Growing Up Kilted

[Colonel MacNeal]

Hellooo Rabs,

Did anyone here actually grow up kilted? I mean, wearing kilts more than once or twice a year, prior to the age of 12?

I never wore a kilt until I was 39 years old. Heck, I didn't even know my name was Scottish rather than Irish until I was 21.

Do any of the auld hands have recommendations on kilts as boy's wear? Not vendors, but process & philosophy.

Cheers, ColMac

[Hellequin]

Not myself, but my kids have been in kilts all of their life. My oldest (8) has taken to it like a fish to water and wears one as often as we let him. He prefers his camo non-traditional over his traditional and it's good for yard wear. Although I'm kilted almost every day, my wife and I try to keep his kilting down a little. I don't mind that the neighbors think I'm nuts but kids can ruthless and I don't want his young friends thinking Duncan wears a skirt. Now Bram, my youngest (5), doesn't like to wear his kilts at all and will only wear one in the house. He wont even wear one to the highland games. Although it drives me nuts, we don't push him to wear one but rather give him the option. Hopefully he'll come around one of these days. But I feel that if I try to force the issue he'll end up hating the kilt and never wearing one. With a good 50% of the males in his life going kilted, I'm sure one day his attitude will change.

[highland mafia]

I did. I grew up in a fairly scottish, Northern Irish family. My Mum is from Glasgow and my dad from Belfast Ulster. They moved to Canada to get away from the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. We had aunts, uncles, cousin all here before my parents. I've been back to Ulster and Scotland many times over the years. My Mum got me my first kilt when I was about 5 yrs old. I wore one to most family gatherings and church functions. I remember every Christmas and Easter making a huge fuss about having to wear a kilt. As only one other of my friends ever wore one. I`ve also played the pipes since I was 8yrs old. so again had to wear a kilt quite often. Once in my late teens I joined a Scottish army regiment, so again wore a kilt as part of our dress uniform.
To be honest I really don`t see wearing a kilt as anything special, it`s just another bit of kit. I only really wear one now when I do any piping stuff, and family things from time to time. My mum still expects it on Christmas and Easter!! For goodness sake!

[JSFMACLJR]

I have worn the kilt since I was about 3 years old ( I'm 48 now ). I have never worn the kilt "full time" but since an early age I have worn it for special occasions, family events, parties, Highland games, First Footing, hiking, and "just because." My sons have followed suit. They are 17 and almost 16. I am sure they are kilted 6 to 10 times per year.

[ForresterModern]

I did not discover my scottish heritage until I was in my mid 40's, and got my first kilt just shy of my 49th birthday, so I have no childhood kilted.

However, my son (that happy guy in my avatar) Carter, has had an infant kilt since before he was born, and worn it at least 7 or 8 times in the last 17 mo's, mostly when I am kilted and going to an event or kilt night. He loves it, and I hope we can keep him interested in at least occasionally wearing one as he grows up. I think as long as I wear kilts, even occasionally, he will probably do the same. Time will tell.

[sharpdressedscot]

No, I started when I was 13 or 14...even though that's only a few years ago. I wouldn't count that as part of "growing up" even though I'm not yet an adult.

[NorCalPiper]

As far back as i can remember-i'm 39 now.....

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Growing up there was never any question that we were Scots, and kilt wearing was a normal, if not everyday, occurrence. The first time I wore my kilt to school I was eight or nine, and it was for some sort of United Nations Day celebrations. I remember thinking how much smarter I looked than the others, especially the lad in the serape and sombrero representing Mexico. Mind you, the lad from Spain dressed like a matador did look sharp, but even at that tender age I rather doubted he'd go to dinner dressed like that.

[Jock Scot]

I have worn the kilt since I was a wee laddie. When I was about seven years old I moved to England, when my parents returned from the war(WW2) and only wore the kilt when I returned to Scotland to see my Grandfather. At the age of 16 or so, still living in England, I discovered girls! I also worked out pretty smartly that wearing the kilt to parties was a brilliant idea! I would advise any tongue tied young man, who has a healthy interest in girls, who perhaps is lacking a certain amount of confidence to talk to young ladies, to wear the kilt. OK! OK! I know you modern young men are laughing at me! Well I have three sons and many nephews and they all have followed the kilt route, er, very successfully! Of course, it requires them to be confident enough to actually wear the kilt in the first place, to a party for example, but the dividend is well worth it!

[ForresterModern]

Besides the fictional love activities of the true person William Wallace in the movie Braveheart, I think Jock Scot may be able to lay claim to the earliest "recorded" documentation of the real life "power of the kilt" as it relates to those of the fairer sex (at least recorded here at xmarks). Good on you Jock. Probably still working for you, too.