What your Dad taught you,

[honda_fox3]

How to ride sleds, atv's, etc. Also how to drive cars, tractors, most land based vehicles.
The value of doing a good job.
Family before work, always (although inadvertantly)
It's ok to cry once in a while. We are a bunch of softies!
How to shoot.

Still learning from him.

 

[Howard70]

"Push a wrench without wrapping your fingers around it and you'll save your knuckles."

"Howie, you've cut it off twice and it's still too short!"

He was a tool & die maker and when he had a big mill taking a deep cut he loved to say, "Now we're movin' metal."

Aside from innumerable other pieces of wisdom like those above, I think the most important thing I learned from him was something he probably never realized he was teaching me - cherish time out of doors in the remotest situations possible.

Howard

 

[rubberrodder]

As said before, way too much to list in a simple post. But, the most important things were:
1, family first
2, it is better to work than not work.
3, promise only what you know you can deliver.
4, be honest in all things. Even when no one else is looking.
5,if you cant laugh at yourself, you haven't taken a good look!

 

[Shrimp92]

My dad's father passed away when he was two, therefore, the mold for his life was warranted by people around him. He worked for a mechanic shop when he was 16-18 to help his mother as they were barely making it. I guess that is why he is a borderline hoarder, he hates to throw anything away. He likes to know how things work, what makes them tick. If something is broken, rest assured, he will tear into it and tell me what's wrong or fix it. He would tell me when i knew everything that i shouldn't go here or i should do something this way. Somehow he knew, I would breakdown or try and fix something that wasn't broken. He isn't perfect by any means but he would do anything for his kids.

It's my turn now, we have a 5 month old son. Thomas.

Father quote
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

My father taught me not post sentimental stuff in a public forum

 

[8nford]

My dad was 58 when he passed from burning the candle at both ends. He live.d a hard life, he was the Jack of all trades.Logger,mechanic,welder,carpenter,truck driver were some of the jobs he did.When he drank he was not fun to be around. Alcohol came close to costing him everything. Before he died he quit drinking,so he did have some sober time and things got better,he used to say i drank enough Old Style now its time for some new style. I think i finally got to know him after he sobered up. Growing up i would say im never going be like him,in my late teens and into my early twenties i was just like him. I thought i would be lucky to make it to 30. When i was 21 i had a life changing experience,which has enabled me to stay sober since 1979. What did i learn from my father ,life is very short ,don,t waste it.

 

[schor]

My father taught me not post sentimental stuff in a public forum

Smartass.

 

[EJM02]

My dad taught me to buy the right tool for the job.

He doesn't know he taught me this, I was observant growing up.

 

[Chandos]

A Marine Corps vocabulary.

 

[kerrynzl]

"Don't F*** With Your Transport"

Like a fool, I never followed his advice

 

[rubberrodder]

I have read how some of the guys here, lost their fathers, or they just weren't there, or they were alcoholic, etc.
I feel bad that your parent wasn't able to share things with you guys as it really makes an impact on a young person growing up.
BUT, I am greatly heartened by the fact that all you who have posted, have had some other role model to turn to. A grand parent, an understanding stepdad, a real good boss, or just realizing that "my old mans a **** and I refuse to be that way".
Congratulations on turning out Good people and NOT continuing patterns of drunkenness, cruelty and abandonment. You are the guys who make a difference in this world.
Thank you!

 

[24X26]

I have read how some of the guys here, lost their fathers, or they just weren't there, or they were alcoholic, etc.
I feel bad that your parent wasn't able to share things with you guys as it really makes an impact on a young person growing up.
BUT, I am greatly heartened by the fact that all you who have posted, have had some other role model to turn to. A grand parent, an understanding stepdad, a real good boss, or just realizing that "my old mans a **** and I refuse to be that way".
Congratulations on turning out Good people and NOT continuing patterns of drunkenness, cruelty and abandonment. You are the guys who make a difference in this world.
Thank you!

My father was one of those guys that could fix anything and taught me to weld, do auto work, Paint
and half assed carpentry.
He was however a rotten father,

My step father could do none of those those things.
He was a Canadian Military Helicopter pilot and Taught me to fly a chopper and a lot more about life.

I learned a lot more from my stepfather then I ever did from my "father"

My actual father taught me a lot of mechanical skills and I am thankful for that but my stepfather taught me a lot about life.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

My Dad taught me to work hard and take pride in my work.
He taught me to have an artistic eye on every job...do it right but also make it look good because it's the little details that make the difference in a good job and a great job.
I realize that because he did almost everything for himself, and taught that self-reliance to me, that it would never occur to me that I couldn't do something new.
He taught me to wrench on a car. Some of my earliest memories were helping remove things from the family cars he was working on. Recently he had a fuel delivery problem with his work van, and it was me under the van doing the diagnosis and work, while he handed me wrenches, and he was good with that. Funny how things come full circle.

I think what I appreciate most is that despite working 60-70 hours a week all his life, he always made the time to take me fishing.

 

[Joe69]

My Dad wasn't much of a DIY'er when I was a kid, as he worked 2 jobs most of the time. He does a lot of it now, but I learned most of my skills from friends and co-workers, and a lot of hard knocks.
My Dad did help me change the clutch in my first car, it was his first and only clutch job.

Joe

 

[volaredon]

Get ALL the bolts started.
THEN tighten them down.

^^^ this^^ Also fix small things before they become big issues
and if something breaks FIX IT YOURSELF there is no "go get a new one" or "call someone and cry to them", do it yourself

 

[rustybutt]

"No one ever bled to death from an *** chewing." It sure makes life easier...

 

[uniballer]

"Shut up and do it my way!"
"measure twice, cut once"
"there is no such thing as a wasted education" I've been to college three times.

 

[fred d]

Have been reading this thread and there are a lot of things my dad said or taught me that is similar to others

My dad instilled in me a love of country. He was a Marine. A true Patriot.
He survived the Battan and Corridor death march and Spent 3-1/2 yrs in a POW camp in Japan

Other things that stand out
"No one owes you a living"
"Don't do as I do, do as I say"
"Don't pay someone else to do something you can do yourself" (exhaust work is my exception)

He used to be able to do anything by himself with no help
So now when I am working out side or in the garage, my wife will ask" how did you do that?"
I always tell her "Bernie helped me"

There were 4 boys in our family. I got all of my dads tools and everything in the garage. He said I was the only one who showed an intrest

If there was a fire, after my family the first thing I would save is the flag that was over his coffin when he passed.

I think of him often, especially when I am working in the garage with my son (he is 8)
He taught me mechanical
He taught me body/paint work
He taught me to do home repairs

He was and is my hero
If I can be half the man/father was, I will consider myself a success

I truly feel bad for those of you who did not have a awesome role model

 

[NPOD3]

Your word is all you got.

Never EVER underestimate what people will do in traffic. What you never thought possible, people will make happen right in front of you.

When the woman is happy, everyone gets sleep. When the woman is unhappy, nobody sleeps.

How to forgive yet remember (fool me once...fool me twice mentality).

 

[NotMrWizard]

How to hold a flashlight like nobody's business, and came to be that I could fetch any of his tools blindfolded.

But seriously, he taught me how to be a father. He was the finest man I know. Knew a lot about everything, and seemed to be nothing he couldn't do in a house to repair whatever needed fixing. If I was half the man he was, I'd be twice the man I am now.

 

[91FE]

1. How to pack a trunk like a swiss watch.
2. How to turn out the light when you leave a room.
3. How to not leave the fridge door hanging open.

I never quite understood why he got so pissed about numbers 2-3 until I met my wife and had kids. They just don't get it

 

[Fastbird]

How to be a better father by not following in his footsteps. This is the biggest one. Sure he taught me how to fish, build model airplanes (plastic, and ones that fly), and other nitnoid stuff, but I never really got any real life skills, interaction, etc from him. He even told me after I joined the military that he hated having kids around. So I do the opposite for my sons.

 

[truckaddict]

1) IF your done and you didnt use a hammer, your not done.
1b) except electrical. for that you hit it with the screw driver.
2) When it comes to plumbing and painting stucko celings, just pay to have it done.
3) Finish a project till your happy with it, if your not happy with it when your finished you'll never be happy with it. (Said when he started ripping the drywall out of the house the day after he "finished" and felt he could do better on the joins).
4) similiar to number 3 take pride in every bit of your work.

 

[ZRX1040]

My dad is my best bud. Wish he lived closer since retiring. Still call hime every other day. A few sayings that have stuck over the years.


1) If you havn't used it in a year, you probably dont need it.

2) Tight is tight, too tight is broke.

3) If your buying tools or furniture buy the best you can afford, because you'll have it until it's worn out.

4) Say what you mean, Mean what you say.

5) You cant dig your way out of a hole.

6) Too many toys become a headache of upkeep, limit yourself to 1 or 2.

7) Take care of your stuff(see no.6)

Two of my favorite

8) Dont get into anything you cant get out of on your own.

9) If you aint in bed by midnight, you might as well come on home.

 

[Kevin54]

My dad taught me to be honest, be a hard worker, to never lie to people, and if you see a person needing help....to help them if you can.

 

[Nick Danger]

Have been reading this thread and there are a lot of things my dad said or taught me that is similar to others

My dad instilled in me a love of country. He was a Marine. A true Patriot.
He survived the Battan and Corridor death march and Spent 3-1/2 yrs in a POW camp in Japan

Other things that stand out
"No one owes you a living"
"Don't do as I do, do as I say"
"Don't pay someone else to do something you can do yourself" (exhaust work is my exception)

He used to be able to do anything by himself with no help
So now when I am working out side or in the garage, my wife will ask" how did you do that?"
I always tell her "Bernie helped me"

There were 4 boys in our family. I got all of my dads tools and everything in the garage. He said I was the only one who showed an intrest

If there was a fire, after my family the first thing I would save is the flag that was over his coffin when he passed.

I think of him often, especially when I am working in the garage with my son (he is 8)
He taught me mechanical
He taught me body/paint work
He taught me to do home repairs

He was and is my hero
If I can be half the man/father was, I will consider myself a success

I truly feel bad for those of you who did not have a awesome role model

That's impressive.

I went to the Bataan Memorial Death March this year. There aren't a lot of those guys left.

 

[fred d]

That's impressive.

I went to the Bataan Memorial Death March this year. There aren't a lot of those guys left.

He didn't talk about it much, guess he just tried to push it to the back of his mind.

Will be 25 years this June that he has been gone. Sure wish my kids could have known him....other than through me

 

[mayhemman]

measure twice cut once. he told me not to be such a fing ***** alot haha. i learned more from doing and then him correcting me then things he said. still learning the hardway even now.

i hope dad doesn't leave too soon, would miss him too much

 

[toomanytoyzz]

6) Too many toys become a headache of upkeep, limit yourself to 1 or 2.

I have tried to limit my interests, but like Pooky said in "New Jack City", "that sh!t be callin' me man." Thus my username.

I can say that I take care of my stuff.

 

[WVBrady]

My father was a good man, but there was one thing that he taught me by counter-example: don't sweat the small stuff and most of it is small stuff.

 

[Kels]

"If you're gonna do something, do it right the first time"

"righty tighty lefty loosey"

"It doesn't cost anything to want!"

"if it was easy anyone could do it"

 

[zakmartin]

My dad taught me squat. You guys who had good dads who took an active role in your lives are fortunate. Count your blessings.

 

[billybudge]

My Dad, and Mum, taught me everything for life, I and my brothers had such a brilliant upbringing great family life, sure do mis him, passed away ten years or so, i m married with two children well there teenagers now,
Back when we were growing up, dad had a garage, he was a vehicle mechanic so we were in there when we were still in baby clothes, had my first proper toolbox at age 7 we used to work on all kinds of things, probably getting in the way, my dad was very knowledgeable and very patient with us, painted my first lorry at age 9. As we got older and passing school exams etc, we all entered the mechanics trade, and also fast cars etc, in a strange way, kind of mystical it feels as so I have been given some kind of inner strength , you know, when times or even a job goes bad, suddenly a childhood memory pops up and gives you the strength to bounce right back, I coulldnt have asked for better,

 

[phawco]

Lost my Dad way too early He was 40, I was 18, gone 28 years last month. I had his dad around until 6 years ago. My grandfather was quite a character who taught me well. Still miss them both every day and have alot more respect for my dad when I deal with my two teenagers now...

 

[Lucas156]

My father was a good man, but there was one thing that he taught me by counter-example: don't sweat the small stuff and most of it is small stuff.

LOL counter example is the perfect word choice. Half of what I have learned from my Dad has been counter example. We are a lot alike and I think thats why we don't get along really well. I was raised by my Mom and I don't like a lot of things about my Dad and we haven't spoken more than a couple sentences in almost two years now but deep down inside I wish things were different and that me and him were closer.

And BTW what an awesome thread. I think its easy to underestimate the value great Dads have to society.

 

[marinusdees]

To be a stand-up guy. To do business on a handshake. What else is there??

 

[Bjm364]

My dad always told me to "not mess around with redheads because they have an extra chromasome that makes them crazy" or something to that effect. I am another one who has learned by counter-example. I have forgiven him for all of the stupid things he has done to my family, he even has told me recently that he was going to make the next 50 years make up for the last 50. I think he understands what an a-hole he was.

 

[TexMedium]

Mine taught me that if your retirement plans are to be dead before it matters, you had better have a son who will support your *** when your "plan" falls through. Sumbitch got lucky, i guess. Me, not so much.

 

[1953mercury]

My Dad taught me a lot of things. The ones I remember best- Don't let your mouth write any checks your *** can't cash - Don't believe anything you read and only half of what you see - Try to make everything you do perfect and that should make it close enough. He's going to be 89 and still sharp as a tack. Mike

 

[41ratrod]

Mon and dad split in 1962 and there is 6 of use boys and a sister he went his way a drunk and but a good mechanic . All of guys work on our own cars and stuff, and enjoy dragracing . I've always wounded what it would be like if he was here to enjoy doing and building stuff with use. His drinking and smoking
killed him in 1982. He did come and visit use for the first time in '81 .
So for all you drinkers whats more important drinking or your family?
HE TAUGHT ME ALOT