Let me explain. When I said I tend to start projects and have trouble taking them to the finish line, it's not because I have ADD, at least I don't think I do. It's because I've been searching for a creative outlet, but mostly a win. I really need a win! Nineteen years ago I quit my job to have a child, and I absolutely love being a mom and homemaker. Saralain was the answer to fourteen years of prayers. In fact, I wanted a daughter for as long as I can remember. I'm not sure if this is what is going on, but, I believe with her turning 18 nature is kicking in. A parent of a neuro-typical child would have had time for projects while their kids were in school or out with friends, however we have not had such luxuries. Tony and I do it all. We have a fantastic aide and some great therapists who work with Sara a few hours a week but we have been physically and mentally on "Toddler patrol" 24 hours a day for the past 18 years.
Something that happened yesterday, which was Sunday, helped me see what might be going on here. Tony and I were working on the bathroom remodel. We have to make Saralain play in her room while we work so that she is safe and close enough for us to hear her. Her room is secure, and as an added precaution we have a gate at the top of our stairs that she would struggle to open and we would likely hear her if she breached it. Anyway, we had been up early and working most of the day so stopped to lay down on the bed to play with Starla for a minute. By the way, who came up with the saying "working like a dog?" Because our dog is usually lying comfortably on the furniture watching us do the work!
Next thing I knew, we had dozed off. Only briefly , but when we were talking after our wonderful little siesta, we realized that in almost 18 years we had not had the luxury of napping together on a weekend afternoon. I said, "This must be what it's like to have typical children, I wonder if their parents realize how lucky they are?" I don't want to sound like I'm putting blame on Saralain or looking for excuses, but I sometimes forget how much I have been doing for 18 years. Most moms send their kids to school at 5 and have free time during the day. Most kids, after the toddler years, don't need constant supervision to keep them from doing something life threatening 24 hours a day. I really need to stop placing more demands on myself than have already been assigned.
That being said, this is the inspiration board for our Master Bathroom, one of the many projects I have flying around in my brain. Now I understand what Tony means by his characters are always talking in his head. He's a writer, not a serial killer...let me clarify that. There is something about making a visual board for planning that has brought it together for me. I have such fears of making mistakes and not liking the final product that it handicaps me. If I can see it like this with all the elements laid out and like it, that eases the doubt somehow.
The added satisfaction comes from learning to create the Mood board itself. I have been out of the work scene for a LONG time and my computer skills are a little behind. I was about to start gluing magazine clippings to a scrapbook, but decided to take classes on Skillshare instead. I'm sure Susanne Sugarbaker would have loved Pic Collage, I know I do! Next will be photography. Ooops, here I go - loading up the projects.
Wow, pictures really do show the stuff our eyes overlook - we are very messy home re-modelers!
I would love to say this is the finished project. However...
You can see, we have a little ways to go. We have one more vertical board on that wall, then we'll move to the opposite side. Now for some of the funny stories. Well, they are funny now, but not so much a few weeks and $$$ ago! First we put up a Narrow bead-board (four board per panel), then I decided I didn't like it (it was too busy). So we tore it out, and used the wider bead. (two boards per panel). Then we ran out! Two trips to Home depot, and on-line search lead to...they no longer produce or sell the wide boards! Insert exasperated Charlie Brown scream!
The drama doesn't end there folks! We had to order the bead-board because they don't carry it in our stores. Wait two weeks for it to come in...here is where it gets funny now, it wasn't then! Remember that child we have with autism? We can't take her in many stores. 1) Because we don't have Bill Gates bank account. 2) If we don't let fill the cart with crazy things she will never need, deconstruct and throw away, she will scream like a banshee! So we always pair out trips to Home Depot with a stop at Smithfield's Bbq for her favorite fries.
Yep, bribery is a useful tool to special needs parents.
On to Home Depot we go. I'll go in and get it, Laurie says! Yikes...I had to drag the fifty foot long box weighing at least 800 lbs to the car. (thank you nice man from the Quay who offered to help, next time I'll take you up on it right away). So I try to lift the box and slide it into the van which quickly went awry! The "nice man from the Quay" heard me tell Tony I needed help and quickly came to assist. That's when the screaming started. You know, the banshee kind! I ran to the side of van to make sure Saralain was okay, afraid maybe we clipped her with the 800 lb box. Well, there was a causality, it was her Smithfield's cup! It had been decapitated by the 800 lb box and the hell fury that followed was daunting! I still here the fateful words coming out of my mouth. "Don't go all the way back there," I said as Tony turned toward Smithfields once again. "Let's just go to Chick-fil-A."
Have you ever smacked your thumb with a hammer? That would be way less painful then the ride to Chick-fil-A and home! NO, I am not exaggerating in the slightest! I actually contemplated jumping from the moving car several times. I'm certain Tony wanted to throw me from the moving car just as many times for not letting him simply drive back to Smithfields. God bless the sweet young girl outside taking our order for yet another french fry and pink milk (that would be sprite to anyone else). Even after the new drink was procured, Saralain screamed "WHITE CUP" until I pieced the broken cup together and filled it as far as I was able with the "pink milk" from CFA.
Skip ahead to the new bead board...So we have now torn down the bead-board and replaced it twice! And the new Bead-board is now a different pattern. Hello board removal number three! And did I mention it was $25 dollars for the tool to remove the nails from the boards...that we can't use anyway!
Sunday when we finally started back on this project, it decided to pour down rain. I was not going to be defeated!
This very determined woman told this ^ handsome handy man to set up shop on my rolling island. Yes! I let him set up shop right in my kitchen! That had just been cleaned. I was that desperate! But I think I will wait for better weather to finish the job... Today I painted...it was sunny and beautiful. Universe...don't fight me! I'm going to see the projects through!
Great read, Laurie. DIY projects without difficulties, do they even exist? Not in my world. 😆Thank you for sharing. Your house looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNursery! I'm all in if you need help!
ReplyDelete