Totally get that. It's like every 'easy' kit ends up wasting your time when parts are missing, same with stuff like bike repair sets.

Man, my buddy bought a used PC once and found something real bad on it.

Sounds like normal family stuff getting over analyzed. Kids doing chores after school is pretty standard, not some deep relationship killer. My nephew grumbles about taking out the trash but we're still tight. Maybe the issue is something else, like not getting enough free time together on weekends. Chances are this is just temporary teenage moodiness, not a real bond breaker.

That window seat story is HEARTWARMING stuff. It's amazing how these little handmade projects can mean SO much more than anything bought from a store. You see this a lot now, people putting real time into creating things for loved ones instead of just swiping a card. That personal touch builds memories that last way longer than the stuff itself. Plus, working together on something tangible just feels more REAL than most things we do these days.