My two Grandsons spent the day with me today, so after discussing with them what we should do, we decided that I would teach them how to use the Hatchet & Knife sets that I had given them for Christmas.
I set up a chopping block in the driveway, then I made each of them demonstrate that they could hit a spot I identified with a hammer. I figured there was no use letting them swing a hatchet if they could not control a hammer, but they both did well.
So I found some fallen Black Walnut branches in the lot across the street and we brought them back, took the branches off, skinned the bark off, then stained them with home made Walnut stain, and made walking sticks out of them.
Both boys (7 & 10) worked diligently, but they also both got stuck here & there and I alternated helping each of them. Hey, it was the first time either of them used a hatchet. But both of them kept going, sometimes choosing the hatchet, sometimes the knife, and sometimes I helped a bit.
I was almost worried they would go home and complain about how hard I worked them and how their hands were sore, etc., but instead they went home and told my Daughter "We had the best day ever". I could not be more proud of them.
I also think it is a reflection that some of the more routine things that many of us take for granted are starting to disappear from the fabric of American life, including using hatchets, knives, guns, etc. I'm so glad we got to share this day!
