Thread: The next generation

I have three loves in my life: My wife, My boys, and My blades.

Every time my hobby/passion for sharp things evolves I usually bring my boys along with me. They tend to share that passion. (hiking/whittling, BladeSports, sharpening/honing, and now straight shaving).

When I started shaving I lacked the proper confidence and cut myself PRETTY good a time or two. Having three boys 10 and under ensures a house of fighting, chasing, and dodging into the bathroom where daddy is shaving for protection from the attacker I learned early on to lock the door for my peace, happiness, and well being.

Well friends, I am hear to tell you that I was WRONG WRONG WRONG!

My father is an amazing man. He offered me financial backing through many endeavors in life (bike racing, scouting, etc). I think he is truly an amazing man that anyone would be hard pressed to find a better father....BUT, he never taught me anything about shaving, or grooming of any sort. When I came of age, I had to learn on my own...sadly that included picking up whatever disposable razor was laying around the bathroom...that I shared with my sisters!!!

I did not know anything (how would I). I just assumed that splashing some soapy water on my face and dragging a crapped up razor (using the term loosely) across my face and experiencing the burn was a normal part of becoming a man. Luckily I was ?blessed? with slow growth of a baby fine/peach fuzz beard.

Later in college I experimented with electrics...oh LORD what a horrible experience that was. I had a baby fine beard at that time and in order for an electric to do anything I had to use a fair amount of pressure...and those things will actually cut you if you do that...

So back to the present....

I have unlocked the door and invited my boys into the room as I shave. Only my oldest seems to have the patience to sit there and chat as I go through my rituals. He watches and chats with me, interrupting often to ask questions, "is this strop new?", "why do you use it so much?", "why are you using that old razor instead of that expensive new one you got in the big box?"

I stop and answer EVERY single one of them. "Yes, son, it is a new strop, I use it a lot because I need this razor to be incredibly sharp at all times so it works well".

He responds stating that this strop is much cooler than my old one.

"And son, I use this 100 year old razor instead of my new Hart because I am testing it, I honed it myself..."

he interrupts, "you mean you sharpened it".

I reply, "yeah, sort of, but they call it 'honing' with a razor"

I then go on to explain to him that the feeling of pride one gets from restoring a piece of history and making it perform as well as a very expensive new item, but with that pride comes challenges of learning...in the form of trials...and sometimes even blood.

He sat and watched me shave from start to finish (for the third day in a row) and he did not mention video games one single time!

Open the doors, gents. Share this with the next generation...we owe it to them!

I just did the same with the 4 yr grandson. There were a LOT of questions about soap (does it get in your eyes?), the blade ( if it cuts you will it bleed?) and just what does the brush do. But by far his real focus was on the popping of the whiskers as the blade mowed them down. Like Unit, I will continue to educate him (and later his little brother) about the benefits and rewards of wet shaving. This first session was one of the more rewarding experiences of being a grandfather.

Unit --
Reminds me of my grandfather. ROCK ON BUDDY!!!

Nice! That would be really cool! Too bad I have to wait another 15 years for that to happen

Absolutely:

I can think of no better outcome from this site's existance than the rebirth of matter-of-fact straight shaving as we saw our fathers do it.

Heartwarming. When I was about 5 or 6 my dad would let me shave next to him using an old boar brush he had and a DE with no razor. Sadly I still started with a Sensor Excel when I started actual shaving mainly because you couldn't find manly razors easily.

Thanks guys.

I shaved this morning, and no boys watched. They started school this week, and already they have all brought home some sort of illness

Originally Posted by unit

Thanks guys.

I shaved this morning, and no boys watched. They started school this week, and already they have all brought home some sort of illness

Kids: the gifts that keep on giving.

Like unit, I ended up learning how to shave on my own. Not my Dad's fault -- between being an only child and the lack of self-confidence at that age, I suppose it was natural that I'd just go off and try it solo. I don't know if my Dad ever used a straight razor. I do remember his double-edge razor and the medicine cabinet with the slot in the back where you could deposit a lifetime's worth of used blades .