05/12/2020
Since it was Mother’s Day yesterday I figured it would be a good time to share with you one of my first EVER wood working projects. Brace yourself for a story!
Growing up we did not get an allowance for our chores. Our chores earned our right to live and eat in the house. Sounds harsh to some but it sets a good mindset for kids. Every now and then we’d be allowed to pick out a treat or toy from a place like the dollar store. Without a doubt every time I’d reach for something like a hammer, work gloves, exacto knives, screw drivers or a handsaw. Although this was probably more expensive than a bag of candies my parents always let me get those tools.
I have no clue how old I was when I picked out a wood carving set but soon after that I was in my dads workshop trying out my new tool. My best guess is 10 years old give or take. Now a lot of you might think, “What kind of mother lets her kids use tools that could cut or hurt them?”. The answer is my mom. She let me work. She let me get hurt. She let me fall. All to let me learn on my own, how to work, how to recover and how to get back up. In all seriousness though she probably had a bandaid and peroxide sitting there waiting for me to come in screaming at the sight of blood. And yes that happened A LOT.
Someone must’ve taken a piece of firewood and cut it into smaller sections for me. I carved out the words “I love you mom” on the first one. That probably took me hours to do. But I was relentless in getting those words on that piece of wood. Without knowing it at the time I think I wanted to make her not just happy with receiving a gift but proud that she raised someone who could build her a gift. It’s funny how pure we are as children.
My mother passed away a little over 3 years ago after a long battle with cancer. Like a lot of mothers growing up she told me I could do whatever I dreamed. My dream was to make my own living, to run a business and be independent. Here I sit, a business owner, making my own living on my own terms. To my mom I say, “Look mom, I made it.”
If you are to take one thing from this post, let it be that habits are formed from childhood. My mom raised me in a way that taught me to earn everything I get. She raised me to try, and when I failed she raised me to try again. There was tons of risk in letting me do the things I did but with that risk comes the reward. I’m reaping those rewards now from her hard work as a mom. I’m not a parent yet so take it how you will but let your kids try those risky things, it’s worth that risk. Life is a risk. Going all in on starting a business is risk, the same risk she raised and guided me in that feels more familiar than the easy route.
To all the moms out there Happy Mother’s Day, and go let your kid swing that hammer!
PS have the bandaids ready!
