Welcome to this week’s Musings!
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Hooray, TIM’s Back From Holiday!
The good news is I’m back and fully rested. The bad news is I’m back and fully rested. Either way I’m back so not only is my holiday over but so is yours.
Now while I was away internet access was, to say the least, patchy. I’d go as far as to say non-existent, it’s like that in the middle of the ocean apparently. As a consequence I have had much to catch up on, particularly in respect of what you guys have been posting. Over the last few days I’ve been trying to catch up with your posts, at a rough count I would say I had well over a hundred to look at. You have been busy, some more than others but between you all I had plenty to keep me occupied! Apologies if I missed anyone.
Catching up with blog posts is only one thing I had to do. I had barely walked though the door when I was hit by a number of things which will require my attention over the next few weeks and beyond. More on that perhaps in future musings. Needless to say time to muse and paint is going to be patchy to say the least but hopefully I can keep both going for my sake if not yours!
Meanwhile, to mark my return, something for you to contemplate.
Is it possible to produce models teenagers think are cool?
I suppose I ought to explain the rationale for asking this question.
Over dinner one evening while on holiday my fifteen year old daughter announced out of the blue that modelling was boring and asked why I couldn’t do something more exciting and less embarrassing? Apparently having made friends with some kids on holiday she was called upon at some point to explain what her parents did. She wouldn’t reveal what she said I did do but she was embarrassed to say I did modelling. She would rather have died apparently, harsh but that’s teenagers for you.
I tried in vain to explain why I enjoyed the hobby and the benefits I got from it but I might as well have been talking to an alien. I don’t relate to her world at times and she does not relate to mine. I then remembered Harry Potter and reminded her of the many models we had seen when we went a couple of years ago to the Harry Potter Experience at Leavesden Studios, a stone’s throw from where we used to live before moving to Devon. I pointed out that the model of Hogwarts had bowled her and her brother over as one of the greatest things she had ever seen. I added to this just how much scale models had been used in films to produce great cinema effects well before the days of computer imagery .
After briefly allowing this to sink in she announced “Yes dad, but those models are cool, yours aren’t!”.
Oh the pain, the heartbreak, the … the… the… shit!
I can’t begin to explain the heartache which goes with her words. I felt I had lost my little girl, the girl who used to like what I did (well some of it).
After she left to see friends I asked She Who Must Be Obeyed where this change of attitude had come from. It seemed, according to he mother that one of her new-found friends was in fact a little bit more than just a “friend”. I asked what she meant by that and was informed that my daughter may have been trying to act “cool” having found herself enjoying a holiday romance with a lad named Harry.
What the f..k!
The following conversation with SWMBO ensued.
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“When did that happen?” I asked.
“The second day of the holiday, now don’t go off on one he seems very nice”
“You’ve met him?”
“I’ve not met him but I’ve seen him and your daughter likes him. He’s sixteen, comes from a nice family and goes to Rugby school. It’s a private school and costs around £24,000 a year!”
“You new about this? Why didn’t anybody tell me?”
“Because we knew you couldn’t handle it and you’d go off on one and embarrass us all”
“That’s unfair, I’d never do that”
“If you say so dear!”
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Embarrass them indeed!
Well the holiday is over and I can report that despite my best attempts at under cover surveillance I never did catch or meet the little bastard who was hell-bent on de-flowering my little girl. I know all about 16-year-old boys, I was one once albeit a long time ago. I’m also familiar with the upstairs downstairs class system and if he and his family think they can simply dump my daughter if she ends up pregnant they can think again. I’ll take great delight in using my modelling knife to remove his fucking scrotum!
I am however left with a dilemma. How to produce a model that a teenager thinks is cool?
At this point guys I need your input. All ideas welcome!
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Until next time.
TIM
The Imperfect Modeller 
I see the holidays were not that relaxing 😉
Good to have you back!
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To be fair the holiday was great but I’ve been dreading this period with my daughter but I reckon I’m the one who is going to have to get used to it! Just gonna have to smile through it. 🤗
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Hang on, it’s not midweek yet (well, OK, it is for IRO)! All this holiday malarky has really thrown you, but it’s nice to have you back! I’ve mulled over your question and doubt that I have an answer! Having also been a teenager, I realise that they’re best avoided!
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You’re right, the holiday has thrown me. Have come back to quite a lot so at the moment it’s all about doing what I can as and when. Hopefully things will settle down and I can get back into my groove. Sage advice on the teenage front but a little hard to implement when they live under the same roof. Might lock her in her bedroom for the next few years just to be on the safe side!
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You maybe meant to add a winking emoji at the end of that last sentence! 😉
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I think you’re right. 😉
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Well, not long ago I shared the experience I had where a friends artistic daughter saw one of my minis, and just thought it was simply amazing (and better painted than it actually is). My niece thinks they are somewhat cool too. But it’s a geeky hobby, to be sure. When we went to the Museum of Pop Culture, and checked out the Marvel Comics exhibit, I tried to tell my Wife and teenager all the cool details about the things, and it was pretty much like talking in a vacuum. Granted, they’ve grown up in a different culture, in different times. But I think there are always people who are going to get it, or don’t. Especially art. Minis is one thing, but the people who can’t understand art at all, well….they usually end up on the opposite end of friends.
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Good point. I think my daughter does get it but I think she’s started her “cool” period. She’s artistic herself so understands what’s involved. As for the boy phase I’m just going to have to get used to it I guess but I can’t say I’m happy about it. It was different with my son but then the girls were someone else’s daughter!
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Probably the only way to resolve it, is to invite him over for dinner. 😉
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As Rugby is at a guess 200+ miles away that would mean him staying over and that ain’t gonna happen! Then again I could get my modelling knife out! 😉
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Modeling knife? http://www.weapons-universe.com/rambo-2-knife-signature.jpg
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An ideal piece of kit!
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Teenagers aren’t baked yet – their brains aren’t fully formed and they are driven by hormones… basically they aren’t fully human, so their opinions are null and void… you don’t care what the dog thinks about your hobby, do you? 😉
Oh, and I’m so glad I’ve only got sons…
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Haha very good and more to the point spot on! I have a son too, far less of a problem in my opinion but the wife thinks otherwise. Either way I’m stuck with it!
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Hahaha this is gold and I just read it to my 15 year old daughter. She said “like who even is that?” I said he’s a blogger buddy of mine. She rolled her eyes and said “oh so he’s a dork too. Another old dork”. Don’t worry mate it’s bread and water for her for the next 7 nights.
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Guilty as charged 🙂
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Old dorks can be cool too tell her. After all how many people does she know of who have climbed Everest for example? OK so I haven’t either but she doesn’t have to know that!
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Ask the jock to come on over and show him said nife… Maybe he finds modeling cool, i hope. I played rugby too but at same time was more of a geek/nerd… Hope it all works out.
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I’m sure it will be fine, I just need to adjust to a daughter that’s growing up fast!
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Ditto mate
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It ain’t gonna be easy IRO that’s for sure!
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Teenagers’ opinions are immaterial, as Alex said unformed brains!
As for advice, here is the best ever: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Myd9TO_ZN4o
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Great line Mark, I’ll file that one away as I think it will come in handy more than once!
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Hurm. I’ll keep my thoughts on Private School Lads to myself, but as far as your daughter goes, you could find out who some of her favourite musical artists are, then choose one, research them, and then do a “stage performance” diorama and give it to her for …well, it’s September now, so let’s say Christmas.
If that doesn’t work, I got nothing for you!
Remember – for many teenagers, history or even fantasy and sci-fi outside of their favourite videogames is BORING, DAD! Even moreso for girls.
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Ideas certainly worthy of consideration that’s for sure. She’s back at school now which may well help but for now I’m going to go with the idea that’s it’s another phase, besides I’ve got too much else on my plate for now. My son was much easier but that might be because I’m looking back!
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Maybe board games are a good way as many these days have playing pieces that are models in their own right. Though it seems unlikely your daughter will want to join in family board games night I guess. Good luck. My daughter is 6 now so I’ve still got this all ahead of me…
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Ah, six was a great period, enjoy. Sadly they grow up very quickly but generally everything is just a phase … hopefully!
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Love it Dave ,glad you had a relaxing holiday ,having two daughters a bit older than yours your story really cracked me up ,hold onto your seat Dave there are far more exciting things in store for you mate !. Just wait for that bit about a woman scorned ‘ (not a myth ) ,that’s when you move out into the shed,fortunatly I have one like most Aussie guys do, and let the missus try and diffuse the emotional bomb !.
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I fear there is worse to come Pat that’s for sure. The price we pay for a few minutes of passion!
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My daughters only 2 1/2 and I’m already dreading that day. I’ve been thinking of building a folly to lock her in. Realising the impracticalities of that (namely that would curtail hobby spend) we are instead in the process of buying a house on a hill, which I will then need to turn into a fortress. I realise none of this helps you in any way so instead I will be listening to how you cope with the situation and open to any tips that allow my daughter to grow up to me a ‘proper geek’.
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The good news is she is very young, the bad news is the years go very quickly! I think the ancients had it right with the chastity belt but I suspect someone would call foul under health and safety these days.
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I will say this only once…
I’m a man who can get things done. For a small fee I’ll have your daughters new friend wearing cement boots and swimming in the Thames before Sunday school finishes.
MY daughter is going through the same “I’m too cool for anyone but my friends” attitude stage at the moment.
There is a boy she’s keen on and when I meet him, and believe me I’ll be meeting him, I’ll be telling him that whatever he does to my daughter I’ll be doing to him if he upsets her.
I know what I was like as a 15 year old and younger haha and now I, not regret, but empathise with the fathers.
My eldest thinks I’m a dork with a dorky hobby but I also play drums in a punk/metal band, I’m covered in tattoos and I let her play her RNB music in my truck SO I’m still a bit cool in her mind haha.
What model to paint???? Hmmmm…? Maybe build and paint Hogwarts.
Welcome back fella.
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Cheers IRO. I can see us comparing notes as the development of our offspring continues! Looks like it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
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Heh IRO I really feel for that kid ! I hope he has ben practising for the Stawell gift ! .
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Haha
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