I Can Do it All on my Own!
This week has been one of great accomplishment for me. If my world were that of a video game on my WII, or an App on my smart phone, I may have collected several badges to recognize my achievements! But, alas, no proverbial screen here…just the real deal. A gold star sticker might just do the job if I can find one in our craft box.
I’ve been wondering for a few days now whether or not to confess such achievements to you for fear that you might judge me for not having completed such ones already in my life and what kind of a grown up am I, anyway? I am reminded of the tribe member from every season of Survivor who miraculously makes it into the final two or three by riding the coat tails of their stronger counterpart(s). Do they win the million? Well, sometimes yes, but is that something to be proud of? Perhaps not having worked your hiney off as hard as the rest and then being given a huge monetary reward for it? Well, I say to you, if it were me, and I was a coat-tail rider, I might win because I’m a nice gal. However, all this to say, that might have been BEFORE last week, when I hadn’t yet found success in doing grown-up-like things all on my own. That jury may have different thoughts about me now.
I also can’t help but hear the little British accented voice of Lola in the Playhouse Disney program, Charlie and Lola, when she declares: “I can do anything that’s everything all on my own!”
You see, the biggest accomplishment was finally getting the bumper of my car fixed from a fender bender on the way to church while singing Christmas Carols with my children in December, when all of a sudden at a stop sign I heard the loud crunch behind me accompanied by the little nudge forward. You can imagine the scene: Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer…Had a very shiny…CRUNCH!
It took from 10:30 a.m. on December 18 when I called my insurance company until February 14 to file the claim, wait, get an appraisal of the damage, wait, find a good body shop, wait, borrow a rental, wait…and then done! And I did it all on my own! I could have let it go, but I didn’t! I told my sister that taking care of this car business was the most grown-up thing I’ve done since birthing my children!
But the other accomplishments came in the form of making home-made, from scratch cinnamon rolls. I have never been brave enough to try this before! It took a very long time and much concentration on my part, but I did it! See?
They were like silk-amazing!
It was a week ago yesterday that my loving husband presented me with DIY instructions to build my own light box for my burning desire to take better food photos for this here blog of mine.
“Here’s a project for you to do this weekend!” He announced.
This is what I heard: “Here’s a project that I found that I will do for you while you stand by watching and handing me the different tools as I need them and mostly occupying the kids.”
On Sunday, together, we bought some of the necessary items at Lowe’s but the project didn’t get started. Then, on Tuesday, Eli and I went to Wal Mart to get the remaining supplies but the project didn’t get started. Then, it was Wednesday morning when I said to Chris, “Maybe we could start the light box project over your lunch today?”
Uh, no. He told me that was my project. He was loving and supportive…but made it clear that this was to be me not us. And so, I lifted my head high, pushed back my shoulders and with great enthusiasm I told Eli, “Guess what you get to do with mommy? You get to help me make a light box!”
Well, after a total of about 4 hours spread out over 6, I built it. All on my own! See? (Oh by the way, Eli was there for moral support.)
This took a lot of work from my right-side brain to accomplish. If you want to see what it does, you can click here and here.
So, you see, I feel good about things. I can’t help but think that Chris stood back for a reason. He’s the quiet type that most likely wouldn’t admit to trying a little experiment on his wife to see if she is actually self-sustaining. I have been a passenger on his coat tails for a long time, but now I can build light boxes, make cinnamon rolls from scratch and, God forbid, he get in a fender bender, I could take care of the insurance part of it…but oh my, I hope that doesn’t happen. The words car and insurance gives me a headache.
Have a glorious weekend!
Oh, my dear friend Jen.. when will you learn that you can do anything you set your mind to and then write about it with such an ease!? You’re amazing!! Hope all is well, miss you!!