Motherhood. It’s a doozy.
There can be weeks and weeks when I go along thinking everything is fine, and then BAM. A life lesson smacks you in the face.
I’m going to go ahead and admit here (because it’s just us, right?!) that I can be a little bit Type A about things. I like to have a list, set goals and priorities, and get things accomplished. When it comes to projects, I like to understand what I’m taking on, set out a plan to get it done, and then tackle it.
Well, that’s all well and good… until you’re pregnant with a toddler underfoot. There’s nothing, and I mean NOTHING to teach you patience and humility like raising a toddler.
Take our most recent project for example.
I’ve never been thrilled with our kitchen. It’s just one of those things… it’s completely functional, and the design is fine (just not my taste). When we moved into our home a few years ago, I put it on the ‘things to update later’ list.
In my mind, I wanted to wait a few years until I could tackle the kitchen in a more complete way. It was never going to make sense to rip out all the cabinetry, but I had in mind the idea that I’d paint the cabinets, re-do the backsplash, update the appliances and generally modernize the space (including adding some natural light which we’re SORELY in need of).
Well, guess what?
A few years later we have a toddler racing around, and I’m eight months pregnant with baby number two… and that kitchen overhaul? It’s been put on the back-burning yet again.
But here’s the thing… and this is where the big lesson comes in. Motherhood is tough. Sometimes it means changing your priorities for the sake of your family, and sometimes it means adjusting your outlook – maybe I didn’t need to tackle this project all at once. Maybe tackling it piece by piece would still give me a sense of accomplishment, but work better for our family right now.
It’s not how I would have planned it initially, but you know what? I’m more patient. Raising babies helps me understand that life isn’t just about tackling projects and checking them off the list. It’s about squeezing in one last toddler hug when your little one is sad about pre-school, and making sure you have a functional kitchen space to feed your family. Because that’s what’s really going to matter in the end.
Sooooo, you know what? Last weekend, I tackled a PIECE of this project! And I feel darn good about it!
My hubby and I painted the bead board backsplash in kitchen, and updated some of the cabinet hardware and I LOVE the result! Check out the details below for exactly what we did!
BEFORE:
As I said, the space was FINE… it just isn’t my taste. The off-white cabinetry and backsplash and the wooden knobs have always been just a little too Country for my taste.
DURING:
Our goal was to paint the backsplash in an updated colour (we chose Captain’s Quarters from PREMIER) and update the knobs to a more modern option. We found BOTH the knobs and the paint at Canadian Tire – one of our go-to options for DIY projects – and couldn’t have been happier.
AFTER:
Here’s the end result! A quick and easy update that was easily accomplished in a weekend. And if you haven’t worked with PREMIER paint before, let me just tell you – it’s awesome! We looooved the Premier Infinity Satin finish paint for the kitchen because it’s mildew resistant, but also because it covers so nicely (it’s a paint and primer in one) and has Zero VOCs. So, this pregnant mama could paint (and supervise) with no worries about the little one!
Tell me all about the next project you have in mind – I love hearing what you’re up to!
Note: We partnered with Canadian Tire for this post because we love them and their products! We received compensation to do so, but we’d never work with a brand that we didn’t truly love!
