Home Maintenance 101
5 Essential Tools Every Solo Mom Needs in Her Kit
Look, I know how it goes. You hear a weird creak in the hallway or see a loose cabinet door, and your first instinct is to pull out your phone, scroll through your contacts, and realize… sigh.
Whether you’re divorced, widowed, or doing this single and fabulously, there’s that moment where you realize the “Man of the House” is actually a woman in a silk bonnet with a lot on her plate.
But here’s the deal: waiting on a handyman to show up (three hours late) just to charge you $150 to tighten a few screws is not the move for 2026. We are grown and we are not letting a loose curtain rod defeat us.
Grab your coffee (or your wine, no judgment), and let’s talk about the five tools you need to keep in your “Mama’s Only” stash.
1. The Cordless Power Drill (The “I’m That Woman” Tool)
If you’re still trying to put together furniture with those tiny L-shaped wrenches that come in the box, please stop. Your hands deserve better. A power drill is the ultimate “I got this” energy.
* The Real Tea: You aren’t building a deck; you’re hanging a heavy-ass mirror or fixing a wobbly shelf. So relax. Take your time.
*Mom Tip: Get one that isn’t heavy enough to strain your wrist, but has enough kick to get the job done.
2. A Digital Stud Finder (Because “Tapping the Wall” is a Lie)
I don’t care what your uncle told you—you cannot tell where the wooden beam is by knocking on the drywall and “listening.” All you’re going to end up with is a wall full of holes and a bruised knuckle.
* The Real Tea: It beeps when it finds the wood. It’s foolproof. No guessing games, no falling mirrors, no drama.
* Mom Tip: If you’re hanging something that weighs more than a family photo, you need to find a stud.
3. A Real Hammer (Not the One from the Junk Drawer)
You need a hammer with some actual weight to it. Not that little plastic-handled one you’ve had since college.
* The Real Tea: A 16oz claw hammer is the sweet spot. It’s heavy enough to drive a nail in three hits, but the “claw” end is there for when you inevitably mess up and need to pull that nail back out.
* Mom Tip: Hold it at the base of the handle. Stop choking up on it like you’re scared of it!
4. The 25-Foot Tape Measure (The Truth-Teller)
Stop “eyeballing” things. “I think it’ll fit” is how we end up with a sectional sofa blocking the front door.
* The Real Tea: You need a tape measure that stays stiff when you pull it out so you don’t need a second person to hold the other end.
*Mom Tip: Measure the space, measure the furniture, and then measure it one more time for the people in the back.
5. A Multi-Bit Screwdriver
This is for the “little things”—the loose doorknob, the battery cover on your kid’s loudest toy, the light switch plate that’s crooked.
* The Real Tea: Get the kind where the bits (the different heads) stay inside the handle. Because if they’re loose in a bag, you will lose them. Ask me how I know
*Mom Tip: Keep this in your kitchen drawer. It’s the “Swiss Army Knife” of being a solo homeowner.
Why This Matters
Listen, mastering these tools isn’t about being “handy”—it’s about being the CEO of your sanctuary. There is a specific kind of glow-up and pride that happens when you fix something yourself. You stand a little taller, and your kids see that Mama isn’t waiting on a “save.” She is the save.
Now, tell me: what’s that one project you’ve been putting off because you didn’t have the tools? Let’s talk about it in the comments.