teen age boys and MY tools

[RHerrmann]

I just need to vent my anger and see if any one else has this problem. My son is 17 y. o. and a gear head like his old man. I leave my tool box unlocked so he can work on his car. But now I'm will be locking it up.

Here is a short list of tools missing in the past year: misc. screwdrivers, sockets, extensions, wrenches, 1/2" impact wrench, 4" grinder, Torex bit set, 2 allen bit sets, battery charger, tin snips, 12" shop shears, 10" channel locks, and more.

The worst part is when I go to start working on something I have no tools!!!! I was going to do my front brake pads on sat. ,but I know I will get started and not have the tools to finish. I know I will need a torex to do the pads, so I looked in my tool box and guess what?????

thanks for the vent

 

[Bob Wagner]

been there and had the same battles. Life is too short give your son a hug and tell him what he did wrong.



He will get a clue just let him know the importance .

 

[lmills]

I went as far as give my son his own ratchet set thinking it might teach him a lesson. I told him when all the sockets are gone, that's it. Your done playing. I looked at it tonight, there's only 10 sockets left out of a 220 piece set. :--) Guess, I better keep a better eye on mine. :-laf



Oh yeh, he's only 10 though. I just figured I would be much happier knowing my tools were safe in my tool box if he had his own set to play with. :-laf

 

[jrobinson2]

Read here: A thief, or old age



Jared

 

[Bob Wagner]

Jared, thank you for posting the link. I missed that for sure. great read.

 

[WDaniels]

GHerrmann,

I don't know what you do with your spare time but how bout turning wrenches with your son, that way when he uses your stuff you can gently remind him that to put it away so that you know where to go and get it again. ???? Maybe?

 

[Joe G.]

My son is 42 and has his own boys. I just grin at him when something turns up missing. His usual response is in sign language that only requires one finger.

 

[AMink]

I lose stuff myself, but wish my kids (12 and 8) were more interested in helping me lose stuff. I grew up losing my dad's tools, or breaking them, and he always let me back in the shop with a little slap on the hand. I'm glad he did 'cause I see younger folks (I'm 42) today that don't know which end of a screwdriver to hold. Be glad your son "likes to help".

 

[Bob Wagner]

all in good fun Joe

 

[RHerrmann]

I'm not really that mad, it's just frustrating. We do work together when we can. I think most of my stuff may either be loaned out, or his friends may be grabing them when he is not looking.

Here's a good one : last week he helped me change trans. pan on the "57" (see sig. ) cause there was a car show next week. After sitting for a few months the batt. was low. After cranking it a bit I leaned out the window and asked him to get the charger. His response was uhhhh I loaned it to Zack. ERRRR.

Ok just one more good one. I stopped at his friends house one day. His family is friends with ours. they were sanding the boys pickup gettin it ready for paint. Hey is that my sander?? Yep sure is. I did get that one back.