Home Repair Self Analysis

Why is it I can't do anything to my house? It is falling down around me (not really) but I can't get my act together to fix it up. There are so many things I need to do: replace kitchen cabinets, paint, install laundry room shelving, take down a tree in the back yard whose roots are breaking through a retaining wall, un-clutter the garage and repair it's cement the walls (which are crumbling). The list can continue. I don't know why, but I have a complete mental block when it come to doing work on my house. I am all talk and no action.

I don't understand this problem with myself. I know this is a pain in the neck, but I deal with much more severe and important crises with much more efficiently and grace. For God's sake, I'm a social worker! I have dealt with psychotics and prison inmates, but I can't get my act together to call a handy man?! What is with this? OK, think. What is going on. Are you lazy? Yes, partially. Are you nervous about making the wrong decision? Yes, a little. Are you nervous about something going wrong, and the problem you're trying to fix just getting worse or leading to more problems? Yes. Do you feel as though half of these jobs do not take a rocket scientist, and you could do them yourself, and you feel frustrated because you have to pay someone big money to do a relatively easy job? Yes. Do you hate talking to dirty, stupid, overpriced, hard-to-contact, takes-forever-to-do-the-job contractors who underestimate your ability to talk about leaky pipes and downspouts because you're a woman? Yes. Do you hate having strange, grungy people walking through your house all day and invading your space? Yes. Do you feel nervous because this is the first house you have ever lived in, and there is no apartment building super to call about all of this? Yes.

Ah-hah. Now I see.

Well, Urban-Mom, it's time to bite the bullet. Wake yourself out of your lazy stupor and stop procrastinating. Get over your self imposed anxiety and your fear of stereotyped images of contractors. Get a hold of yourself and just do it. Maybe I can put up some shelves to relieve my need for controlling my own destiny, and to absolve my aversion to getting ripped off. But I ain't gonna cut down no tree. So, buckle up and start getting out those yellow pages because your speed dial is ready and waiting.

After this insightful conversation I've had with myself I feel nervous, but good to go. I just hope I can pull the trigger. Maybe just one more cup of coffee first.....