06/04/2026
I found this video today while digging through old content, and I didn't even know I still had it.
It's just me brushing dark wax onto a piece of furniture five years ago. Nothing particularly special about the project itself.
But in the background is the tiny voice of one of my granddaughters when she was four years old.
I won't lie. Hearing it again stopped me in my tracks.
For most of the years I've been a grandmother, I've also been running my painting business. My grandchildren have grown up around paint brushes, furniture, workshops, deadlines, projects, and creative messes.
They've watched me work.
And while I don't think children need to love the same work we do, I do think there's value in letting them see what hard work looks like. Let them see the effort, the persistence, the problem-solving, the satisfaction, and the joy that can come from creating something with your own hands.
Not everyone works from home, and not every child gets to see what their parents or grandparents actually do when they leave for work each day. But whenever possible, I think it's important to share it with them. Let them see what fills your days, what supports your family, what challenges you, and what gives you purpose.
Looking back now, I realize my grandkids were paying much more attention than I ever knew.
I hope they grow up knowing that work isn't something to dread. I hope they see that hard work and joy can exist in the very same place.
And hearing this tiny voice again reminded me that sometimes they're learning far more than we realize. ❤️
