04th Dec 2008
What Every Woman Should Have in Her Toolbox
Nowadays there are quite a number of women who have made the choice to live on their own, buy their own homes and navigate their way through the world without a man. Whether by choice or by happenstance, it turns out that we’re a lot more capable than we might have thought. I, for one, happen to enjoy the whole Do-It-Yourself thing. I was raised by a carpenter who happily put a hammer in my hands at the ripe old age of 5. From there on out, I was hooked. I loved going into his shop with him, smelling the wood as he cut and sanded, preparing it for finishing. Whether he was building cabinets or step stools, I was more than willing to learn. And he obliged me at every turn. By the time I was 8 years old, I was using his table saw (with his supervision, of course) and making my own little pieces of furniture. I loved it then and I still do.
With my sister’s daughter about to embark on her own adventures, heading off to college far from home, I got to thinking about what I might give her before she goes. She’s a very smart gal and as independent as I was at her age. She’s pretty fearless too, which makes me think that she’s going to fare quite well out there in the big, wild world. But what about when the toilet clogs or the faucet leaks? Is she prepared to handle those things on her own? How about a flat tire? Or an oil leak? If her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, does she know what to do? These things have been on my mind since I learned she was going way upstate to attend University. My sister, a single mom and quite the handy-maam herself, has always been able to fix things around the house. She even installed a phone jack in a room that didn’t have one, all by her pretty little self. I was impressed! Cutting drywall and running wires is not something the average Jane learns how to do unless she happens to have a Dad who wants to teach her. So, as I pondered what to give my niece before she departs, I remembered a book I once saw that made me laugh out loud.
The name of this dandy little book is “The Tough Chix Guide To Easy Home Improvement”. It was written by Paige Hemmis (famous for her work on the show “Extreme Makeover : Home Edition). She’s a pretty amazing lady, especially considering all the things she did prior to landing the job on the show. And now she has a book for all those women who want to know HOW. She covers everything one might like to do, from installing a deadbolt to hanging drywall and pretty much everything in between. She tells you about what tools you should have and how to begin a project without fear of being without the things you’ll need to do so. And, best of all, she does it in such a way as to make even the most novice handy-maam confident and comfortable with their challenge. So, after careful consideration, I decided this would be the gift I’d give to my niece before she goes off to college. I think it’s pretty important to instill confidence in a young woman, especially when she’s going to be so far from home.
Now that you have the background on my meanderings here, I suppose I should live up to the title of this little missive! Here’s what I believe every woman should have in her tool box. And, trust me ladies, you CAN do lots of repairs on your own. That is, if you’re willing to give it a try and get your hands dirty. Don’t worry though, you can always take a nice, hot bath when you’re done. Just think about how good it’ll feel when you’ve accomplished a repair on your own!
Essential Tools: (always buy good tools. Don’t go to the 99 Cents store. They won’t do the job! Sears is a good place to start. Their Craftsman brand tools come with lifetime guarantees, so they’re well worth the price!)
a hammer
a good set of screwdrivers
a wrench
a pair of pliers (make that 2: one needle nose, one ‘regular’)
a cordless drill (and bits)
a skill saw
plumbing tape
duct tape
electrical tape
a measuring tape
a flashlight
And let’s not forget Paige’s book! There is a wealth of handy information and all the info you’ll need to get the job done.
Once you’re a bit more comfy with the idea of doing things on your own, you can add to your collection of tools by what you most enjoy doing. I have a table saw, a compound miter saw, a router and a skill saw. These are wonderful power tools to have, if you like working with wood and building things. You don’t have to add a room, but you can make all sorts of cool things with tools like these. From bird houses to book shelves, it’s pretty easy if you have the proper tools. Then again, they’re not necessary to get a simple job done. It’s entirely up to you.
Hoping this will inspire you to make a trip to your nearest Home Depot. Oh…one more thing…don’t forget to keep a first aid kit handy. Things happen and you’ll want to be prepared, you know? Happy Handy Working!
Camille Olivia Strate is an author and coach who takes great pleasure in helping folks ‘remember’ who they are. She spends much of her time with her beloved animals, maintaining that they are her greatest connection to Source. When she’s not coaching or writing, she can be found in the garden or on a trail, soaking in the marvels of Nature’s offerings. Her latest book, “Whispers” is now available in eBook format. Hardcopy to follow soon!
Visit her personal site at http://www.joyzachoice.com
Tags: do-it-yourself, home repairs, independence, self help, tools, women homeowners
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