Pumpkins, Pajamas & Peace of Mind
It started with one pumpkin. Just one. Then somehow there were three pumpkins, a fall wreath, two mums, a sign that says “Hey Boo” and a six-foot skeleton standing on the front porch like he pays the mortgage. Welcome to fall.
At this time of year, we want to make our homes cozy. The sweaters come out, the candles get lit, the blankets multiply and suddenly pumpkin spice has become an entire personality. But along with the cozy comes the chaos.
Halloween costumes need to be found. School events need remembering. The Thanksgiving grocery list is getting longer, and somehow you’re the only person in the house who knows where the good serving platter is.
For many women, especially those balancing family, work and caregiving, fall can feel like a whirlwind. So before the temperature really drops, take a few minutes to give your home a little attention.
Check your furnace filter. If it looks like it has been working overtime since spring, it probably deserves a fresh start. Take a look at your vents too. They have a strange habit of disappearing behind furniture, laundry baskets and entire collections of Halloween decorations. Then turn the furnace on and listen. A gentle hum? Wonderful. A loud bang that makes everyone in the house step back? Not quite as festive. If your furnace suddenly sounds like it has developed a personality, have someone take a look before winter arrives.
And just like that, it’s Thanksgiving. The house fills with family, the kitchen becomes a war zone and at least one person asks, “Do you need any help?” while standing directly in front of the drawer you need. Take a breath. Let someone bring the dessert. Buy the pie. Wear the pajamas. Enjoy the people around you.
Then Halloween passes in approximately 11 minutes. The costumes end up in a pile, the candy somehow disappears and that six-foot skeleton is still sitting outside judging everyone who walks past.
Because fall isn’t about having a perfect home. It’s about having a home that’s warm, cozy, a little chaotic—and full of people you love. And if that skeleton wants to stay on the porch until Christmas? Honestly, at this point, he’s family.
Jayden's Mechanical, (519) 273-HEAT (4328), www.jaydensmechanical.com, @jaydensmechanical
