I have failed as a parent

I don't post often here, but let this be a lesson to all you with young kids. Don't be like me.

I was walking through a big store with my daughter (14) the other day. Just grabbing a few essentials, nothing major, making small talk.

And then it happened. She looked sideways at me as we passed the display of the 12V Barbie Jeeps and similar trucks, and says, rather sadly, "I can't believe you never got us one of these". (I also have a 10yo)

My heart sank as my failure rattled around in my puny brain. I stammered back with something like "I know, right? We wanted to, we talked about it so many times, don't know why we never did, do you want it now, I'll buy it today, etc" It's a blur, i was still reeling from the realization that it was in fact too too late now.

And she, being way too smart for her own good, says "Nah, it's fine. So, remember when you took us to the RallyX last summer? That looks fun"

So now we're looking at go-carts and hovercraft and RallyX cars and I'm doomed.

Friend traded a kart for a bike for awhile. Kiddo loves kart rides! (He's two and a half!) It's quick enough to be fun for me, but I don't really push it with the little passenger. Power wheels would be a borefest for a tween.

(Feel like I should say it's not that I like the Redskins, I don't even like football, coat was free so it's my get dirty winter coat)

In reply to Apexcarver :

That football team doesn't even exist anymore, so you're good. 

As for having a young teenage daughter with an interest in rallycross, absolutely get a vehicle capable of rallycross and go for it. It is an opportunity to spend quality time whether it just be at the events and you do all the prep and maintenance, or if she helps out and is involved in prepping maintenance in addition to spending time at the events with her. Also as someone who didn't become involved in any form of motorsports until I got to college, I can tell you that high school me would have not messed around with and had nothing but respect for a female classmate who was involved in any form of organized motorsport. If that's not an endorsement for doing rallycross with her, I don't know what is

The fact that she realized life is about driving something awesome SHOWS that you are a GREAT and PROPER parent!

I refused to get my son one when he was a little guy so I got him a peddle cart instead.  Burn off that energy.  
 

I still have one of those in the barn, and my kids are in their 30's.

We had a modified power wheels and I built a trailer so they could haul stuff around. They loved helping with yard work

Winning!

^We had the lightning mcqueen one for my son.  I think the same as you have John.  The slalom would have to be a 500 ft spacing slalom to work... the stupid wheel in that car would only turn a few degrees.  

My oldest (about to be 10) asked if he could do kart racing. So you know what I have to do.

Thanks guys. This was in jest of course, I have awesome kids. She has her driving permit, and is doing well. They both help wrench on projects and maintenance. 

But, rallycross may happen. Any thoughts on class for a beginner? I love throwing around a rwd, but I think fwd might be better for her.

llysgennad said:

But, rallycross may happen. Any thoughts on class for a beginner? I love throwing around a rwd, but I think fwd might be better for her.

Whatever you can find that is reliable.  If you like it, switch cars after a while to whatever class has the most competition where you are located.

Rallyx is not usually full of deep fields like autox and often people in one geographical area will all congregate to one class for competition purposes.

Heh. I never had a power wheels, go cart, or anything like that.

So now that the 9 year old is about to be too big for the electric corvette and atv, I’m deciding what gas powered toys we should do.

Shamelessly living vicariously through my kid 

The only thing I had to drive as a kid was the lawnmower......

To the OP:

You skipped the lame electric stuff and are going to the gas powered goodness. You're doing fine!

In reply to llysgennad :

Rwd is fine for a beginner, it's about learning and car control and major memories, not even attempting to win. 

I had PowerWheels for all my kids. Know this, most route the battery to one motor for low speed, and to both for high speed. This makes the low-speed motor burn out faster. They can be replaced for $20. The other way they end up at the curb (in nicer neighborhoods) is that the battery no longer takes a charge and no one wants to spend the $ for a replacement. You can wire up your cordless drill battery and run that sucker just fine, the adapter costs $20. So scour the streets on trash nights in new developments where there is a good mix of money and kids. 

She's 14 and hasn't helped with brakes yet?

I have two daughters, both 20-something.  As little kids I would take them into the garage and they would help with things they could.  Around kindergarten age they were both taught to weld.  They thought it was cool and even took their example of two pieces of metal stuck together in for show and tell.  They loved it when they could pull the lever on the hydraulic press.  By age 6 or so they lost all interest in the garage.  That's the hand I was dealt and I am completley OK with that.

They did love going to the NY Auto Show when we lived in NJ and then when we moved to Chicago, the Chicago Auto Show.  But they went with a very different eye than me, and that's OK too.  

Both are out of college now, one is an attorney and one works for Subaru of America.  She can get most anything as her company car and currently drives an Outback.  She's never had a WRX or BRZ.  Grrrr.  Subaru-girl started dating a guy a couple years ago.  Best guy she's ever been around.  He's one of the very few who I let drive my Lancia They just bought one of these:

<sniff>  I am so proud.

Attorney-girl is still driving her beater-Camry trying to pay off her student loans.  There's still hope.  I can see her in a TRD Pro 4Runner some day and I may get to teach her 4 wheeling.  She loves the outdoor life and hiking.  So much so that she is headed to the Grand Canyon tonight to hike it tomorrow.

>Scott

I love that no one has questioned the hovercraft possibility. 

llysgennad said:

I love that no one has questioned the hovercraft possibility. 

I know, right?

I have two daughters and they both just had their Birthday's (now 13 and 16).  My eldest is very, very risk adverse (she literally asked for Nancy Grace's "Don't be a Victim" book as one of her gifts), my youngest has absolutely no sense of self preservation and has asked me for a hover craft for many years.  I feel really bad that I haven't given her that experience but I'm an engineer and I see the potentially serious failure points (everything is fine until it isn't) so NO unless I find something I think is acceptably safe.

The OP talked about not doing enough but there is also the problem of doing too much.  I've bought many bicycles for my daughters over the years that have hardly ever been ridden.  I gave my youngest a new bike last Christmas and we did a 60 minute ride shortly after and she did 20ish minutes with her friends a few months later, that's it; 80 minutes in one year.  In fairness, we live at the top of a steep and long hill so it's exhausting to come and go from our home but still, I've got old "new" children's bikes piled up with similar time on them.

Bottom line IIsygennad:  I recommend you give yourself some slack...it's impossibly difficult to get it right every time...the fact you're worrying about this is a proof you care and caring is almost everything.  Money, credentials, etc. are helpful but the absolute most important characteristic of a great parent is caring and clearly you've got that; give yourself a break. 

914Driver said:

She's 14 and hasn't helped with brakes yet?

She has. She could maybe do disc brakes solo. I hate drums enough I don't ask for help on those 

In reply to RX Reven' :

Yeah, same here on the bikes. But we live on gravel and at the top of a hill, so it's hard to get too motivated. But they have a course in the back with a jump if they want. It will be the go-cart track soon.

The hovercraft is more my idea than theirs. That's really cool that your kid wants it. I just passed on a really nice Scat. More $ than I could justify.

And I'm not worried about "failing" at all, it was poking fun at myself. And always looking for ways to have more fun together. I'm blessed. 

Uncle Casey got this for Madz for Christmas. Madz is my boy. My boy is 6 months old.  You're never to young (or to old) for a dirt squirt.

llysgennad said:

I love that no one has questioned the hovercraft possibility. 

My daughter and I went to the local Maker Faire and one of the places had a "hover craft" made from a piece of plywood, a lawn chair and a pair of leaf blowers.  They were giving rides to kids and she really enjoyed it.

So one of the things I want to do is build one to two for her and her brother to play with this spring or summer.  Some electric blowers should be less annoying for all involved.

For now, she's enjoying the Batman pedal car that was originally her brother's but he's not tall enough for it.  Yet.  she did help me assemble it though and she enjoys helping me around the house and using her tool set between tea parties and "cooking" in her play kitchen.

I know we'll have a pair of power wheels or similar eventually, but for now the pedal cars and scooters are less abusive on the neighbors in our culdesac and the kids get more exercise with less maintenance for Dad to do.  Though I've had to replace the bearing in her scooter with some nice ceramic ones.  I should do the same for his.

Its funny watching her pass her younger brother in their scooters.  She'll roll past and then cut him off to ensure he stays passed.  It won't be too much longer before he gives her a real run for her money.  That will be an interesting day.  I think when he figures out  that he can switch legs will help.

For now, at 2, he's enjoying gliding down the driveway and coasting around the corner on one foot.  He really, really wants to have a go in the Batmobile, but he's just a few inches short.