My sons Tyson and Graham are rehabbing the bathroom and kitchen in Tyson’s house in St. Paul. No minor project, this. They’ve ripped everything out, right down to the studs and are completely redoing the plumbing and electrical. Here’s a photo of Graham in the bathroom, with the heated tile floor installed.
It’s an amazing thing for this father to behold.
My dad was a master at everything handyman-related but was too much of a perfectionist about it, his hand-built house wound too tightly with his fragile self. He didn’t have the patience to teach and I was too afraid of his temper to want to learn from him. And so while my sons were growing up, I pretty much avoided the whole scene, not only because of my lack of skill and interest, but primarily because of my lack of confidence.
I guess I can be grateful for the non-traditional, project-based learning schools they attended. To see their confidence in tackling a complex project, learning on their own, asking for help from knowledgeable friends… well, it’s inspiring. Since I can’t take credit for it, it’s a different kind of parental pride than usual.