Well, I don't know what I was thinking when I took my 8 year old shopping for a new desk. She has needed a desk in her bedroom for homework as she gets a bit distracted doing it at the dining room table. She was fine for kindergarten (minimal homework) and for 1st grade. Last year, when math, science and social studies homework became more plentiful, she had a harder time staying focused and on-task and took much too long in completing assignments. She is the type of child who really needs a quiet space, away from others after school. She has no problems working in a classroom of children but for some reason she needs her own space at home. So.....since we were wanting to get her a desk anyways, we decided to do it for one of her Christmas gifts. Little did I know that she would choose an unfinished pine desk. My husband gave her the choice between 3 desks. One was finished and not great quality. For the same price, we could get a smaller, unfinished one that actually would look better in her room. The 3rd choice was the secretary desk, unfinished, really cute, a little longer than I wanted it to be (ideally the desk I wanted in her room would be 30 inches or less; she chose the one that is 38 inches long: the secretary desk, because "it's like yours, Mommy!") Needless to say, the delivery people are bringing it tomorrow as soon as I get home from work, which means I spent all afternoon today, until ballet time, taking apart her large bookcase that will no longer fit due to the desk, hauling it down to the basement for storage in the girls "playroom" part of the basement and then lugging down the games and toys to place back on the shelves. My 14 year old was prodded into helping me. I didn't have to prod much as she LOVES to organize things and "take charge". So...back upstairs we went and as soon as Claire was done with her math, we went through books, papers, craft supplies, etc. deciding what was to be thrown away, given away or saved. I must say we got rid of alot of junk! We also had fun looking at old 1st and 2nd grade art projects and decided to save a few good ones! She even managed to give up some of her kindergarten level reading books to pass on to her little cousin! SO....tomorrow I get to begin sanding the desk so that this weekend I can stain it. And this is all happening the weekend before I have to cook a Thanksgiving feast for 24 people in a kitchen/house that is 4 1/2 hours away from here! Which means we still have to pack for a 3 nite stay, shop for the food that I know will be hard to find on the cape, bake the 2 desserts I volunteered to bring, and gather all the favors I ordered. I just thank the Lord I decided to order favors this year instead of making them! SO...around our house the next few days, things will be crazy and I keep asking "what was I thinking? how can I prepare a desk for use after Thanksgiving when we have so much else going on?" But....the Lord manages to give me what I need when I need it and that is all that matters.....now...if I can just get my husband to go buy the stain/polyurethane, that would be great!
2 comments:
That so brings back memories of my first desk. My parents allowed me to buy it off a second hand radio show and my Dad painstakingly sanded it and refinished it. I was so proud of that desk and many an hour was spent doing homework at it. It now resides in my youngest daughters room.
That is so neat that now your youngest daughter is using your childhood desk. My oldest daughter has a desk that was used by my sister. As for this new one: I truly hope it helps her (the 8 yr. old) to focus on her HW better and that she appreciates having her own space...she was so excited when it was being delivered last nite....I hope it lasts!
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