As a proactive dad, you’re probably constantly trying to find new and exciting ways to spend time with your family. Well, this is not one of them. However, remodeling your home needn’t be a daunting venture either. It will all come down to how well you plan the entire ordeal, how well you prepare for it, and how well you structure your kids’ time for maximum compliance and minimal property destruction during the whole thing.
Kids are hard work, okay, let’s not kid around, and no matter how much you would love to send them away along with your darling partner so that you can renovate and remodel on your own terms, the reality is going to be far different. With that in mind, here is your quick-and-easy guide on how to survive home remodeling with your kids.
Dad, what’s remodeling?
Oh, that moment when a kid catches you off guard with a complex question you simply can’t formulate an answer for on the spot. Just be glad it’s this one and not the birds and the bees. However, much like with any complex question, you need to have a simple, kid-friendly answer at the ready in order to avoid any further discussion and keep your kids happy.
This is why it’s a good idea to prepare for this question well in advance, come up with an easy answer, and maybe even sit them down to explain the whole process. Explaining to your kids what’s going to happen in the weeks and months to come will be instrumental in getting them to adjust to the new lifestyle, say bye-bye to the bedroom they once knew, and embrace the new living arrangement.
Make a detailed plan to uphold your routine
Your home might be in complete disarray and missing a wall or two, but that doesn’t mean that your routine should fall through in the process. In fact, one of the best ways to preserve peace in the household and prevent utter confusion on a daily basis is to keep doing what you always did. Not only will this keep your kids calm, but it will present you as the father figure your kids can look up to.
You might end up having breakfast in the garage, but as long as you’re having it at the same time every morning, you’re bound to keep the family train on its tracks. Remember, a modern father takes initiative, he is determined and does best with what he’s got.
Give the kids a part in the project
Another great idea that can help you keep the peace in your house while workers are tearing it down is to give your kids a seemingly important role to play in the entire thing. This should be something menial such as helping you pick out bathroom supplies or pick a new color for their bedroom, something along those lines.
Whatever it is, make sure they feel valued for their contribution – who knows, they might even help you put an amazing finishing touch to a room, so trust your kids and don’t forget to present the whole thing as a fun adventure. This brings us to the next crucial point.
Child-proof the place, or just kick them out
It’s amazing how kids manage to bewilder you with a profound, smart question that makes you feel like you’re raising the next NASA employee of the year, and then the next moment they’re slamming their heads against a wall. Kids are like that, they run around, they make a mess, and oftentimes, they get a bump on their forehead in the process.
If you want to avoid rushing to the emergency room because your kid hit their head on a support beam, you will do well to child-proof the house beforehand. If that seems like a chore, then just send them away to their grandparents during the biggest remodel.
Give yourself, and the kids, a break
Last but not least, the key to coexisting peacefully with your kids, and your partner, lies in taking an occasional break, and just getting away from all the hustle and bustle. Don’t worry, the house will still be there when you come back from the restaurant, and truth be told, the workers might not even need you for an entire weekend, so give yourself a break and take a well-deserved mini vacation in a nice kid-friendly spa upstate.
Kids are great, aren’t they, what their constant running, screaming, play-fighting, and unbelievable inability to sit down for a second and listen to your boring explanation of why your house is going to look way different in the near future. Nevertheless, with these essential tips in mind, you should have no problem organizing a smooth remodeling project your entire family can enjoy.