To Lend, or Not to Lend?

[CDNSushi]

Sounds like a wise compromise to me.

Maybe point out what others have said, that it's not necessarily a matter of not trusting HIM, (as surely he would be as careful as if it were his very own kilt), but rather what others might choose to do that remains out of everyone's immediate control, making it a wildcard in terms of risk.

[Riverkilt]

Wise.

I'm wondering where a kid gets the cajones to ask a man to wear his kilt. Sort of a boundary violation.

I'm all for the therapeutic response of encouraging the young man to work to earn his own kilt.

[Andy Proffitt]

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Bob C]

I say you chose well. I would never lend my made-to-measure wool kilt, though I would consider lending the acrylic one I bought off Ebay.

I would also like to thank you for using the correct word, lend, instead of "loan." Too many people don't know the difference and it is a pet peeve of mine.

[AKScott]

Good call I think Cygnus. As I was scanning the responses I was thinking to myself I would lend out my Stillwater. My tank I might lend to my 40 year old brother in law for a quiet evening out with his wife my sister maybe.

[FatherWilliam57]

A wise, thoughtful, and considerate gesture on your part. May all go well!

[Meggers]

Im not sure...I could DEFINITELY see being reluctant to pass around something so precious to you, but perhaps you could tell him that he may wear it to the dance only and if he's going to do anything after the dance, he needs to return it before then.

Also, you could make it clear how expensive it was and hold him responsible if something were to happen to it, making sure he understands that it cost you a pretty penny...

Im not sure. Thats quite a pickle. The gesture would be very nice but the risk is also pretty great.

[Cygnus]

An update:

The neighbor's son just left, and it went really well. The kid had a 30" waist, so I didn't even have to look like I was stingy or untrusting because there is no way my kilt was going to stay up on a 30" waist!

I taught him what everything was called, showed him how to put on a kilt, how to tie the garters, how to get into and out of a car, how to keep the pleats in order, etc. He took the card for the kilt hire shop and said he'd call them right away.

I also asked him if he had Scottish heritage, and he said he doesn't have any at all - it turns out the kilt was his date's idea!

Further proof that men in kilts are significantly more appealing to the fairer sex.

[rmckay]

Great compromise. My 17 year old starting asking to wear my one wool kilt last year to school. I let him do it a time or two, but was terrified the entire time. So finally i just broke down and bought him a stillwater kilt of his own.

He is still growing so I didn't want to buy him a good kilt, but figured an inexpensive stillwater was just the answer. He now wears that kilt once or twice a month to school.

On a side note it got caught on a chair in the locker room just this week and got a small tear in it, which a kindly neighbor sewed up for him. It is a tough decision when you want to get someone into being kilted, but the idea of someone else wearing it just makes you cringe.

In the long run I think you made a great choice and applaud you for helping him get his wish without the risk to your own kilt.

[Meggers]

I also asked him if he had Scottish heritage, and he said he doesn't have any at all - it turns out the kilt was his date's idea!

Further proof that men in kilts are significantly more appealing to the fairer sex.

Shout out to the guy in my old sociology class who argued with me about "real men" wearing kilts or not.

I feel so victorious.