Kilts and Grandsons

[Panache]

A thread you may wish to share with your grandchildren and ex-son in law would be this one with the children of the members of X marks the Scot showing thier children kilted.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=23832

They may find it interesting and/or enlightning.

Cheers

Panache

[Robinhood]

They will thank you when they are older.
If you make it fun for them, they will
thank you now as well.

Give them as much of yourself as you
can. You won't be around forever
except in their memories. If they
have lots of good ones, you've
done your job well.

I've heard that Scottish blood
trumps all others, except possibly
Irish. (If you've got both Scottish
and Irish blood, God help you.)
This was said in the context of
European heritage. It seems that
Native American blood is pretty
thick as well. I can't imagine
how you end up when you
have this combination.

[Raphael]

It is a touchy subject and you should proceed with cautions.

[beloitpiper]

Before my grandfather died (and while he was dying) our heritage run through us both very strongly. Giving the gift of a culture and heritage to your grandsons is a huge gift that I am positive they will treasure and continue to pass down.

A heritage can never be taken away. No matter what happens, they will always be Scottish.

[lcjones]

Thanks a ton for sage advice and thoughts, folks. I appreciate your time. If things come together, as I hope they do, I'll add to the photo's with the boys.


**

[Frog]

For what it's worth - go slowly and don't take it personally (hard, I know!) when something doesn't fly. Kids this age learn initially by exposure - something catches the eye and off ya go! Just be yourself, be comfortable, and try not to be pushy.

Frog

[thescot]

Without reading anyone else's post, I have to say--as an almost grandfather--that it is my duty to dress my own grandchild appropriately. I have already made plans for the first kilted outing in the fall at Stone Mountain. I have also purchased several items of clothing for both a boy and a girl, since we don't know the sex.

I would suggest that you consider a great kilt since you can purchase a length of cloth at a minimum cost and it will grow with the boys. I plan to buy a tartan sash for the first baby kilt and sew in some pleats and a little velcro to start things off! Add some knee sox and a little sporran and we're in business.

I would never want to start trouble either, but there are some things that boys and girls need from their grandfathers, and this is one. Heritage, stepping out, cameraderie, pride, and the willingness to be who we are.

Good luck!

[Barclay]

I consider myself very lucky in that I had a family, parents and grands, that held their history and their familial ties in high esteem, like you do. Because of that, I was brought up in an environment that openly shared the cultures of both sides of my family (Scots-American father / Scots-Canadian mother). Early on a sense of pride and belonging were instilled in me and my brothers along with a keen sense of where we come from and what our forebears did to get us to where we are.

Long stories short, my mother kilted us each at 3 and then ensured that we were properly attired for family functions and events (she didn't believe in casual kilting - but given the cost of kilts and with what children can do to them, that was most likely a wise decision). Kilting, history and time were what we shared with our paternal grandfather - he was our family historian and teller of tales, tall ones and true ones; he was our teacher; he was our leader and he was my personal role model growing up. While I could go on with a weepy tribute to him, I won't. What I will say is that speaking as a child who grew up, I so appreciate that early exposure and education and the sense of pride and belonging that came with it. It was a bonding: it bonded me to my parents and brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, it bonded me with him; but most importantly it bonded me to me - to who I am and how I fit in my family and how my family fits into history and the future.

My vote is to give the kids the exposure and the opportunity to learn about who they are and how they fit in. It's not about the kilt, really. It's about the history and the pride that the kilt symbolizes. When they know the history and feel the pride, they'll want to kilt up as well.

Just my two cents. (And I need change back, please.)

[David Dalglish]

I am lucky that my daughter in law did not mind me buying my grandson a kilt (she is English,) & my son is a scot . I would not bought him one if she objected. If your daughter & Son in law are separated & your daughter has the kids, I think that if she does not mind, I would buy them a kilt
Photo of me & my grandson, he loves wearing his kilt

[IEScotsman]

If your daughter has sole custody of the children, then her permission is what you must acquire. However, if she shares custody, then you must get both parents approvals.

While I agree that you are doing a wonderful thing by sharing their heritage with the kids, I believe that the parents have the final say on what happens with their kids. Grandparents are great, but now its the turn of the next generation to raise their kids.