I have gotten so many good laughs out of this thread.
I have a DH who thinks like this too. He isn't an engineer although he does actually want to get an engineering degree. I just can't remember which one. What he does do is own a Construction/Oilfield Health and Safety Training company.
DS (6yo) had a homework assignment over the weekend. DH is out of town but wanted to help with this one over the phone. DS had a space of about 4" square on a piece of paper to do up a map of the family's fire escape plan. DH's "plan" for him would have needed a many multi-page flip chart and a scaled break apart version of our home. It included ways to get out of our house from every point of the house, first aid plans, fire extinguishers, checks at different times to prevent fires, fire extinguisher checks, definitions of different types of fire extinguishers, first aid lessons.... I could go on but all of you get the point I am sure.
I was laughing so hard but had to stop him and remind him that the boy is in only in grade one and this is the amount of space the child has. We did get the homework done, DH did get to help and I managed to keep DH from overwhelming the poor child.
It's just the way their minds work but they do mean well and you just gotta love 'em. Oh, and I have been waiting two years now for my ironing board "extension". I built the kids play structure last year almost by myself. I just couldn't get the A-frame portion up at the end by myself cause it was just too heavy for me to do alone. I think the ironing board thing might be on the list for me to do myself next week since this thread has reminded me again.
Tara