I went hunting Sunday afternoon with my 3 year old grandson. When we started walking out he took the lead, walking down the moon lit power right away. When we started to turn up into the pine timber I noticed he was walking so close to me that we were tripping over each other. After a bit I stopped and asked what the problem was. He had no comment. As we walked on he asked "T-Pa are we afraid?" I replied "Of what the dark woods?" He nodded. I told him WE weren't afraid of anything walking in this world and pointed out the fact that he had us covered with his trust BB gun. We walked another couple of hundred yards and I could tell he was still nervous, so I stopped and sat down against a big tree. After he plopped down next to me I told him" Grandpa loves the woods at night and we sat for a while just listening to the sounds. I went on to explain to him that city folks are often afraid of the dark because they watch too much TV but that we knew there was nothing in the woods at night that was not there in the day light. We sat for awhile as I explained that for us to be hunters we had to be able to move through the woods in the dark with the knowledge that we were the biggest badest predator in the woods. The rest of our hike out he took the lead taking great pride in finding the truck in the dark ( it was parked in the middle of the trail we walked in on)
(http://www.buffsblackwidow.com/images/tot10.JPG)
GREAT NEWS for one little tuff hunter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Got to Love being a GrandPa...........
What a Grandpa! That boy is never going to forget that dark morning in the woods with grandpa. Thanks for putting a smile on my face! :bigsmyl:
Great story!
Well done.
Great Story.
That is one lucky grandson.
Good stuff!
That's really neat. Thank you for sharing it.
Nice read...Woodie should read this...LOL
What a granpa! he shootin a "baby widder" there buff??
You joke Longstick BUT when a buddy of mine made him that Longbow I handed it to him and said it was just like grandpad's. He shook his head and said no... it doesnt have a piderman on it...Piderman??? my wife finally figured out it didn't have the Blackwidow logo ...Spiderman. So a quick fix with a sharpy and he was ready to go
That's cool, he won't forget that.
J
That's a great story...
Kind of reminds me when I was younger.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing.
Tuff little guy.
Good story.You did him a big favor gramps have fun together.
I wish you were my grandpa years ago. I STILL do not like being in the woods at dark by myself. I just cannot do it. I tried and I break out into a serious sweat and have problems breathing, and I am 46. Now isn't that the sadest thing you have heard. Nyctephobia or something like that.
Man you did that one right. Way to go.
Marty,
That was so cool that you recognized his anxiety and that you stopped and talked it through. The explanations you gave were perfect and very honest/no hype or stuff he would have to unlearn at a later age.
You have done a great service to your grandchild.
Way to go Grandpa.
Paul
Now that was just awesome...thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:
"T-Pa are we afraid?"
When my kids were little I cherished questions like this. Its an oppertunity to show them the Wonder not the fear. You are a lucky man.
Brian Gillispie
That's a really cool story. Brings back lots of memories! Thanks.
:campfire:
Thanks for sharing. Mental note taken, and will probably use that one later this year.
Stay safe and treasure every moment.
i feel blessed by stories like that,thank you for sharing.you'd be suprised by how many grown men are afraid of the dark these days,a buddy of mine is big enough to switch a grizzly bear and won't step foot in the woods til daylight and makes sure he's at the house before the night light comes on,sad!
Thats awesome, I wish someone would have told me that 30 years ago!
Now; at 35 I can move on.
I'm OK as long as I have company, These Rocky mountains can get pretty scary in the dark. I always wondered if I would be a small snack for some old mountain lion. :scared:
Great Story and post, reminds me of my Boy. When he was young he would always blaze the trail when we were going into the woods for the afternoon hunt. Then after the hunt on the way out in the dark, we were walking, I would stop, boom, he ran right into me. He was walking 2 inches away from me. He kept doing this on the way back to the truck. We stopped and talked just like you did with your grandson! Good times I'll never ever forget!
awesome story
That's cool. "Bonk" Here's the truck paw...lol
Great story .He'll never be afraid of the dark. :campfire:
Great story...my dad had me out in the woods ever since I was little and my two year old has accompanied me several times this past season. We have had no issue thus far but will definitely keep this in mind if he does ever get scared of the dark.
That's a really great story! Thanks for sharing! :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
great story. I wish I had someone like you when I was younger. When I was a cub scout the "leaders" took us in the woods one night on a camp out for a "snipe" hunt. they split us into twos and left us with a bag and a stick saying they'd run the snipe to us, then proceeded to scare the crap out of a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds.
Fast forward to opening day of bow, my first year. My dad didn't hunt so I tagged along with the neighbor. I couldn't tell him I didn't like the dark, 'cause that wasn't manly. I followed him in in the dark until it was time for me to split off and head for my stand. I sucked it up and started across the overgrown field with my flashlight swinging about 270' back and forth. I almost made it too if it hadn't been for that flock of pheasants I stepped on in the dark... By the time I ran home and changed my pants it was full day light. Still don't like the dark....
:biglaugh:
thats awesome Marty! thanks for sharing :thumbsup:
That's a great story Marty! Great picture too!
As always another good one , !!! :)
Awesome!
That's living in the moment, realizing that the lesson at hand is much more important than getting back home at a particular time.
Great story. Great example. Thanks!
Well Done Grandpa, Well Done!!!
It's moments like these that I simply CANNOT WAIT for with my five month old son in a couple years. Thanks for showing a new Dad how it's done, Buff!
Great story!
Dalein-don't wish for that my friend. They grow up so fast, the next thing you know he will be in college. Take it as it comes. trust me. Stuff like that will happen.
Nice to know we still have leaders with kind hearts and sage wisdom. Well done! :clapper:
Awsome!
So many dummies think that it is funny to tell little ones that the boogey man is out there. It really does harm them.
Looks like you are raising with love. A great Idea!
B.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
that little guy has a great Grampy!!
Buff, judging by the picture I might be scared of you in the dark. :scared:
I guess your man knows you better though. Having a grandad that can tote you in his pocket will inspire confidence.
Reminds me of times I spent toting my BB gun with my grandad. He's 87 now and I'm lucky to have him. All we can do is sit and talk now, the time for making memories together is past.
Because he took time for a little snot nose all those years ago, I gladly take time to comfort him now. God bless you and your best little friend in the whole world.
Danny