What's Mine is Yours

While at my grandmother's house, I found my old tea table and chairs from my bedroom when I was a little girl.  My other grandmother had bought them for me when my brother was born.  I remember going to the store with her and finding them.  It was my "big sister" present, and I really don't think she could have gotten me something more special.  Countless hours were spent at this table doing crafts, hosting tea parties with both friends and dolls, reading books, playing games, and being a little girl.  Out of everything in my room from when I was little, it was this set that meant the most to me.  As I grew up, I outgrew (both physically and mentally) the tea table and chairs.  When we sold our house, they got sent to my grandmother's basement.  

Now that I have a little one, it was time to bring them home again.

After spending at least the last decade in her basement, to simply say they were disgusting is an understatement.  They were covered in mold and a fungus was growing on the bottom of one of the chairs.  This is in addition to the years of wear they showed from my loving use.  They were scuffed up, stained, chipped, and even cracked.  

They were not beyond hope though!  I have never done a "painting project" before because I am not artistic.  I am crafty with things that include paper and glue (thanks to being a kindergarten teacher), but major projects do not typically call my name.  And this was, for me, a major project.

 So, I started with something I'm good at: Cleaning.  I got out a bucket, a sponge, a jug of Clorox, and the hose.  I gave it two bleach baths.  Next came the first of four trips to Home Depot.  I picked out my paint and materials.  After roughing up the surface with something (I don't remember the name) that took off the shine and made the surface not-as-smooth, it was painting time!  I sprayed the chairs and legs of the table a creamy white color, rather than the bright white they had been.  It took 5-6 coats for me to be satisfied.  I painted the top of the table with chalkboard paint so that Coop and I could draw pictures right on it.  That took 4-5 coats.  The whole thing took a whole week.  It would have taken a normal person maybe 3 days, and that would mostly be because of the wait time between the coatings of chalkboard paint.  Nevertheless, it's done, and I have great expectations for its future.

 I did it for myself just as much as for my little boy.  I did it for the projects we will complete at it and the games we will play on it.  I did it because it was special to me, and although I highly doubt it will ever be special to him, I do hope the memories will be.  And maybe, maybe, one day a little girl will be added to our family, and she and I will have tea parties at it.

Little Man took an immediate liking to it and has spent more time at it already than I thought he would.  He even christened the chalkboard top by drawing on it with his crayons! :)