The article describes a family's challenging experience moving from Australia to Canada to renovate a fixer-upper home. After purchasing the house online without visiting, they quickly faced overwhelming renovation demands, including urgent repairs to the foundation and wiring. The stress of constant construction resulted in emotional strain, financial overreach, and contributed to a sense of instability in family life. The author navigates through feelings of isolation and frustration while managing parenting and home improvements, ultimately revealing the reality of handling such a significant transition in life.
Living in active construction for years was much more destabilizing than I ever imagined. My husband and I spent double our budget, missed time with our kids, and almost lost each other.
When we bought the house, it had been divided into four apartments, so we agreed we’d live in it for a year or so while we drew up renovation plans.
As my husband commuted to his clean, quiet office for work each day, I tried to write and edit from home. Renovations, on top of the international move, were grueling.
No amount of plastic taped over doors kept the dust out of my hair, my nose, or the rest of the house.
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