How Do I Convince Mom I Need a Tractor??

I'm 15 years old, don't live on a farm (although I live next to my grandpa's), have a one acre lot, and was recently bitten by the old iron bug. Now, I need to convince my mom that I need a tractor for, well, I'm not quite sure (but you probably understand...). She doesn't understand that I NEED it, so I figured I'd ask the advice of those who've been there. I've tried all the generic methods, flattery, bribery, plain old pleading, etc. but to no avail. HELP! I think the farming gene may have skipped a generation and landed on me!

Thanks a lot,
Nathan

If you join a tractor club, chances are they may have a tractor that was donated to the club. In a lot of cases (our club is one) the club will let you ADOPT-A-TRACTOR. Normally the club will foot the bill for repair parts and paint, but the labor is all up to you. The tractor still belongs to the club. Hope this helps.

Dan

I'm a mom. We don't have sons, but we do have daughters. Well, this is about tractors, and my husband wants a tractor. He doesn't need to convince me, though. I want one too! Why? For a lot of the reasons others here have already stated. Also, I just love them. I don't know what it is about those beauties that sets me and my husband purring too, but it does. We aren't farming people now, though I think I would easily like to raise some food on our ten acres... My husband's daddy did here in Georgia and so did mine. (I was a farm baby in Lodi, California, many moons ago.) Farm equipment just makes my heart warm inside. There are folks that won't understand that, and never will. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with thinking that way.

I remember my daddy's tractor and still don't even know what it was... just that he looked so tall and happy riding it, and he did miracle things with it. To answer your question, or try to... you said your grandfather has a farm. Is he your mother's daddy? If so, she has to have some sort of affection for tractors. :-) Tap into that. Family memories have a lot of pull with moms.

I do hope you can get that tractor. I believe you will. Just remember that some things have to come in their right time. Be patient, but don't ever give up that dream. Let it live and keep it alive by doing research and learning all you can. The bottom line is, you're doing something honorable, and admirable. That'll win out in the end. You really impress me, so I know you probably impress her too. Be proud of that and hang onto that dream.

Just an observation here, but it seems to me that you are growing up very straight and very tall.

Like someone else stated here, if I lived closer to you, I would buy you the tractor, give you access to a place to work on it, and let you scratch around in my dirt with it, if your Mom said it was okay.

Keep headin' in the direction you are going young man, and you will one day get that tractor. I'm proud of you and I don't even know you.

**Now, print out all of these responses that you have received here from all of these "salt of the earth" people and take 'em to your Mom.

This woman certainly knows how to raise a kid and will do the right thing one way or the other. If she tells you "No, not just yet", then listen to her, because she has done one heck of a good job raising you so far.

Just my 2 cents,

Allan

Every parent should want their child's life to be better than theirs. I'm a Dad, but let's assume that Moms and Dads think alike on this point - that is, they want their kids to live long and have a healthy and happy life. Shouldn't be much argument there.

Statistics show that the two biggest hurdles or blocks to having some kind of life after 18 are dropping out of high school and having a baby before you're 20 years old.

So in this Dad's view, the two biggest arguments are that you're going to be out in the shed working on the old tractor on Friday and Saturday night instead of making her grand baby in lover's lane. The second thing is that old tractor is going to teach you things you don't know -- and leave you wondering and thirsting for more. How are you going to solve those mysteries? Simple, you stay in school and learn more science to understand the how's, why's and wherefore's that make that old tractor work -- and by extension have made every machine since then work. You may never understand how men and woman think, but if you understand how the machines invented by men and women using the principles of the universe work -- no one can every call you ignorant or uneducated. And if any self-important shrink, lawyer or politician who claims to know how the minds of people work ever has his car break down -- you let him walk until he admits ignorance.

As a parent, I'd be proud to to have you out in my shed on any old Saturday night trying to make any old tractor come to life.

If this whole story doesn't fly with your Mom, tell it to your Grand Dad and see if he can't have some affect on you Mom.

This spring, when she wanted a bunch of dirt in her flower beds, I jumped to it. Even though the nearest field is only 150 feet away, 10 yards, a wheelbarrow at a time is a big task. We've done it before. Then shovel, then rake, etc. to get it smooth. One hour later with the loader, it was hauled, leveled and smooth. It convinced her that it was worth having around.

Long story short: I think you will probably have to bite the bullet and buy it yourself (I don't recommend without permission, but Dad's are maybe easier here), and eventually, it will show itself so useful that you will be an absolute genius for getting it (and forever the favorite son).

Nathan