How does your family deal?

[Jon Haigwood]

Wifey says I spend too much time and too much money. That's why I have a Paypal account.

[crazyjim]

My family is very supportive. My father was particularly. He gave me my first, Model, Guitar, Skateboard. All things which is do to this day. I played in a working band for 15 years. I skated both Pro and Am since 1973, and the models are things he just loves so much. With his Mancave overflowing with my builds it's safe to say he enjoys them. The rest of my family all have examples of my work and show them off with pride. How could I ask for more than that?

 

I lost my Dad last Saturday and I am going to a Memorial I organized this very morning. Getting my builds back will be bittersweet. But knowing how he adored them is solace enough.

My condolences on the passing of your Dad.

[Lizard Racing]

Growing up in the '60s my Dad, a Great Depression survivor, did not support my hobby.  I think it was because he had to work as a youth to help support his family.

When I got married, I made it clear my wife had to at least be tolerant.  She didn't have to be rabid about it like I was, but at least tolerate.  Now I have my own "craft room." 

It is important to be sure to allow your spouse to pursue his/her interests and activities.  It's only fair.

[Dennis Lacy]

I met my wife just over 10 years ago (I was 27, her 25) and we've been married for 5 years this coming October. A couple of months into dating I told her that hot rodding is my passion and it's what I do and if that was a problem for her there was no point in going further. This was also right as I was finishing the '27 Roadster that I had been building for two years. She had never been around hot rods but once the car was on the road she absolutely loved it and looked forward to every time she got to ride in the car, whether it be a ride down the street or a 4-hour club activity. She's also very supportive of my model building and has attended several NNL shows with me, gets me kits and supplies for birthday & Christmas, etc. We have friends where the guy is always gone shooting in the desert, riding in the desert, etc and it makes her happy that my hobby keeps me around the house with her and the kids. She also is big into the scrap booking hobby and when we bought our house just over 5 years ago I got two new matching workbenches for the garage, one for each of us. She doesn't use hers nearly as much as I do but it's there when she wants to.

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

 

[espo]

I have always know that I'm truly blessed to have found my wife, and after  reading some of the problems others have had it just reinforces my belief. I have a bedroom in the basement, she has a Library just off the entry way. She has helped me when I go to the annual Hartland Model Show and Swap Meet. The only time I get any static is when things are tight and she thinks I might slow down on buying models, which isn't very often    

[Snake45]

Every so often I have to remind The Lovely Mrs. Snake that I can build models, or I can spend that time and money Chasing Strange. She doesn't have to think about it too long to vote for the models.

[Jim N]

My wife and I have been married for 31 years.  When we were first married, she detested my building models and at a family gathering complained very bitterly to one of her relatives.  The relative who was a female cousin asked my wife some questions.  I was not a part of the conversation but was within earshot, and the course of the conversation was something I will never forget.

Wife's cousin:  Does his hobby keep him at home?

Wife:  Yes.

Wife's cousin:  He is not out drinking with his friends?

Wife:  No.

Wife's cousin:  He is not out chasing skirts?

Wife:  No.

Wife's cousin:  The cost of the hobby does not interfere with paying your bills or doing things you want to do?

Wife:  No.

Wife's cousin:  I really don't know what you are complaining about.

Since that time, my wife really hasn't given me much grief as long as I don't send too much time working on the models.

 

[Lunajammer]

 

You can keep your sprawling car mag cover models. That pic right there is a heart breaker (at least to anyone who isn't you). 

[Johnt671]

My wife mostly stays away while I'm building, but she does tend to burst into the room and starts talking at a critical point. If she hangs out I ask her help find dropped parts she heads out quick.

[Ace-Garageguy]

You can keep your sprawling car mag cover models. That pic right there is a heart breaker (at least to anyone who isn't you). 

My thoughts exactly.  Nice life, Dennis.  

[ZTony8]

My ex wife didn't care either way about my models. I didn't build much at that time and didn't have the stash that I do now. My daughter and I built a couple models together but she never developed a lasting interest, preferring other things. My mother has to live with me now because at age 89 she can't be totally on her own anymore. But she's the one who complains about the paint smell so I try to limit my paint time a bit.

[Snake45]

Here's another line that works well from time to time: "I'm thinking of selling all my model stuff and using the money to buy a motorcycle. A big, loud, fast, noisy one. And then I could hit the hit the road for a couple of days every weekend. Maybe even ride out to Vegas someday. What do you think, hon?"

[slusher]

My wife thought it was cool while we was dateing and 22 years now she is still fine with it and has even bought some and helps find parts in the carpet. Good women..

[DeeCee]

My ex wife didn't mind at all,  ( model and 1:1) my son built quite a few  kits ,until girls and real cars came along, now he enjoys the 1:1 passion i also have.

As for present partners, if they don'y like the model cars or real cars....... NEXT !!!!!!!!  Life is too short worrying about 

what everybody else thinks..  we all need a hobby of some sort.

My son will always buy me a kit for birthday and christmas, he don't need to ask anymore.

Edited July 28, 2017 by DeeCee

[StevenGuthmiller]

My wife is good with it.

She says it's better than spending all of my time & money hanging out in bars or on the golf course.

At least this way she knows where I am.

She does get a little annoyed when I shirk some of my other responsibilities around the house in favor of modeling though.

 

Steve

[Sixx]

My wife is real cool with it! She takes photos for me to put on forums so I can't have any glitches in them! She also has bought several & built a few herself, heck, she's pretty dang good at doing foil work that I've had her do some for me! She likes cool old cars, but isn't the geek about em as I am! She has her hobbies that I help her with too...homemade natural soaps & lotions. I'm the guinea pig! Lol! We both like to cook, and she's also pretty dang good with a camera! She has gone to several contests with me including Wonderfest in Kentucky...which is a figure, horror, & sci-fy contest & show! I love her...she is AWESOME!!!!

[PARTSMARTY]

I;m gonna be 62and have been building for about 55 years.I have an awesome wife-5 kids-and 11 grandkids and everybody is cool about my building since it's my biggest passion outside of family who is #1.They are also great at giving me an opinion on something I show them.It probably makes it easier for them since I'm a car freak and been in the  auto parts business for 44 years.What also makes it so great is this site-I'm on it several times a day.My people at work and some of my customers think it's cool also.

[gtx6970]

She does get a little annoyed when I shirk some of my other responsibilities around the house in favor of modeling though.

Steve

Sounds familiar. Ive been known to blow off mowing grass / home chores before to work on models. So I guess I deserve it .

But my wife has told me before it sure beats the alternatives. I'm not out running around or hanging in bars.

I think we ALL have to have a hobby to keep our sanity.

 

[shoopdog]

I would have to say my wife is quite supportive and even tolerates the paint fumes when I paint in the garage. She might think I spend to much time modeling but she never complains about it.

 

[Tom Geiger]

 

I think we ALL have to have a hobby to keep our sanity.

Amen.  My wife understands that my hobbies are my sanity. Hobbies are like meditation, they require your total concentration as you focus on some small detail and that takes you out of your life and is totally relaxing.  I can go to the model room all stressed out and tired,  and leave the bench two hours later refreshed and energized!

My wife comes from a long line of TV watchers.  Her three brothers have no interests beyond watching sports. Her older brother especially sees no reason for what I do. I took him up to the model room once and he stood there looking around and spurted out, "This looks like  WORK!"  Then I got him safely back to his couch.  

Although my wife doesn't participate in any hobby, nor helps me with mine, she understands it's a part of me and nothing is going to change that.  I have always been involved in a hobby since I met her.  First it was 1:1 cars, then I got into collecting car brochures which sorta led me back to modeling. I know I've been back building for 29 years because I started right after my younger daughter was born.  

Key to successfully having a hobby is to put the family and home finances first, then spend the time and money that's surplus on your hobby. That's always worked here.  

 

 

 

[MeatMan]

My wife is very supportive, even when I make the occasional boo-boo as I don't have a dedicated space.

She's very good with colors, and offers me tips on color combos and the like.

She's also seen me moon over a kit that wasn't in the budget but insists I buy. She's a trooper!

[kitbash1]

My wife still say's that I've gone to play with my toys. I always shoot back that at lest I have a hobby, unlike her father who's hobby was smoking and drinking and just being an all round jackass. So, I have zero support from family.

[randyc]

Cool thread.  My ex didn't care and was supportive mostly.   She kinda liked me modeling because it kept me away from her - part of the reason she is my ex.  New wife likes me around more and is much more persnickety about keeping house presentable - ya just never know when someone (celebrity, president, etc?) may pop in and the house must be presentable.  that's a good thing that has taken some adjustment on my part.  BUT, we have 180+ cars of various scales on shelves around the top of the living room and cars in every other room in house except master bath and kitchen.  She gets shelves at top of kitchen and no place in master bath...yet.  I have little shelves in other 2 baths that can hold a few cars.  Hall bath is "flame room" - everyting displayed has flames (2 - 1/18 flamed 32s and a handful of flamed HotWheels).  3rd bath has a little shelf with Minis in it - a 1/43 new mini and 3 1/64s Hotwheels and Matcbox.  I have a row of 1/64s sitting in front of TV facing the TV most of the time like a drive in.    She makes a big deal about it, but also does look at stuff and takes an interest in the cars I'm working on.  She also helps incorporate the cars into her interior plans.  So in our situation it mostly works - I would love to have more model time, but then she is supportive.  And unlike her ex, I am home and involved with her.  Not out running or avoiding her.

[iamsuperdan]

Wifey doesn't really mind. She prefers it to my other hobbies because it's cheap and doesn't take up a lot of space in the house. I have my bench in the gargae, and a shelf in our basement.

Rebuilding and hotroodding guitars is a lot more expensive, and takes up a lot more space in the house. She's not overly impressed with the music corner of the basement. Guitars everywhere, amps and effects everywhere, drumkit, etc. She likes the idea, but doesn;tlike the reality. 

My daughter is 10 now, she thinks it's neat. My son is 13, he couldn't care less about it. 

 

 

[High octane]

My wife is good with my building model cars and collecting die-cast cars also. She even let me put a good sized curio cabinet in the family room and another in the living room to display them. Of course she has a good sense of smell and can tell if I've been gluing or painting in the house. LOL!

Several years ago she insisted that I buy an !:1 car for myself, and she's good with me going to cruise nights and car shows without her.