A couple’s way of involving their toddler in their complicated home renovation has been cheered by viewers online.
Bella, 2, has been hailed as an “independent DIY queen” thanks to her parents, after going viral for enthusiastically helping her mom and dad with the renovation of their new home. The clip, which has over 7.1 million views and has been liked more than 270,000 times, has struck a chord with audiences and garnered widespread applause.
Viewers were able to see Bella actively participating in the remodeling of her family’s home in Wrexham, Wales, which they had picked up the keys for in August 2023. The energetic toddler was filmed running towards a DIY store and even learning how to place a drill against a wall, all under her father’s watchful eyes. An overlaid text on the video read: “When you want your daughter to grow up to be a strong, independent DIY queen. So you teach her young.”
“Renovating with a child has been tough, and we wanted to show the reality of that on social media,” Bella’s mom, Lydia Mitchell, told Newsweek.
@mitchellsathome
Despite keeping Bella at her grandparents’ home for the bulk of the project, to ensure her safety while spending time on the renovation, the 30-year-old says that her daughter loves getting stuck into the project when she is allowed.
“She loves getting involved in all jobs around the house. It’s in her nature to help out,” Mitchell, who manages the couple’s Instagram account @mitchellsathome, said.
Whenever possible, Bella participates in the renovation activities, learning to use basic tools and, more importantly, spending quality time with her father, Jamie, who is taking on the majority of the work required to transform the property.
For the past 12 months, the family have been embarking on a comprehensive renovation of their new home. Documenting their DIY endeavors on social media since April, their aim is to inspire others to see the possibilities of home improvement without a hefty budget.
The reality involved making significant adjustments, including moving in with Mitchell’s parents while the initial renovation work was underway.
“Jamie spent nearly all of his spare time renovating, while I took care of everything at home. This has been especially tough for Bella, who misses her daddy,” Mitchell said.
Despite the challenges, the family’s project brought an unexpected bonus: the strengthening of Bella and Jamie’s father-daughter bond.
The sentimental value of their new home only adds to the couple’s motivation to restore it. The house, built in the early 1970s by a former councilor, held many precious memories for its previous owners, something the family deeply respects.
“The happy memories they had here made us even more passionate about turning it into something extra special for its next lease of life,” Mitchell said.
‘My Dad Did This’
The overwhelmingly positive response to their video has been a pleasant surprise for the couple, who are fairly new to sharing their lives online.
“I wasn’t quite expecting the reel to reach so many people and get the reaction it did. It’s been viewed over 7 million times so far,” Mitchell said.
The video has resonated with countless viewers, many of whom have shared their own stories about the value of learning practical skills from a young age.
“My dad did this. I’m an architect now,” one viewer commented.
Another added: “My dad did that to my daughter from age 3. She’s now graduating with her BSc in Biomedical Engineering.”
Mitchell’s objective in documenting and sharing these moments is to instill a similar confidence and self-reliance in her daughter.
“I wanted to show how we’re raising her to be fearless when it comes to taking on the stereotypical ‘men’s’ jobs,” she said.
The couple’s goal is for Bella to grow up knowing she can be independent, strong, and capable, without any reliance on others.
“I hope our daughter sees the value in these skills one day,” she added.
The mother of one is a staunch believer in the idea that anyone, regardless of gender or background, can achieve their goals if they have the right skills and determination.
“I want Bella to grow up and know she can be anything and achieve anything, without any stigma,” she said.
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