The other day David myself and his family was in the hospital waiting to find out about David’s dad. While sitting there the guys began to talk about fixing the brakes on Granny Sherry’s Car and how Alex needed brakes as well.
Leslie was sitting there and said I can put the brakes on the car because I have You Tube and Tick Tock and can learn anything on there. We all laughed. Leslie said I’m being serious I also have Duct Tape and can fix anything with it.
As the day progresses, I wanted to share 🛠️ Duct Tape & Done (Real Life Edition) and to share a new post in The Duct Tape Survival Mindset: Duct Tape & Done: What My Daughter Taught Me About Fixing Things I hope you enjoyed leering about my family. Make sure to bookmark the article as we will have more articles in this series coming soon.
Before we move on my daughter Leslie is in her 30s now, and like her brother Charlie she is always teaching me something I probably should’ve learned a long time ago. Do your children do this to you? If so, what is one thing they’ve taught you?
In my home Leslie as I said earlier has taught me If something breaks… don’t panic. Just look it up. Preferably on YouTube although I always reach for the series of books called Dummies for whatever. Have you ever used these books?
I know it sounds simple, almost too simple, but it’s changed the way I handle things around here. Somewhere along the line, I used to think if something went wrong, I had to wait for David or call someone who “knew what they were doing.” That was just how it was.
Even though my dad taught me how to fix stuff as a child and as a single mom I had to fix things more times than not. But then I got married and let the men handle the honey-dos. But now? I don’t feel stuck like that anymore.
Between YouTube and TikTok, there’s a video for just about everything. Fixing a tire, figuring out a strange noise, even small things around the house that used to feel overwhelming suddenly don’t feel so impossible anymore
And no, I’m not about to rewire the house. Let’s not get carried away 😄 But I will try. I’ll look it up first. I’ll understand what’s going on before I automatically assume I can’t handle it. Then I will try and try again and if I fail its okay.
And sometimes, honestly, it really is just a little duct tape or WD40 and a quick video later… and it’s handled. There’s something satisfying about that. Not pretending I know everything but not feeling helpless either. That feels like a win in my book.
So I’m curious — what’s something you’ve figured out how to fix on your own without calling for help?
Here is small tip I learned from my childhood if you do not have a screwdriver a butter knife can work wonders with screws.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
