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Do It Yourself -- Part 1 of Series, 'Parenting for Departure'

I would go to the basement to wash clothes and often smell this weird odor, like something had been burning, but could never figure out what it was.  Each time I used the washer I would smell it.  I thought it was the dryer.  Well, that wasn't it.

My son went to go wash clothes and noticed that the washer stopped working in the middle of the cycle.  I went down to see and saw the plug had COMPLETELY burned out in the socket, underneath some fabric.
Praise God it didn't spark and cause damage to the house.  So my next thought was, 'How am I going to fix this?'

The youngest screwing in the washer panel.
I took a picture of the serial number, called Sears, put in an order for a new power cord, and waited for the arrival.  I'm not too sure why I thought I could put in a new power cord.  I've never done that before.  I figured I better figure it out; the laundromat was getting expensive.

I got some great advice from a friend at church.  He told me to make the boys help me do things around the house.  I took his advice.  I told them to come downstairs and help me install the power cord.  One held the panel while the other held the flashlight.  There was some pulling, nudging, pushing and connecting.  It was easier than I thought.  But that's not the point...

The point is we fixed it.  We didn't call anyone in to do the job.  I watched a YouTube video, read the directions (yes ladies, I read the directions!), and fixed it.  We saved money.  We got the experience.  And my boys learned something new.  They are soon to be leaving my house completely and beginning new phases of life. They will not always have the opportunity or luxury to call a contractor to come and repair.  They need to know how to how to do it themselves.  And I'm not just talking about the tangible, but that's for another time.

Dads, do you take your kids with you to 'get things done'? An oil change, grocery shopping, or to Home Depot just for the heck of it? Do they see and know how to fix it?  I've got to do a better job at this.  I will.  Besides, I have No Off Season.







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