So, I finally made it out to my shop today after a good/bad couple of Thanksgiving off-days. Good because I was able to spend some time with my family, bad because I had to watch Auburn mount a great comeback against my beloved Crimson Tide, bleh! So what could be a better way to unwind than piddling around all day in the ol’ workshop?
Well, I’m running a few short boards through the planer when my wife and 3 yr old son, Chad Jr., pay me a visit. I try to keep a safe work environment for my son since he likes to spend a good bit of time in the shop with me. He knows what he can touch and can’t touch but I still try to make sure to keep all safety keys out of any power tools. Knives, chisels, etc. stay out of reach of little hands. I make him stand at the door and wear hearing protection when I’m running a power tool, so he is out of harms way. Well, as we all know, accidents almost always find a way of happening and today one did. Chad Jr. was showing me his new shoes and shirt he was wearing and was so excited I guess he felt the need to jump in the air, which he did, full force into the fence rail on my table saw. He started crying, of course, and unfortunately bleeding as well. I looked to see the damage and there was about a 1-1/2” gash on the top of his head. By now the blood was running down the side of his face and onto his new shirt. So a trip to the emergency room and 3 staples later, he was fine and enjoying some pizza and ice cream. Hopefully he has learned his lesson about jumping around in the shop. My wife says he can’t go back in there, but I don’t want to stop him from hanging out in the shop. He really takes an interest in the whole woodworking thing, heck, he even sits with me in the recliner watching New Yankee Workshop reruns on saturdays. How cool is that?! I guess I’ll have to invest in a hard hat for my little buddy.