Ah, the warmth of home. Home sweet home! It’s where the heart lies, and also where the open-concept kitchens, dual vanities, finished basements, cozy hearth rooms, shiplap galore, outdoor living spaces, media rooms, man caves, and mudrooms reside.
Welcome to HGTV, the around-the-clock channel where the mantra is “let’s just take down that wall and open things up.” What draws us in as spectators to the quest of strangers in search of their dream homes? Am I just a sentimental fool for those touching family-home journeys? Do I secretly yearn to dive into the world of house flipping, spending my days scouring for short sales and shopping for chic shaker cabinets? I can’t help but feel a rush of emotion when the hosts reveal a massive “before” shot of an outdated home and ask, “Are you ready to see your fixer-upper?” Yes, yes I am!
I’m equally eager to see how that young couple with a beach house dream and a bungalow budget navigates their journey, or if that large family can rekindle their love for their home after a total remodel with clever storage solutions. What about that adorable retired couple from Indiana ready to ditch it all for a new life in Malta? Can they truly thrive in a mere 400 square feet? (And if you ever want your own space to feel enormous, just watch a few episodes of House Hunters International; you’ll end up appreciating your dishwasher and clothes dryer like never before.)
I adore every single show! The demolition days, the budget-friendly makeovers, the Property Brothers transforming chaos into enchanting homes! But there’s a significant downside to my HGTV obsession: it often makes me resent my own living space. After one particularly indulgent binge, I found myself seated at my kitchen table, surveying my surroundings. Everything I saw felt wrong, outdated, or just plain broken. The spot where a child had ripped off the wallpaper made me cringe. I felt frustration over that missing trim on the island that I’ve nudged my partner about for five long years. The chipped tile, loose drawer pulls, and outdated cabinet doors just added to the list.
If only I could improve this! Redo that! Tear down that wall! Paint! Strip! Replace! Then I’d be happy!
A few days later, during a rare family TV moment, we stumbled upon an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters. We watched a lovely couple with two young kids tour a sprawling 5,000-square-foot home, complaining about the space. I sighed, “Look at all that room! Imagine what I could do with a game room and a spacious laundry room!”
My 17-year-old chimed in, “But then we wouldn’t be together like this. Who wants that?” I was taken aback. It felt like a reality check from my teenager. All those hours of watching home improvement shows had conditioned me to believe that bigger and newer equated to better. Sure, I’d love for the stars of Fixer Upper to work their magic on my worn-out, kid-torn abode, but do I need it for my happiness? Absolutely not.
When my family gathers around the dinner table, they’re not focused on the chipped floor or the torn wallpaper. They are looking at each other, at me, their dad, and their brothers. That’s all they truly need, and frankly, that’s all I need too.
Am I ready to break my HGTV habit? Probably not. I mean, who doesn’t fantasize about smashing that soap-scum-covered bathroom tile? But I certainly need to check my ungratefulness at the door.
For now, I choose to embrace and cherish my imperfect home because it shelters and nurtures some truly amazing kids. What more could I ask for? Okay, fine, maybe a mudroom—but only if it’s adorned with shiplap.
If you want to dive deeper into this topic, check out this insightful blog post that explores similar themes. And if you’re on the journey to parenthood, consider visiting Make A Mom for top-notch at-home insemination kits. For more resources on pregnancy and home insemination, Kindbody is an excellent place to start.
Summary
In this reflection on my love-hate relationship with HGTV, I explore the emotional pull of home improvement shows and their impact on my perception of my own home. While I appreciate the creativity and transformations showcased, I realize that true happiness doesn’t stem from a perfect living space but from the connections made within it. Ultimately, I choose to embrace my home, imperfections and all, as it serves as the backdrop for a loving family life.
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