Another’s Shoes

I feel like I have a new lease on domesticity at the moment.

We are construction free today….and looks like tomorrow as well.

As much as we want our long-awaited basement construction project to continue moving along, I am thrilled. Elated, actually…to be getting a temporary respite.

I had no idea what this experience would entail before we broke ground. Kinda reminds me of parenting and having surgery. I found myself likening it to both the other day when venting to a friend.

It’s funny how almost everyone will say things like: It’s just your basement. It’s gonna be so great. At least it’s not an upper floor. Better in summer than winter. Etc.

Their goal is to comfort you, but it doesn’t necessarily work unless they’ve lived it. No matter what they say, until you have the same or at least a very similar experience, you truly don’t know what it’s like to walk in that person’s shoes.

We can anticipate an experience all we like and conjure up images of what we think it will be…or what we hope it will be…but until it’s here, you really don’t know.

I’m not saying that becoming a mom is like taking a jackhammer to the floor or putting up sheetrock, but it is a huge unknown until you’re in it. And, no doubt has possibly conjured up feelings and emotions you didn’t see coming.

And, think about it. If you’ve ever had a surgery (which I have), there can be unforeseen matters in the recovery and beyond that doctors don’t always advise you of.

My house is having surgery at present. We’ve already had days without phone service, cable problems, plumbing challenges, extra expenses, and we’re not that far along yet. No one said to expect this, though knowing what I know now, it does seem somewhat inevitable.

I know I’ll get through it. My son is loving it….as I wrote previously…he’s a Bob the Builder in the making.

My husband is fairly tolerant of it. But, he’s in his office all day outside of the home. Me, I feel like the ringleader for all of the various workers whose personal lives I’m gradually getting to know. While I have no desire to walk in the work boots of these men, I do give them credit for putting in hard days of manual labor, often in a quest to provide for their families, I have learned. And, given the state of the economy, most are grateful to be employed at this time, even if on a project basis.

I’m looking out my kitchen window as I write this. They predict on ‘n off thunderstorms today. I’ve been debating if I might take a quick run over to the local pool and get in a quick swim before I head to the gym. But, it’s somewhat overcast here in NY. I do yearn, though, to walk in my beach sandals at the moment. These are the only shoes I care to wear for now. So, we’ll see if the clouds drift away.