In Honor of Mom: DIY Memories

Thanks, Mom!

Most of us DIYers can trace our hands-on roots back to a parent or two. While dads are typically the ones wielding hammers and constructing playhouses, moms deserve no short shrift. As seen by our staff's DIY memories of their moms, the female leaders in our lives can teach a lesson or two about patience, determination, creativity, and independence, whether it's through painting a bedroom or fixing a troubled sink.

Renovating Furniture

"My mother and I painted all of my bedroom furniture. I was in middle school and felt that my pink bedroom set was for little kids. I wanted something more grown-up. But we couldn't afford new furniture, so my mother and I dragged all the old stuff outside and she showed me how to sand it and paint it a moss green instead." - Rachel Klein

Creativity Experiments

"Mom always let our creativity flow freely. I grew up with three brothers and three sisters and somehow mom always allowed us to experiment with creativity. Whether we were deciding on our room colors, painting in pajamas or rearranging furniture, mom made sure we could make our own decisions. They may not have been the most fashionable, but they were ours. Thank you mom for helping us become the confident decision makers we are today." - Laurie Bloomfield

Creating a Home

"My mom created her own curtains/drapes, painted ceramic pottery, did rather intricate wallpaper designs (where crown molding and chair rails would go on a wall), and she made the best spaghetti in history." - Josh Aaron

Bedroom Makeovers

"My favorite DIY project with my mom was painting my bedroom when I was 5. My mom has always been a DIYer and she let me pick out a pattern for her to stencil my bedroom. I picked light blue walls with a teddy bear border, made all the more special because she let me help." - Suzy Kerr

Introduction to Tools

"Mom learned to drive a truck as soon as she could reach the pedals. She bought me my first framing hammer." - Justin DiPego

Leading by Example

"My mom was always very hands-on and always on the move. My dad came from a carpentry and engineering background, but my mom never was one to wait for others to fix things for her -- she'd jump right in, do the research, and get it done. She always encouraged me to have a strong sense of determination in everything I did, but I still know she'll be there in a heartbeat if I ever need a little help." - Kimberly Keller