Things Falling Into Place, The Doors are Wide Open

If there was one disappointment for me as a mother it was that my sons were not close. They are very different in every way and could go a couple of years without talking. All that has changed this summer.

Marley, the new grandpuppy.

My oldest son has struggled financially for a while. He is trained as an electrician but finds the few jobs available have frequent layoffs and being the newest employee he’s always the last hired back.

In August his brother learned he was laid off again and fearful he wouldn’t be able to keep up on his bills. I was holding my breath and trying to figure out how I could continue to help him with the bills when out of the blue my youngest son offered to hire his brother to do demo and electrical work on a foreclosed home he had just purchased.

Turns out my boys finally found they have skills that complement each other.

In August my oldest moved in with me for three weeks to work on the foreclosed property and since then his brother has helped him to set up his own contracting business including introducing him to other investors.

My Modified B&B

Since the school year began I have had my son staying with me every weekend, and all of this past week.  Some weekends it’s just my son, other weeks he brings his daughter down and still others his girlfriend, her daughter and their puppy come with him.

We joke I’m running a modified B&B because the only ones I cook breakfast for are the children. It’s not always easy being I’m set in my ways and used to living alone.  I like my home kept a certain way as well so come Monday or Tuesday I’m busy trying to put the house back the way I want it while resigning myself to the knowledge that it will be disrupted again in a couple of days.

My son is finally happy and living a less stressful life now. Because he was able to cut his expenses down to a minimal amount weekend work is all he needs to pay the bills. That’s a lifestyle I wish more people could experience.

He and his girlfriend are in the process of looking for land to farm on.  They already have chickens and ducks and plan to add a greenhouse, which my son can build.  They’ve picked my brain on raised beds and fruit trees, best way to compost and how to control pests, along with what I would suggest they grow as profitable crops to sell along with their eggs. I’ve suggested growing unusual crops and plants to avoid competition and speed up the ability to grow a customer base. We want all the same things and as a result they have already asked me to consider building my dream tiny house on their property so we can help each other out.  Maybe there will be one more move in my future……one day.  For now this house works as a free place for my son to stay to work.

I’ve taken on a new job, this one full time. I have taken on all bookkeeping responsibilities for my youngest son’s business and when my oldest son grows his contracting business enough to need my services will add his work to my load as well.  It’s going to be one big family business.

I’ve worked as a bookkeeper many times through the years but never used software to do so, I kept paper ledgers until now so learning the software has been time consuming to say the least.  I think I still prefer paper records over accounting software but acquiring a new skill is always handy.

There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my boys getting along so well and seeing them both happy.