Lessons from A 50yo. Home 1.Communication

The definition of communication is "the imparting or exchanging of information." In most cases, communication in the home is through speaking. And we can't and won't do that unless we can see or be near one another.

My Mum & Dad’s home of 'enough-ness' meant that passing one another frequently was inevitable and made communication frequent and easy. And even when no words were exchanged, a ruffle on the head or a quick rub on the arm communicated a presence and care perhaps even better than words could have.

As a mum, I've noticed that one time my daughters open up most is when we're driving in the car. Have you experienced that too? The forced proximity and a general slowing of our hectic life pace evoke a releasing of thoughts and emotions that could otherwise be missed.

And I reckon our homes have this same ability, although on a larger scale. I think it’s certainly true of my parents’ home which was smaller, simpler, and with fewer amenities than today’s norm. 

But it was the sharing of spaces and objects that created an invaluable opportunity for easy communication- And communication is a bloody valuable life skill. 

Next week, we'll explore another Lesson 2. Negotiation.

Because communicating your wants and needs is one thing, but negotiating the outcome is a whole different ball game.

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PS. This week Lindsay & Peter learnt that the additions they had envisaged for their home were potentially going to cost $200k more than they’d anticipated. But by re-considering how to best utilise the spaces in the existing home, we were able to reduce their potential investment significantly without reducing amenity- Win-win! Are you considering renovating or extending? Book a Discovery Call and tell me all about it.