new with question - building a house and taking care of kids
Lee Roversi
Hi-
I read this list each and every day on digest and don't often post, but
this one struck a cord . . .
We moved to Kauai 17 years ago, bought four raw acres and then spent the
next two years living in a shed on the land and building our home and
businesses . . .
Sky was 4, Nell was just 1 when we started and, the last year before the
house was finished, I became pregnant with Bay! And we did it as
owner-builders - every single board, nail, concrete footer, shingle,etc.
was ordered by me, and put up my my now-ex-husband and some willing friends
and family. The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process. I did have nieces come twice in those years for a
month at a time to be my mother's helper. (They were in school, so it was
during the summer and they camped on the land). Needless to say, it was a
long process! Two years+ before we moved into the house. But, you know - it
stands out in my memory (and that of Sky and Nell) as two of the most
engaging and happy times we have ever had! I never even thought of putting
them in school then. (We did have several great years later with a little
Waldorf school, which then shut down and our next incredible chapter of
unschooling began!) I can't offer much specific advice, but to work in
those nano-moments when your toddler is less "needy". Be as organized as
possible to take the best possible advantage of those times. Nell used to
like to play with all my scrap paper and imitate mama in her office. Sky
really was most enthralled with the building - we have photos of him with
his own carpenter's belt, nailing nails into the scaffolding set up around
the house as it went up - he was convinced he was building the house! Nell
and Sky both carried things to those building - including the much-needed
lunches & beverages we made. We lived on the site, so that made it easier,
I suppose.
Anyway, I don't know if this is in the least bit helpful, perhaps it was
simply my own stroll down memory lane to a delectable time on our lives!
Feel free to email me off-list if you want to talk more.
Aloha, Lee
NORTH COUNTRY FARMS
~an eco-tourism destination~
P.O. Box 723
Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii 96754
808-828-1513phone & voice mail
808-828-0805fax
www.northcountryfarms.com
I read this list each and every day on digest and don't often post, but
this one struck a cord . . .
We moved to Kauai 17 years ago, bought four raw acres and then spent the
next two years living in a shed on the land and building our home and
businesses . . .
Sky was 4, Nell was just 1 when we started and, the last year before the
house was finished, I became pregnant with Bay! And we did it as
owner-builders - every single board, nail, concrete footer, shingle,etc.
was ordered by me, and put up my my now-ex-husband and some willing friends
and family. The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process. I did have nieces come twice in those years for a
month at a time to be my mother's helper. (They were in school, so it was
during the summer and they camped on the land). Needless to say, it was a
long process! Two years+ before we moved into the house. But, you know - it
stands out in my memory (and that of Sky and Nell) as two of the most
engaging and happy times we have ever had! I never even thought of putting
them in school then. (We did have several great years later with a little
Waldorf school, which then shut down and our next incredible chapter of
unschooling began!) I can't offer much specific advice, but to work in
those nano-moments when your toddler is less "needy". Be as organized as
possible to take the best possible advantage of those times. Nell used to
like to play with all my scrap paper and imitate mama in her office. Sky
really was most enthralled with the building - we have photos of him with
his own carpenter's belt, nailing nails into the scaffolding set up around
the house as it went up - he was convinced he was building the house! Nell
and Sky both carried things to those building - including the much-needed
lunches & beverages we made. We lived on the site, so that made it easier,
I suppose.
Anyway, I don't know if this is in the least bit helpful, perhaps it was
simply my own stroll down memory lane to a delectable time on our lives!
Feel free to email me off-list if you want to talk more.
Aloha, Lee
NORTH COUNTRY FARMS
~an eco-tourism destination~
P.O. Box 723
Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii 96754
808-828-1513phone & voice mail
808-828-0805fax
www.northcountryfarms.com
Dana Browning
That sounds similar to when my two oldest were under 5. We raised hogs and my dh was trucking. They did all of the barn work with me.
Dana
The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dana
The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jennifer Altenbach
Lee wrote:
<<We moved to Kauai 17 years ago, bought four raw acres and then spent
the
next two years living in a shed on the land and building our home and
businesses . . .
Sky was 4, Nell was just 1 when we started and, the last year before the
house was finished, I became pregnant with Bay! And we did it as
owner-builders - every single board, nail, concrete footer, shingle,etc.
was ordered by me,>>
Yup, this is us! We started with our drawings over two years ago when
Scotty was 2. I got pregnant just before we broke ground. I was
finishing concrete last summer in 100 degree weather and 39 weeks
pregnant (desperate to get labor started.) We have only just now
finished the framing.
<< and put up my my now-ex-husband and some willing friends
and family.>>
Yikes! I hope it wasn't the house that caused him to become your ex. I
can certainly attest to the strain that is put on the marriage when
building a house.
<< The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process. I did have nieces come twice in those years for
a
month at a time to be my mother's helper. (They were in school, so it
was
during the summer and they camped on the land). Needless to say, it was
a
long process! Two years+ before we moved into the house. But, you know -
it
stands out in my memory (and that of Sky and Nell) as two of the most
engaging and happy times we have ever had! I never even thought of
putting
them in school then >>
We have certainly had some great moments, but I can't say it's been
totally wonderful. Chris is desperate to get it finished so we can move
out of our crappy 600 square foot house that we are in now (which is
funny because I'm the one who is in it all day and I don't mind it so
much) so he's putting a lot of pressure on himself and me. Also, the
weather can be a problem for the kids much of the year. On a summer
afternoon it is just too hot and sunny to have them out there for very
long.
<<(We did have several great years later with a little
Waldorf school, which then shut down and our next incredible chapter of
unschooling began!) I can't offer much specific advice, but to work in
those nano-moments when your toddler is less "needy". Be as organized as
possible to take the best possible advantage of those times. Nell used
to
like to play with all my scrap paper and imitate mama in her office. Sky
really was most enthralled with the building - we have photos of him
with
his own carpenter's belt, nailing nails into the scaffolding set up
around
the house as it went up - he was convinced he was building the house!
Nell
and Sky both carried things to those building - including the
much-needed
lunches & beverages we made. We lived on the site, so that made it
easier,
I suppose.>>
We can do some of these things. I would love to be able to live on the
site, but right now it's not possible.
<<Anyway, I don't know if this is in the least bit helpful, perhaps it
was
simply my own stroll down memory lane to a delectable time on our lives!
Feel free to email me off-list if you want to talk more.
Aloha, Lee>>
Thanks for taking the time to share your story! It's good to hear that
you have fond memories of it. I'm hoping that that will be all that
remains for me as well, but right now I tell you it's hard!
Jenny
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
<<We moved to Kauai 17 years ago, bought four raw acres and then spent
the
next two years living in a shed on the land and building our home and
businesses . . .
Sky was 4, Nell was just 1 when we started and, the last year before the
house was finished, I became pregnant with Bay! And we did it as
owner-builders - every single board, nail, concrete footer, shingle,etc.
was ordered by me,>>
Yup, this is us! We started with our drawings over two years ago when
Scotty was 2. I got pregnant just before we broke ground. I was
finishing concrete last summer in 100 degree weather and 39 weeks
pregnant (desperate to get labor started.) We have only just now
finished the framing.
<< and put up my my now-ex-husband and some willing friends
and family.>>
Yikes! I hope it wasn't the house that caused him to become your ex. I
can certainly attest to the strain that is put on the marriage when
building a house.
<< The children were always with us, always 'helping.' always
involved in the process. I did have nieces come twice in those years for
a
month at a time to be my mother's helper. (They were in school, so it
was
during the summer and they camped on the land). Needless to say, it was
a
long process! Two years+ before we moved into the house. But, you know -
it
stands out in my memory (and that of Sky and Nell) as two of the most
engaging and happy times we have ever had! I never even thought of
putting
them in school then >>
We have certainly had some great moments, but I can't say it's been
totally wonderful. Chris is desperate to get it finished so we can move
out of our crappy 600 square foot house that we are in now (which is
funny because I'm the one who is in it all day and I don't mind it so
much) so he's putting a lot of pressure on himself and me. Also, the
weather can be a problem for the kids much of the year. On a summer
afternoon it is just too hot and sunny to have them out there for very
long.
<<(We did have several great years later with a little
Waldorf school, which then shut down and our next incredible chapter of
unschooling began!) I can't offer much specific advice, but to work in
those nano-moments when your toddler is less "needy". Be as organized as
possible to take the best possible advantage of those times. Nell used
to
like to play with all my scrap paper and imitate mama in her office. Sky
really was most enthralled with the building - we have photos of him
with
his own carpenter's belt, nailing nails into the scaffolding set up
around
the house as it went up - he was convinced he was building the house!
Nell
and Sky both carried things to those building - including the
much-needed
lunches & beverages we made. We lived on the site, so that made it
easier,
I suppose.>>
We can do some of these things. I would love to be able to live on the
site, but right now it's not possible.
<<Anyway, I don't know if this is in the least bit helpful, perhaps it
was
simply my own stroll down memory lane to a delectable time on our lives!
Feel free to email me off-list if you want to talk more.
Aloha, Lee>>
Thanks for taking the time to share your story! It's good to hear that
you have fond memories of it. I'm hoping that that will be all that
remains for me as well, but right now I tell you it's hard!
Jenny
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mamaaj2000
--- In [email protected], "Jennifer Altenbach"
<salten@c...> wrote:
Also, the
kiddie pool or something with running water to keep them cool?
--aj, proud owner of a little pool and a "Slippin Slidin'" (so says
the 3.5 y.o.) and very popular with the neighborhood kids all of a
sudden...
<salten@c...> wrote:
Also, the
> weather can be a problem for the kids much of the year. On a summervery
> afternoon it is just too hot and sunny to have them out there for
> long.What about creating some shade (boards and sheets!) and having a
kiddie pool or something with running water to keep them cool?
--aj, proud owner of a little pool and a "Slippin Slidin'" (so says
the 3.5 y.o.) and very popular with the neighborhood kids all of a
sudden...