DO WORK
May, the month can be defined by one word “work”
We bought a house at the end of April; the seller did a rent back until the first week of May.
From then until now it has been go go go go . The house was built in the 90’s, which means a lot of gold hardware, old appliances, outdated finishes and some wear and tear.
So far we have;
1. Taken down a half wall,
2. Installed recessed lighting in the main floor and upstairs
3. Installed a new foyer light
4. Painted the entire upstairs to include the ceiling and all the trim
5. Ripped out the carpet upstairs
6. Ripped out linoleum in the master bedroom closet
7. Had new carpet installed
8. Cut down 14 trees in the yard, and trimmed up the others
9. Had a tree trimmer cut back the tree of life in the back yard and grind stumps
10. Installed a Kevo smart lock
11. Installed new Nest thermostats
All within 3 weeks, the pace has been incredible.
While all of this is going on we still have school, work, sleep overs with friends, pool opening, and of course packing the Gainesville house.
I remember growing up working construction projects over every break from school; summer, winter, spring break you name it I was working. Nothing was off limits I carried gas fireplaces, dug ditches, put together toilets and sinks, cleaned and did whatever else I was told. All from age 12-16, I think it helped me form the belief that hard word should be valued and it is a way of life. I remember building our family house in Montana clearing the brush piles, laying the radiant floor heat in the basement during 0 degree days during the winter. I also remember how proud I felt, how much I liked contributing how good it made me feel to help out. The same way I felt when I earned the title of Marine, the same way I felt when I plumed a mud hut “city” and later a hospital in Africa. The same way I felt when I had any major accomplishment in life.
Our kids are a lot younger that I was during my construction hand days but I want them to feel the same way. I want them to learn how to work with their hands, to appreciate those that do it for a living, to teach them things aren’t free and the value of a dollar. But, most of all I want them to learn that in life you’re going to have to roll up your sleeves and dive right in, many times into something new and unfamiliar, and you’re going to have to complete it to the best of your ability. No excuses, no do overs, no time outs you have to go and execute, I want them to know they can do it, I want them to have a frame of reference and experience to draw on to help them maintain confidence and push through when times are tough. I think there are little opportunity’s to teach this “perseverance” trait in life; hard labor, hard workouts/sports, and boot camp and the only ways I have found so far.
I want these two perfect little people to be better at life than me to take what I/we are able to teach them and take it to the next level and then some. I want to prepare them for life to the best of my ability. I guess that’s what all of this is about, parenting, teach them what you know based on books and experience and then believe in them. Were still in the teaching phase, my favorite part, especially when I see Evan, at 17 months, pick up a paint roller and start “painting” the wall, or when her grabs a screw driver and mimics what I am doing. I love seeing Madeline help clean up inside the house and drag tree branches twice her size to the slash pile. I am impressed they do it unprompted and to the best of their ability. But I am always impressed by them every day, from Golden Shields to saying shoes; everything they do is awesome and amazing. Love being their Dad