Lessons from renovation 2023

My home is undergoing some major renovation and repairs this summer. In the initial 3 weeks, our family split up and stayed separately. We are now together since last one week but continue to live through disruption, loud noise & constant dust, workers coming and going at all hours while our work and school go on.

The entire house, our routines and mindset has undergone a sea change in this last one month. Its been a major shock and awe experience for my teenage daughter. Her room, that is her haven, has been under attack, and rejuvenated into a new avatar, right in front of her eyes. She used to lie awake at nights and had withdrawn into silence initially, to absorb this shock. On top of that she was missing her friends and confidants in this sensitive time. Hubby stayed away from us for so long for the first time and was visibly out of his comfort zone. We had basically cleanly split the responsibilities of our home and daughter for a good 3+ weeks which was not easy on either of us. I have been doing a fine balancing act managing the moods of everyone, including my own, while my home was literally torn down and is being resurrected.

We have each of us discovered new ways to cope with the situation. Not being at our own place for extended period, and adjusting to another space, is not trivial. Staying alone in a broken up home is another level of tough. Coping with work related pressures, new grade school routine and social commitments amongst all this takes resilience.

Sometimes life needs this kind of a major overhaul to come back to a better track. Change is a constant and being out of comfort zone really makes one stronger and more confident. Houses, relationships and routines sometimes need to be torn down so that a stronger and healthier foundation can be established. The pandemic and enforced lockdown had put us all into a comfort zone that we are now shaking off (or having to) in different ways.