a fight (the description of your relatives in your very first post could tell anyone that, added the fact that your making negative comments about one child having to take medication). By the way, my own boy takes medication and he shoots just fine and enjoys the activity.

Not looking for a fight, but I am very negative in general about their kids and the family. I have zero parenting experience, but have friends with kids who seem 100x more 'normal' than my nephews. Their parents have their activities scheduled 24/7 and the kids are under constant supervision and receive constant input on what to do, what not to do, etc, etc. How are the kids ever going to learn to think on their own if they're never given a chance to do anything but what's prescribed?

I'm ignorant, but also negative on the kid taking medication. When did tweaking kids brain chemistry become the default way to deal with things? These kids get away with so much shit that I never would have, and I don't seem the same sort of parenting out of my friends with kids. There I see support, with discipline and love. With the in-laws, I see nagging, "deal making" and pharmaceuticals.

The good news for society is that the wife and I aren't having kids, so my views and beliefs go to the grave with me.

 

[Windini]

This morning I pulled the mom aside and had a conversation about this with her. She feels the kids should experience it, especially since "we're visiting the country and should do country things".

I actually sat the whole family down (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and the kids) and did the safety talk, demonstrated safe handling, took a pistol apart so the kids could see how it worked inside, etc. I was actually shocked that the older one noticed the rifling and wanted to know how it worked. I guess kids do see things. I used a SERT trainer to get the kids used to grip/sight picture/trigger for about as much as I could figure they could hold of that type of info, then got out a bolt gun so I could show them how that worked as that's what they would be shooting.

The wife setup some targets outside, and had a bunch of things for the kids to try to find with the scope. Making it a game helped them focus (I guess). Once they found things, figured out how to use the rear sandbag, etc I let them load up and fire single rounds. Once they had that and were following all the rules I let them load up a few more at a time. The younger one lost interest quickly, the older shot until the ammo ran out. I didn't let him dial the scope, but he did figure out hold under on his own (rifle has a 50 yard zero and we were much closer). The dad fired a few rounds, mom stayed safely way back. CCI quiets with the element 2 can ensured that things were very quiet, but I do wonder if they kids understand just how loud actual gunfire is.

It seems everyone involved learned something from the experience. Good on you for proceeding with the 'plan' regardless of your misgivings. (I don't mean to suggest anyone should ignore serious concerns about safety, just that you pressed on and it worked out in the long run.) Also noteworthy that mom gave the ok.

 

[Stick]

I think you did it right. The first thing was getting Mom and Dad to buy in, and they did. You taught basic safety rules and let the kids have some fun. When the younger one got bored you let him go. The older kid had a great experience and Mom got to watch everyone enjoying themselves safely, so maybe you got a start on changing her attitude. Great job. Who says you wouldn't make a good Dad?

 

[jayne]

Mom got to watch everyone enjoying themselves safely

I'll be curious to see if it ends up on facebook. Will she let her social circle know what she's subjecting her kids to down here in the crazy south?? That's the true test of it all IMHO.

The other oddity was grandma. Afterwards she said she really liked the "classroom" portion and had no idea that's how a gun worked. She was shocked at the simplicity of it all and said a magazine was no more complicated then a pez dispenser. She also really liked the suppressor, said that was nice of me for getting one so we didn't disturb the neighbors.

 

[Joe]

Not looking for a fight, but I am very negative in general about their kids and the family. I have zero parenting experience, but have friends with kids who seem 100x more 'normal' than my nephews. Their parents have their activities scheduled 24/7 and the kids are under constant supervision and receive constant input on what to do, what not to do, etc, etc. How are the kids ever going to learn to think on their own if they're never given a chance to do anything but what's prescribed?

I'm ignorant, but also negative on the kid taking medication. When did tweaking kids brain chemistry become the default way to deal with things? These kids get away with so much shit that I never would have, and I don't seem the same sort of parenting out of my friends with kids. There I see support, with discipline and love. With the in-laws, I see nagging, "deal making" and pharmaceuticals.

The good news for society is that the wife and I aren't having kids, so my views and beliefs go to the grave with me.

Not that it matters, but I'm sincerely glad things went well with the family.

Perhaps the mother wasn't as bad as you thought since she was actually open to the idea of shooting.

As far as children and medication go, like anything else in our country, things do get abused. That said, there are children in our socitey IMO that do need certain amounts of medication for various reasons (we have a couple of autistic children in our one volunteer organization whose parents seem wonderful and loving, but medication seems to be a necessity).

 

[jayne]

Perhaps the mother wasn't as bad as you thought since she was actually open to the idea of shooting.

I think the mom is just confused now that I've seen more of her. She's got so much conflicting info coming at her from her mom, her in-laws, her sisters, etc, etc that I doubt she's got an actual handle on exactly how she wants her kids to grow up. Trying to please everyone has left her with a mixed bag of results.

 

[RFMan]

I'll be curious to see if it ends up on facebook. Will she let her social circle know what she's subjecting her kids to down here in the crazy south?? That's the true test of it all IMHO.

The other oddity was grandma. Afterwards she said she really liked the "classroom" portion and had no idea that's how a gun worked. She was shocked at the simplicity of it all and said a magazine was no more complicated then a pez dispenser. She also really liked the suppressor, said that was nice of me for getting one so we didn't disturb the neighbors.

That's actually a really good analog. Folks know what those are and how they work. And it helps demonstrate the absurdity of magazine restrictions..."How would you like the government to say you can only have pez dispensers that hold 7 pieces of candy, or less?" (NYC, looking at you...and some other states that want to emulate you...)

 

[rskahle]

I started my son at 4

 

[damierdown]

I think ill just know when my sons are ready. Right now the oldest is to hyperactive. I look at him and think , "nope ill get shot, somehow, someway."

 

[11B CIB]

Recent episode of ABC's "What Would You Do?" Regarding a guy buying a .22 rifle for his son's 7th birthday and a lady stepping in. All good responses except the AK47 derp in Longhorns gear

 

[ikarus1]

I worked my kids up from the red ryder at age 4-6 (I have two boys), to pump airguns and airsoft, to owning their own 22s (in my safe) and single shot .410s, to buying my 14 year old his own safe and his own deer rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader. He's very safety conscious and gives me no fear when he's handling firearms. He's also influencing my younger son to be so.
I now have a 14 and a 10 year old that I would trust on their own in the deer/squirrel woods with firearms more than a lot of adults I know. They also stayed at home this summer ALOT by themselves without their 16 year old sister having to babysit. In fact, they got along better when she wasn't at home.
16 year old girl is a crack shot with a pistol, and when she turns 18 I expect to be going thru the PPP process with her being under 21 so she can protect herself until she can get a NC CHP.

None of this was by accident, or by birth. My parents did not own guns, and in fact my dad wasn't allowed to show me how to shoot with anything more than a air rifle. After much hand-wringing, rants, guilt trips, etc. My mom finally relented and I've actually let her shoot with the kids (Henry levergun with CCI shorts/quiets.).

BTW my son takes medication for his condition, and I fully trust him with his own firearms. In fact, we left him at home on Saturday and he told me he heard a strange noise on our dead end street that sounded like a truck/4wheeler (at night....) so he went and got his 20ga and put it by the door. I heard him tell his sister that if someone tried a home invasion he absolutely wouldn't allow them in the house without a fight.

Those forum members who have seen my son shoot probably can attest to the fact that I would hate to be anyone attempting that foolishness

 

[BigWaylon]

Is have to think the gun counter, even in a big box store, in Texas...is about as controlled an environment as you could get.

I will say I expected a slightly different response from the younger guy when he asked "is this your wife". Something along the lines of "well then STFU" lady. It went much better than I first expected.