Couple Builds ‘Mini Version’ Of Their Home For Their Kids!

When the Kangleons’ eldest child Khaela was five years old, she asked her parents for a mini playhouse. They started planning the project but when Typhoon Yolanda hit Ormoc in 2013, they had to postpone it indefinitely.

“The typhoon destroyed our house and almost all of our belongings. It took us years to financially recover and rebuild our home. Given this, the playhouse just remained a wishful thinking,” shares Khaela’s mom, Ishsha, in an interview with SmartParenting.com.ph.

As the family picked up the pieces, the playhouse took the backseat. It was only at the height of the pandemic when the idea came up again. “Almost all of us thought it would only last for a few months, but when half a year passed and things weren’t getting better, we eventually realized the virus is here to stay longer,” relates the mom of three.

Khaela who is now 13 years old and her brothers Juan, 12, and Iago, 3, had to adjust to the situation, especially Juan who has Down Syndrome. “He was used to a week full of activities in school, playing, and therapies. We had to think of fun and productive ways to keep him preoccupied at home,” Ishsha explains.

Revisiting the idea of a playhouse meant scrapping the original design they thought of and coming up with a spacious treehouse and study fort where all three kids can have a good time. After collating photos from Pinterest, Ishsha came up with a final design that brings together the ideas she liked best from each peg. She also made sure to design the treehouse to look like their country-inspired home.

Making a dream treehouse a reality

It took a month to build treehouse where the Kangleon family can pass the time and play together. The family spent around P28,000 to finish the project which covered the wood, roof, paint job, labor, and miscellaneous materials. More than half of the wood used in the playhouse were excess materials from other projects so they were able to save money.

“The grandparents from both sides gave an ample amount of cash as well as materials as love gifts. When they learned that we were building a treehouse for the kids, they were excited for the project. Because of them, we saved a fortune in building it and for that we are very grateful,” adds Ishsha.

“The kids love to play, climb, eat, sleep, read, write, and draw in the treehouse. Sometimes, they do nothing and simply enjoy the view from the top,” Ishsha says.

Aside from playing and studying in the treehouse, the kids also love using the space to bond with pets and animals. According to Ishsha, the family naturally raises chickens and ducks for consumption while they have rabbits, a sheep, and a horse for pets.

 

With its maaliwalas and inviting feel, it’s not surprising that the kids, Ishsha, and her husband, Pert, love hanging out in the treehouse most of the time. Pushing through with the project and making the treehouse a reality didn’t just prevent the kids from getting cooped up at home, it will also give them precious memories to look back on.

“I love that we’re able to give our kids a ‘second home,’ a place where they can freely have fun and be able to enjoy their moments just being kids,” Ishsha shares. “When they grow older, their treehouse will become a conversation piece about their childhood days and it will be forever etched in their hearts,” she adds.

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