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Comment by Steve G on January 18, 2013 at 2:08pm

Thanks for the comments.  I didn't have rites of passage activities growing up.  They comment in the book that the rites of passage over the past few decades have been blurred.  Not sure why that is, different reasons for different situations.  Giving them more freedom is a great idea, as is reconditioning a muscle car when they're older.  Near term we'll probably keep to camping, having them start the campfire themselves for the first time.

Comment by Reese Fay on December 28, 2012 at 1:57am

@ Steve G, I did a bicycle tour across Minnisota at 14 years old. I was doing a lot of cycling and my dad told me that he trusted me to do it on my own and he was proud of me for being able to do it. The tour was with a group but every day I had to buy food and organize my stuff. I also had to set up my camp every day and tear it down and be on my way every morning. I learned a lot during that trip and it felt good that my dad had faith that I could take care of myself. I am now 42 and he still comes to my races. Sometimes there is a rite of passage right there and we don't know it. Good luck!!

Comment by Brian Splash on December 28, 2012 at 1:44am

@Steve , when I was sixteen my father and I bought and reconditioned a HQ manaro from the ground up , it was finished just before I got my licence ( Australian licences are given at 18 )

Comment by Robert Paul Howell on December 20, 2012 at 6:32am

What rites of passages did your father do with you or do you wish he did with you? Then that would be your answer Steve. If I had a son it would be hunting and dressing and cooking the animal, camping, building and sustaining a fire, making his first knife, refinishing a antique piece of furniture, and reading "A Knight's Own Book of Chivalry" and "The Art of War".

Comment by Steve G on December 19, 2012 at 11:31pm

Hi all, great discussions I'm glad I joined.  Has anyone read and can offer thoughts on Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis?  I have 2 nine year old sons and am looking for 'rite of passage' activities.  I'm not a hunter so that's out, but would welcome other ideas.  I'll probably be asking a similar question when they're 13. 

Comment by Ryan A Hansen on November 29, 2012 at 10:36am

Agreed, as Robert just said, I think it's just something parent friends or acquaintances think they can lord over you. I also agree with what JD said, having kids can suck sometimes! However, it is also the greatest journey you could ever embark on!
Nobody is the perfect parent, as long as you learn from your mistakes along the way it will be ok :)

Comment by JD O'Devine on November 29, 2012 at 10:16am

Every time someone starts to give me that line I just say "I was the oldest of 10 children, I pretty much get it." That shuts them up.

I agree it's pretty dumb to scare someone about a decision they have already made. Having a kid is massively inconvenient, and can even make you feel resentment at times, I don't think that is a laughing matter. They are a blast though.

Comment by Andrew Z on November 28, 2012 at 7:24pm

Maybe I just know a bunch of assholes? Haha. Giving the newbies a hard time is a universal thing for sure. I've been really surprised at how many people have gone there.

Comment by Robert Paul Howell on November 24, 2012 at 9:18am

I would look at that as hazing the newbies, they have been through it so they want you to fret over their experiences. I am not really sure why parents do that, we don't and we didn't have that many people do that to us.

Comment by Andrew Z on November 22, 2012 at 1:44pm

My wife and I are expecting and about halfway through the 9months. I am growing very tired of people who have kids making haughty jokes about diapers and crying and telling us about the worst of parenting with smug grins on their faces.
What is with that? Everyone has been doing that to us. Then they follow up with, "Oh but children are so wonderful. It's all worth it." or some very vague explanation of why having kids is great after a very detailed itemization of how it is shitty.
Why does everyone with older kids think this is funny? Are they bitter? My parents and my wife's older siblings are the worst and I'm over this trend.

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