Earlier today I had some of my pens on the kitchen table. I was testing some new inks I just bought. So on the table was my MB Proust, 146sp, 149, Boheme Stripe, Starwalker, Agatha, Ancora Jules Verne, Krone Swords, Krone Gothic, Conklin Anniversary and 4 or 5 vintage pens... Basically my whole collection minus a few...

I got a little sidetracked when I got a work email. So I am on the couch answering a few email and my 14 month old son, was walking around playing right next to me... His new thing is taking his toys and smashing them on the tile... You can guess where this is going...
So answering my emails, and of course I hear smash smash smash... And don't think anything of it...
Then he comes around the couch with one of his cheesiest toddler smiles holding an uncapped Krone Swords and Conklin Crescent. Ink all over his hands, the smashing, yeah that was the nib So, yeah... My son can reach up on the table now... Note to self, don't leave his collage fund laying around!

I was able to get the nib back into working condition, but It does not write like a fine anymore. Its more like a thick medium. I know it could have been worse, what if he had grabbed a few others and played smash daddies pens. I couldn't get mad at him, he was just trying to be like daddy. Besides look at that face! But it makes me sad...
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I hear you, my friend, I hear, you..... but as yourself, how can you be mad at them? Just wait other couple years and he'll be pulling them out their cases and filling them with your inks, as is my case right now. Listen. Start saving for a Safari..... and change all your inks to non toxic ones (Herbin is my suggestion, and a good source is www.penandco.com).
As broad nibs are my preference, the accident has given you the chance to try true M size...


Edited to add.... what a cute, lovely son, you've got! He's a beau!.

Will you punish him or remove the pens out of his reach?

Awww he's cute!! Coocheecoocheecoo!!

What's his name? He's adorable.

With regards to keeping pens safe, what about buying a rolltop/slan-top desk? They're perfect for protecting stuff. Put it in, lock it, leave it alone. Baby can bash all he likes, that desk ain't ever comin' open...unless he discovers how to use a crowbar...

The general rule with toddlers and babies, I find, is barriers and height. Close doors to rooms you don't want your kid to go into and put stuff high up and away from edges. Of course, once the kid figures out how to open doors, then it's time for locks and the like.

ahhhhh yes I remember those days well

we do live and learn

mine are 14 and 16 now and I still have to think 'where can I put this where the kids can't reach it' but it usually only applies to my chocolate !

Maybe a custom job on that nib is in order - to ease your pain and make it all worth while.... ???

He's such a cutie and for the most part the ideas they get are only what we give em even if subliminally

I also like the idea of the rolltop desk

Damn typos. It's 'slant-top' desk, guys. And yes, rolltop too. I think they're the best for keeping pens safe.

Oh and...


Vegetables.
Between groceries.
Inside the china-cabinets.
Behind the clock on the mantelpiece.

I hide chocolate all the tiime. There are millions of places you can choose.

Tracy & I found that all the ornaments got higher & higher until we realised how silly we were being. We then taught the girls the word 'No' and re-inforced it with a light smack when we gave the second 'No'. Just once was a third 'No' and moderate smack needed. After a week we had everything back where we wanted it, and it's been safe since.

I suppose we did it when the eldest was 14 months old, and didn't move the ornaments at all when we had the younger one.

Regards

Richard.

I cant wait until he is interested in using Fountain Pens! A proud papa I will be that day!
Its funny, I already bought him a Eversharp Bantman... But the lamy is a good idea, I happen to have one that I bought for my dad, but he was not into it. I has an extra fine nib though which may not be the best for a starter pen. I think your style would be the best, broad or extra broad. Thanks for the ink info, I will get some of that for sure, I was wondering about that...


Thank you very much!


Keep them out of his reach. If he was older I would punish him, but he is too young to really understand... Plus I have let him play with some of my pens in the past...


Thanks Shangas, his name is Mason
What a great idea about the desk, only problem is I really dont use our office. I use a "buffet" style table to house my pens, watches and cigars down stairs. It just makes it "more convenient" when getting ready to leave the house. I suppose I will have to change that. He will soon be pushing chairs over to get up on that!



Good idea for a custom nib, I still have yet to try that! Thanks, for sure about the ideas, he just wanted to see play with what I was playing with!


LOL Thats funny...


I think when he gets older this may be the way, but for now I just think I have to take one for the team...

I have a 20 month old - he's the monkey in the photo grabbing the pencil like he's going to stab something. I have learned the hard way that anything you consider valuable should not be kept out of the reach of a 20 month old, it should be kept out of the reach of a 45 year old! Lock it in a box or put it up so high on a shelf that YOU need a ladder to get to it. Otherwise, consider it fair game for the monkey.

So Bryant, which pen actually ended up with the wonky nib?

It was the Krone Swords pen...

I will be doing that in the near future... I suppose some sort of lock box pen holder would work... Maybe I could just add a lock to my current box.

you would still need to put it out of the way - otherwise it just becomes a nice rattly box to play with that also smashes quite nicely into the floor

I have tried all those places to hide chocolate - and it still ends up gone! The only place I know for sure they wont go is the landry bin and the sink full of dishes but I dont fancy hiding my choocolate there

......maybe the garden shed or the garage might be in order ....near the lawnmower - another place they never venture!

My little guy is 4, and he understands that they are not for him to use. I think if I left one on the desk unsupervised he might swipe it, but he won't go into my pen box,

He likes playing with fountain pen already. Future fountain pen network member?