Passing the torch

MLB Tom

MLB Tom

Member
We grew up in a different world then our kids and grandkids. As a kid, I'd leave early and come home late (much to the enjoyment of my Mom) hehe. We would head to the woods for our tree fort or to the baseball field where we had to wait in line for a chance to play a game against the winners of last game. We would build boats from lumber we scrounged from the houses being built then float them all day on the local creek or go in the back yard and dig enough worms to facilitate a day of fishing on the local river. We would ride our bikes from one town to the next just for the sheer enjoyment of riding.
My grandkids have been making me nervous lately, seems all they want to do is play their video games from dawn to dusk, never want to ride bikes or explore the fields and woods by our house, just play those darn games. there is an exception though, the two young boys (The twins) have watched their older brother hunt for a few seasons and were pretty excited when I mentioned it was time for them to start their duck hunting career (if they could put down their controllers for 5 minutes) if they wanted to.
After several outings to the field learning to shoot coupled with a hunters ed coarse and lots of coaching on gun safety from Grampa the boys were ready for their 1st opener youth hunt here in Indiana.
When I woke them up at O dark30, they jumped out of bed and headed down stairs for breakfast! I never saw them getup that good for school! of course it is school, hehe, don't tell em I said that. Their older brother who is a veteran hunter now kept sleeping until I rolled him out on the floor. (He's a lot like Grampa)! After a quick bite we were all out the door to hook up with the other 2/3rds of the MLB at Marks house, then off to the marsh. After a great day in the marsh I realized that the kids today have a lot of choices we didn't and if that technology would have been available we might have done the same so I believe it is up to us to show them some alternatives to life spent in front of a TV. Today it paid off in spades as they say! BTW, after putting the gear away, a little nap and some Sunday football, the boys, Gramma and I went for a nice bike ride! Life is good! -Tom of the MLB
Tommy, the veteran hunter talking to his younger brother
View attachment HUNT-1.jpg
Mark (L) coaching mikey (middle), Tommy(R) on back up
View attachment HUNT-2.jpg

Two birds drop into the rig! I thought I could hear Mike breathing hard!
View attachment HUNT-3.jpg

Mike takes the shot, this ain't a clay target!
View attachment HUNT-4.jpg

Greg and Cinder pick up Mikes prize! On a side note this was Cinders 1st official retrieve
View attachment HUNT-5.jpg
More pics on next post

 
Hey Gramps-----your childhood sounded much like mine. What a great story and to have some fantastic pictures to boot! Like Bob said, "They learned from the best." You sure had to feel good about that day.
Al
 
Tom:

Nice pictures of a great day! Hopefully I am a few years away from being a grandfather but have 3 kids, 20, 19, and 17. Two boys (20 and 17) and one daughter. As much as I have tried, could not get my daughter to really enjoy the outdoors. She has been on more duckhunts and fishing trips than most boys but would prefer to go SHOPPING.. can you believe it! With my boys, I was fortunate to get them involved with hunting and fishing and the outdoors in general at a young age. I was also fortunate to have some really good hunting and fishing buddies who enjoyed having the kids tag along too. Soooo, the boys went everywhere, hunting trips, offshore fishing tournamants.. night fishing off beach etc...

Speed ahead to current day, and they are part of the regular crew. They now go hunting and fishing even when I can't and spend as much time outdoors as school will allow... They get invited to go with so many people now! My kids think that MY hunting/fishing buddies are better friends with them then they are ME.. (they are probably correct!).

They still like to play video games, text etc etc. But they do THAT, when there is nothing else to do, rather than the other way around! Keep up the good work with the Grandkids.. I am sure they will ALWAYS remember..

Jim O
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top