That's my mom - the Queen of Makedo (make do). And my grandma, mom's mom? She was the High Queen. These are two of the most resourceful women I've ever met in my life. My grandmother, mom to eight children, learned to make do with almost anything, and often, nearly nothing through the years. My mom inherited her frugal and creative ways to stretch every dollar, pinch every penny and "waste not, want not". She has shoes that are older than me that are still in great condition, and that she still wears. Even the picture above shows two great examples - the shelf is a bit of leftover closet shelving, with a couple pieces of chain attached, and it flips up and stores with a small hook mounted on the fence. Hayden's 'toy' is a super-cheap form of entertainment that has proved more interesting than any store-bought amusement - an empty soda bottle. These women have been my inspiration, and I am proud to be the next in line in the Makedo Dynasty.
I remember there were times growing up that I didn't understand the value of Makedo, and just wanted to "go buy a new (insert object here)". I was, at times, embarrassed that the minivan I learned to drive in had its horn secured in place with green yarn (oh my, you wouldn't believe the places that green yarn showed up throughout my childhood!). Aghast that we had the cheapy $10 payless no-name sneakers instead of the latest, greatest Nikes or Reeboks. Amazed at the broad uses lattice found around our house - everything from babyproofing for the stair rails to doggie gates and headboards. Even then, though, her arguments were faultless - I couldn't justify the extra 50 bucks for a sneaker that looked "cooler", and certainly wasn't going to invest my hard-earned money in a new horn so I didn't have to explain the yarn-draped steering wheel to my questioning friends. And grudgingly, I learned the value of making do, of doing more with less, and of protecting my hard-earned dollars.
Now, as a mother myself, I hope to pass the same resourceful spirit on to my daughter, inspiring the creativity and ingenuity to come up with alternate solutions, instilling the value of a dollar earned, and better, of one saved. I have learned the thrill of finding a way when there isn't one - little things like using sheers designed for a French Door to cover my odd-sized bathroom windows, or giving my 20 year old coffee table a new lease on life with a creatively-pressed tablecloth cover. I am sure that Hayden will inwardly roll her eyes at my bargain finds and Makedo fixes, but I hope that she will one day gain the same appreciation for this wonderful heritage passed down from her mother's mother's mother, and look back and smile at the duct-taped, wired-together, cobbled-up, McGyver-style answers to every day problems.
Long live the Queen!
