| If you are a newly divorced, single mother with limited | | | | 5. Go to used book stores and purchase How-To |
| means, you've been called upon to unfold some talents | | | | books. In this day of the internet, all of those old |
| that are lying dormant within you. Home repairs can be | | | | How-To Encyclopedias can be had for a song, and |
| a lot of fun and a great source of feeling good about | | | | then as the projects show up, you'll be at the ready to |
| yourself. | | | | dig in there and do it. |
| In the early days of your divorce, you are too new in | | | | 6. Be creative. I knew a lady who wanted to replace a |
| this field of divorce to know much about doing home | | | | garbage disposal. It's kind of tough to hold it up |
| repairs. I've found that when wisdom sees that you | | | | underneath the sink and tighten it down from above, |
| are ready, badda bing! Up comes an opportunity. This | | | | so this very creative lady got the jack from her car |
| is a prime time to learn home repairs and once you | | | | (you do know how to use a jack, right?) and jacked |
| dive in, you'll find that it's challenging and a lot of fun. | | | | the disposal in place while she worked on it from |
| 1. A great way to learn home maintenance first hand is | | | | above. Clever girl! |
| to work with the Habitat for Humanity people. You'll be | | | | 7. Keep all your tools together in an easy to carry |
| taught how to swing a hammer, use a saw or use | | | | container. Plastic cat liter containers are great and if |
| power tools. And you'll be with others who are also | | | | you're handy sewing, you can make an apron with |
| learning how, so any discomfort you might feel | | | | pockets for it to hold tools on the inside and on the |
| spreads around among the bunch of you. | | | | outside. |
| 2. There is a great site for teaching women how to do | | | | 8. Home Improvement television shows are a great |
| home projects (they have over 200 projects currently | | | | source for educating your newly growing expertise. |
| posted) at | | | | You can learn a lot from watching designers re-do |
| 3. Make friends with your local Do-It Center or Home | | | | homes with the help of their talented handymen on |
| Depot employees. Tell them what you want to do and | | | | HGTV. Those fellows have great tips for making the |
| see if the store might be holding a how-to class. If not, | | | | jobs easier. |
| ask the department personnel to explain what you | | | | 9. There are toolkits designed for women. I cannot see |
| need to do, and what you need to purchase to get | | | | any difference beyond the color of the tool, and what |
| that job done. | | | | difference does color make on a hammer or |
| 4. The next part happens when you arrive on your | | | | screwdriver. A tool only needs to be functional to |
| home front with everything you purchased and a | | | | work. Color does not improve functionality. |
| feeling of overwhelm about how to begin. A tip that's | | | | Because of divorce, you are often challenged to unfold |
| gotten me to the end of a project is to ask myself at | | | | some more talent from within yourself, and for single |
| the beginning: "Can you see ONE step to take? Can | | | | moms, home repair is one of those places. Do |
| you take that one?" The next one always shows up. It | | | | research on the internet. The internet is today's library |
| takes willingness, perseverance and bit of courage to | | | | and contains up the minute advice on how to |
| begin, persevere through all the steps and then enjoy | | | | accomplish any project. You can if you think you can! |
| your handicraft. | | | | |