When I found myself sitting in my backyard with my phone in hand and a wrench resting on the grass, I knew I was ready to tackle a challenge. I could have called for help, but instead, I was determined to fix our leaky outdoor faucet myself. My secret weapon? YouTube.
After my divorce, my priority was to maintain stability for my children. This meant keeping them in the home they had always known. However, in my eagerness to secure the house, I hadn’t fully grasped the responsibilities that came with owning a nearly century-old property on my own. While I had always considered myself capable, the reality was that I had lived with my parents until college and then transitioned to rented apartments. When something broke, we simply called maintenance.
With the flurry of legalities behind me, I took ownership of the charming old house that my children adored. As spring arrived, I realized my kids were eager to enjoy their wading pool, but our only outdoor faucet had been leaking, forcing me to turn off the water supply the previous fall. It was time for action.
“Just hire a plumber,” my dad suggested kindly. But after being charged $150 for an electrician to flip a fuse, I was reluctant to call in a professional for a dripping faucet. Instead, I turned to the same platform my kids often used to watch toy unboxings: YouTube. Surely, there were tutorials for fixing a leaky faucet.
I found myself outside, phone propped up on a stone, determined to make the repair. I realized I didn’t need a partner; I had an entire community of knowledgeable individuals at my fingertips. If one tutorial didn’t resonate, I simply clicked to the next until I found a voice that made sense to me. Why hadn’t I thought of this sooner?
After some searching, I found a video that matched my faucet model, though my tools were limited to a rusty old wrench I unearthed from the depths of a cabinet. The instructor in the video was patient, pausing as needed and adapting his tone to suit my pace. It felt like a perfect mentorship.
Following his guidance, I eventually disassembled the faucet and took the old, rusty part to a plumbing supply store—a real one, not a big-box retailer. I had to Google the location, but once inside, I was met with an abundance of assistance. Several employees helped me identify the right replacement parts, asking questions about my plumbing and even offering their contact information in case I needed further help. I appreciated their kindness, but I felt equipped thanks to my trusty YouTube tutorials.
After a tense moment, I turned the wrench one last time, ventured into the basement, and turned on the main water supply. Racing back outside, I held my breath, gripped the faucet handle, and turned it. Water flowed freely and stopped perfectly when I turned it back off. I couldn’t contain my excitement—I had done it! This small victory symbolized so much more than just fixing a faucet; it proved I could manage this house and my life as a single mom.
That successful repair was only the beginning. Since that day, I’ve utilized YouTube to assemble a gas grill, install storm doors, thaw frozen pipes, and even fix broken windows—tasks I never imagined I could accomplish alone. Now, I have yet another resource to support me in my journey as a single mother.
While having someone to assist with home repairs would be wonderful, I’ve discovered my own capabilities through this experience. I’ve embraced challenges outside my comfort zone, learning that I am more resourceful than I ever believed.
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Summary
Through my journey as a single mom, I discovered the empowering resource that is YouTube. By tackling home repairs, I learned not only to be self-sufficient but also to embrace challenges. This experience has opened doors to newfound confidence and capabilities, proving that I can manage my household independently.
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