Reading Discussion
Tim Gunn Essay
The essay is a story about a new mum who had her house repaired after some leakages. She describes how the repair crew came and worked for days beginning six in the morning. She laments how the noise and the dust that came from the construction work made her child uncomfortable and unable to sleep. She was a new mother and did not have the experience of dealing with the challenges of that nature. Besides, it was a hot summer, and the temperatures were making the situation direr. She passed the time by watching TV, where she got encouragement to face her challenges with confidence. Her attitude towards the situation changed and started to change her attitude. For instance, she notes on page two that “parenting is about accessing challenges and transforming them into something manageable.” For that reason, she became creative, for example, by having her family eat on paper plates to avoid making the dishes dirty. She began getting solutions for the challenges that she was encountering during the repair period. She made the nursery floor her temporary bed owing to the hardships of sleeping in the bedroom. She also gave up the guilt she had about ordering take-outs. The challenges she faced in the absence of her husband hardened her, and she became more ready for parenthood.
The story is a clear picture of how young mothers face enormous challenges as they learn the art of parenthood. The story reveals the diverse nature of the problems faced by young mothers across the world. As they prepare for parenthood, they expect a life with minimal challenges and a new happiness. The reality, though, always brings new shocks. Even in places where there are no challenges as the ones faced by the mother in the story, others come up. Potential parents must brace themselves for a wide range of challenges that come with little children (Saleem, 2019).
Nonetheless, the story is an encouragement that no matter the challenges that young mothers face, they can still come out victorious. Amidst the problems, the lady finds the requisite confidence and attitude to find solutions. She realizes that being a parent requires continuously managing challenging situations and making them work. She embodies hope and reassurance to young parents about overcoming trials brought about by the responsibilities.
In the end, the story leaves readers with the curiosity of whether she was able to put up with the inconveniences created the newly suggested works. The author does not give closure to the story but leaves the audience hanging. It is disappointing to imagine the lady will undergo another period of construction after the previous one was deemed faulty. The author does not reveal the exact position of the lady on having construction works ongoing. It is the use of imagery to show how challenges can sometimes be extended. It is a message that parenting challenges are long-term in nature. It requires persistence and an attitude of not giving up. Raising a child to maturity takes a long time, and if parents lose hope, they may fail to achieve their goals (Saleem, 2019). For instance, just when the lady in the story thought that she would get back to normal life, she was informed that new work was required. Such is the nature of parenthood. After managing to overcome an individual predicament, a new one emerges. From the perspective of the audience, the author perfectly manages to trigger inquisitiveness on what happened.
References
Saleem, S. (2019). Modern challenges to parenting: Reflections of a concerned parent. Independently Published.
Tim Gunn Essay. (n.d.).