We finally started painting our porch. Boy has it needed it for a long, long time. The whole house needs painting. When we’ll ever get around to all of it is beyond me. But…at least we started on the porch this week.
Here are a few things I’ve learned:
- We have a HUGE porch. I recognized that fact after we’d been painting it for several hours and only had a tiny bit of it covered with primer. And also, when I stopped by my friend’s house yesterday I noticed what a cute little porch they had. And it was cement. With a metal railing. No paint needed. I sighed deeply and had a few moments of jealousy (which I quickly repented of because truly I do love my big old house).
- Twelve year olds are a great help when it comes to painting. Everyone should get themselves a twelve year old.
- Four year olds really want to help too, but really don’t have what it takes to actually make the paint go from the bucket to the brush to the porch without ruining their church shoes, their sweat pants, their hair and their mother’s sanity. (Don’t ask me how he got out there with his church shoes on in the first place.)
- Seven year olds do pretty well with a paint brush just long enough to get the paint brush painty. Then they get tired and want to go do something else. Then you have another paint brush to clean at the end of the day.
- Nine year olds can be good help except for when they really just want to hurry through the job and go play. Eventually it’s best to assign the nine year old to babysitting the four year old in an area far, far away (see #3 above).
- When you work on painting the porch, everything else in the house sort of falls apart. This was not a good week for me to not have a menu plan.
Having said all of that…I’ve decided that I’m not going to paint anymore for a few days. (Did I mention that I’m trying to get ready for company?) I figure that any amount of painting that I got done is less for Matt to have to do. Yay…I helped.
And also, based on the fact that having all four boys out there at once helping me paint looked a little like a Three Stooges episode (like where I would reach over to help one kid not drip paint from the bucket to the place he was painting…and simultaneously, another kid would drag their paint brush right across my back side…) I think it’s best for me to put away the brushes for a while so that I continue to love my children the way a mother should (the way that doesn’t involve yelling).
I now have white highlights in my hair. I’m not sure if it’s paint or from the stress of painting with the stooges. Or both.
Today, I am going to catch up on green bean picking and cleaning and cooking and kid snuggling. There may still be some Three Stooges episodes going on…but at least no church shoes will be ruined in the process.
Well, we can hope anyway.
This is too funny…I love how you write!
Just last week I had all the kids help with some outdoor painting and it sounded just like this…except the three of them are under six…what was I thinking????!!!!
=)
oh, and I think the paint fumes are getting to you with the “hoever”in stead of “Whoever”…j/k! =)
LOL…Four-year-old boys, church shoes, and painting…that sounds about right ;) Oh the joys of motherhood!
Lol, I love this post. I don’t even have the courage to take my four year old out while I paint! You are a brave woman!! My summer has been crazy days. I have never had a lazy summer!
Be blessed!!!
Thank you for reminding me of why I haven’t painted my living room yet. I have friends with little ones that are doing all sorts of home remodeling, painting, etc and I just scratch my head. I think I am being a sissy for not doing those sorts of things with my 4 year old and 1 year old in tow.
But, thanks to you, Laura, I can stop scratching my head (and feeling like a sissy). The dingy hand prints and smears can stay on the walls a little bit longer….like maybe until they are 16.
I have yet to finish a bathroom I started 3 yrs ago.
Thank you for the laugh! Great post. Nice to know someone else struggles with trying to get things done around the house with the kiddos pitching in.
thanks for the laugh!
Oh, I can relate. I am painting all of the inside of our house this summer and it can be crazy. These make good movie days for the boys! They consider it a treat, and I can get the work done at a much faster, saner pace!
What perfect timing, I am just getting ready to paint my kitchen. After reading this I might send the kiddos to grandma’s house for a few days :) I am fully confident that my kids would manage to ruin (I mean paint) a lot of stuff I don’t want painted :)
Good luck with your porch!!!!!
This is funny. Thank you for being real. I feel better knowing that you yell at your kids in frustration sometimes, you don’t always have dinner planned out perfectly in advance, and occasionally you need to step away from tough jobs to regain your sanity. Thank you, thank you!!! I’m still learning and growing and trying to do better, but it’s so comforting to know my role models are human too!
Last week my 9yo daughter and I painted her bedroom bright blue & green. It was “her” project so I knew it was important for me to relax (some) and not worry (as much) about the “oopses” and messes. But yikes! We had three drop cloths (and later even added plastic sheeting underneath) and yet, still managed to get paint on the rug:) Most of it scrubbed out but oh well, I know that the memory making is worth a little paint on the rug…right?
Yes anyone who calls summer lazy does not no the meaning of sweaty labour… especially when one is trying to work in the 100+ weather… Busy Bees we(kids and I) have been since we bought our lil hobby farm 9 months ago( well hubby has been busy oversea’s on deployment for the past 15 months so his work is never done)… Great post and loved the list!