My son is judged because of my life style...

[justanothergunnut]

So I am starting to get pushback from neighbors because of the things I have instilled in my son.. either by design or just through absorption. Example.. About a month ago my son is out front playing with some neighborhood kids and I notice they are kind of fighting getting into it a bit, they are playing "army" so I ask my son why. One of the other kids says my boy is being bossy, so i pull my son off to the side and try to figure out exactly what is going on(our relationship with these neighbors has been rocky from the start) my son proceeds to tell me that they aren't playing right. I ask him what in the word he is talking about and he proceeds to tell me that they wont get behind cover when they are playing army.. they just run around shooting and leave him behind..(how do i deal with this) so I tell him not to worry about it and just go play.. Then today we are sitting in the garage my wife and I , having a drink and my son notices the other kids on our cul de sac playing so he heads out to join them. I had just yesterday been going through our touts in the garage fine tuning contents and marking the new layout. ANYWAYS.. I notice my son is out in the street running around with his body armor on.. YEAH so there he is running around with his level 3a blue vest on standing out like a sore thumb and the neighbors are just standing there in their driveway looking with this look that I can't even explain.. My son is SIX.. Im sitting there wondering GREAT how long before CPS shows up.. So I call him in and tell him he can't run around with his AR15 airsoft gun and body armor showing his friends how to take cover in the gutter... I think we may have worn our welcome out here.. Im not yet ready to move out of Kalifornia to Idaho but I may need to bump up the timetable... thank GOD he is homeschooled.. We did public school for 5 months.. it didn't work out so well.....

[Matt In Oklahoma]

On one hand it's good that he has learned and is learning skills but on the other hand:
Kalifornia or not if your 6yr old is running around in body armor spouting tactics like a manual and an AR airsoft, well it's gonna be an opsec failure among other things even in Idaho and is going to be an issue in public schools or honestly anywhere in public. Too many shootings have been from individuals who shouldn't have been taught to do so to begin with so the public is very sensitive and agencies of all types even more so and 6yrs olds don't normally have their own accessible armor.
IMO kids only need knowledge as they are capable of handling it because they are kids and their actions and speech are not controlled but are more like diarrhea that comes when it wants. This is a good example of inability to process acceptable behavior just yet and is probably years away from it not because he is bad but because he is a child. I'm sure everything he knows everyone else in the neighborhood knows too just like how the other kids "are doing it wrong".
I heard all my life growing up "You have secrets or kids" not both and I can tell you I knew everything in my friends lives as a child from money issues to sexual orientations of the parents and never asked anything, kids know. Why do you think LEOs cant question them without adults present? Cause they tell/show everything!

[1Admin]

That's a great story.

My son is a about twice the age. Has access to his gear whenever he wants, and we live in a place that we could walk around in full kit and no one would ever know, but obviously we don't.

I tell him all the time, you can take your pack out to the woods with you if you want but he rarely does. Been squirrel hunting on his own and I'm hoping this fall I can set him up in his own deer stand, the wife in hers and me and mine and triple our chances.

We haven't had any Opsec issues but this has been something we drilled into him from a very early age. We started bringing him to public campouts and gatherings when he was relatively young so we had to know he would stay quiet about certain things and/or give a cover story. True to form, a few people tried to get info about us from him really early on, they got some info but it wasn't correct :) It helps that he's kinda naturally quiet and shy in some situations. '

"Daddy used to be a cop" is a quick, easy fix to the neighbors asking about the BA. After that, it will be easier to connect the dots.

But hey, you need to get out of Cali anyways brother! :)

[justanothergunnut]

On one hand it's good that he has learned and is learning skills but on the other hand:
Kalifornia or not if your 6yr old is running around in body armor spouting tactics like a manual and an AR airsoft, well it's gonna be an opsec failure among other things even in Idaho and is going to be an issue in public schools or honestly anywhere in public. Too many shootings have been from individuals who shouldn't have been taught to do so to begin with so the public is very sensitive and agencies of all types even more so and 6yrs olds don't normally have their own accessible armor.
IMO kids only need knowledge as they are capable of handling it because they are kids and their actions and speech are not controlled but are more like diarrhea that comes when it wants. This is a good example of inability to process acceptable behavior just yet and is probably years away from it not because he is bad but because he is a child. I'm sure everything he knows everyone else in the neighborhood knows too just like how the other kids "are doing it wrong".
I heard all my life growing up "You have secrets or kids" not both and I can tell you I knew everything in my friends lives as a child from money issues to sexual orientations of the parents and never asked anything, kids know. Why do you think LEOs cant question them without adults present? Cause they tell/show everything!

I agree with SOME of your statements.. I think however that you misunderstood or read into it some inaccuracies.. I was in the garage with him working on stuff and the tote with his gear was open.. His armor was laying near the top and he put it on and went into the front yard to play... its not as though he just gets into his gear or is encouraged to go "show off" his crazy prepper gear..he wears his armor EVERY time we go to the range or when guns MAY be present.. The same issues we all have with bringing new survivalists into the fold is present yet magnified with our children.. I have a duty to him to teach him EVERYTHING I know.. at 6 I was hunting with my father, I teach him subject matter his mind can process.. I of course don't teach him that a knife into the armpit or lower back is a killing blow.. or that looking up while he does a mag change may one day save his life. He does however learn that we are different from other people and some things are not to be repeated.. My son doesnt go to public school for that very reason. He was reprimanded ONE TIME when he did attend public school. They asked him to draw a picture of something he likes to do with his dad.. He drew "playing airsoft with dad" It was really just a reminder that public school is no place for my child. Personally,, I see nothing wrong with teaching a 6 yr old that when you are "playing airsoft" fire from cover then move if you can.. I don't teach him.. son one day bad men may be roaming the streets and you need to learn to "shoot and scoot" ITS JUST AIRSOFT,, its a game.. BUT.. he learns the lessons I NEED him to learn..

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Not all public schools are the same. My daughter last year did a pro 2nd display complete with school approved photographs of the local gunstore, police and NRA rules. The local gunstore was even a sponsor of the spanish club and was advertised on the t-shirts. We even teach hunters safety courses in the school on weekends and as I stated in another post the science teacher covers solar, hydroponics and primitive skills in an applied science form. They have archery classes and pocket knives are still overlooked by staff in AG. It came close to passing for teachers to carry ccw but it was tabled until it isn't a knee jerk reaction in one direction which makes it no better than a knee jerk reaction in the other direction. One must live in free America for this to happen though it seems. Sad that things have changed that much but they have.
I wish you nothing but luck in your venture as it is a tough one and I applaud you for teaching him the ways.

[justanothergunnut]

Lowdown you are correct my friend.. I do need to get out of this state.. everyday im here I feel the anxiety of it.. All I can do to deal with it until the time comes to leave is to work my plan.. its anxiety therapy LOL

[rockriver]

just,
my son has introduced me to some important folks. the positive comments for my son sometimes included a suggestion
of positive influence by his mom and dad. humbling.
you keep raising that boy right. teaching him, instructing him in the way which he should go.
applying a little rod as necessary. teaching him all areas of life.
i'm proud of you both.
God bless.
rr

[xdpatriot]

It's hard to raise kids today. Just make sure they have as much fun as they can now. Hopefully, the things we all prepare for never come around. It's difficult sometimes to teach them and inform them of things they need in life without messing with their innocence. Life, as I'm sure you know, is a delicate balance, good luck.

[goatlady]

While I agree with your basic ideas, seems to me it is also very important to teach appropriate times for things. Going to the range is certainly the appropriate time for body armor, playing in the front yard is not. Remember, going grey and OpSec are both GOOD ideas for young or old. JMO after raising 4 of my own to NOT fit with the "crowd."