early whittling

I have a goal here, beyond having fun: I want the pocketknife to occupy my children’s hands before a joystick or GameBoy or PSP2 can ensnare them. This is a tool that will help them to peel an apple, cut a piece of string, splice rope, open a surprise package from grandpa, peel the bark off an olive branch and, even when you are freshly four years old, whittle yourself a dart while you sit in your treehouse:

(while I carefully watch and assist when necessary!)

While Ford was away at school this morn, and Chas and I were in the backyard, I gave him a mini-lesson on whittling. I kept it very simple, with an emphasis on form and technique. We carried the kitchen knife sharpener out there with us (an easier way for a younger one to sharpen the knife, I’ll bet):

and we just went to town. He watched my demo with rapt attention, hands poised to try himself, after sharpening the knife. I had to hover over him, just as poised to assist his position once he began whittling. Often I reminded him not to force the cut, and several times I had to orient the blade on it’s side. But, like swimming and riding a bicycle, the muscles start remembering and before long he was fluidly slicing ribbons of green wood. This was a beautiful thing.

When his little hands started to cramp, I helped hone the point. Meanwhile he played with the cat in the treehouse and squished arboreal ants. I’d measure that nothing else could have happened at that moment in the world.

Tomorrow I plan on showing Ford the ropes and sharing an official whittling 101.