When William was two, he was charming, smiley little boy. When he was five, he started anti-seizure medication, and for several years, that smiling sweet boy disappeared. Enter the era of dry wall patching, shattered window replacing, and forced inventiveness. Here’s what we did to preserve our sanity and bank balance.

• Best fix for window coverings: curtains hung with 1 inch or bigger closet dowel or 1/2 inch iron rod, attached to wall studs with ceiling flanges, threaded metal rods, and pipe clamps.

• Quickest fix for window damage prevention: board over inside of window.

• Best fix for window damage prevention: inside window shutters. Here’s how we built ours.

• Quickest fix for dry wall damage prevention: Board over exposed wall.

• Best long term fix for dry wall damage prevention: DIY wall paneling from MDF.

• Best long term fix to make kitchen chairs rock proof: solidly built chairs, reinforced with hardware.

• Best short term fix to prevent kitchen chairs: Mat or pillow on floor.

• Best flooring for playroom: gym mat flooring.

• Best flooring for house: vinyl plank.

• Best material for upholstery: vinyl.

• Best way to cover light switch

• electrical plug metal cover

• reinforcing door, frames

• posters on ceiling

• screwing trophies onto shelf

• door locks

• cupboard locks

• shower curtain