MICKI BARE Advertisement

Arising at the same time each morning and heading out to an office used to be my daily routine. It didn't matter if it was November, April or July -- the routine was pretty much the same.

So when back-to-school time arrived, I empathized with my children, bought lots of new supplies and began to set my alarm clock to buzz a few minutes earlier so I'd have time to put out a family breakfast and drop off kids at various schools on my way to work.

But this year, because of a rather bold career change, I now have a new perspective on the back-to-school season. During late spring, I made the leap from employee of a company to self-employed. I already had a fully loaded home office, so, armed with business experience, a Chamber of Commerce membership and lots of ambition, I jumped ship and settled into the next phase of my career.

Then school dismissed for the summer.

I do love my children with all my heart. However, trying to knock tasks off my to-do list with constant interruptions is the biggest challenge I have encountered since becoming self-employed. I'm not sure why I thought I could work during the day and relax at night the way I did when I was part of the cubicle workforce.

In reality, 30 percent of each weekday during summer vacation was spent answering questions: So, do we have any cereal left? Where are the clean socks? Can we go to the store so I can spend my birthday money? What's for lunch? Can I use your computer? Can you fix this? Can I go to my friend's house for a couple of hours? Can I have a snack before supper?

The flexibility of self-employment is wonderful. But during the summer months, my precious children took full advantage of the fact that if I didn't get the article, commentary or workshop preparations done during the afternoon when everyone needed this or that, I could always finish up later in the evening.

What we have all come to realize is that I can be rather sluggish after clearing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. And do not give me a cup of herbal tea to get my evening juices flowing at the keyboard. That soothing, raspberry cup of warmth will only relax me into a comfortable state of lethargy, from which absolutely no creative work can be achieved.

I do admit that one of the deciding factors for making the career change was the flexibility that would enable me to better meet the needs of my family. But it was, nonetheless, eye-opening to learn of the many, many needs of my family. Or maybe they've been need-deprived in the past and are making up for lost time.

I can set my watch by my youngest child's new twice daily routine of flopping down in front of my desk to complain that he is bored and needs someone with whom to play. The implication being that "someone" is me.

When the tax-free holiday rolled around, I started fantasizing about the children being in school all day. Each notebook and pencil I purchased had me glowing with anticipation of a quiet house in which I could concentrate and be productive.

Now that the first day is within reach, I actually dream of the wide open spaces of a house devoid of children for six consecutive hours. In my dream, I complete phone interviews and Internet research, and then finish a rough draft of a brilliant article before heading to the kitchen to refill my morning coffee.

Then, I float back to my home office without anyone stopping me for permission to play video games or help make a sandwich. The dream ends with me completing my work in time to start a big, nutritious, homemade supper.

But alas, I wake to find my children notifying me that we are nearly out of milk. I put on some coffee and explain that I can stop by the store on my way back from the post office. They beg to tag along and stop at the video game store. I make them a deal -- if I finish my column by lunch, we will all go to the mall, the post office and the grocery store.

But we will also pick up the last of the school supplies needed to complete their lists. I'm practically giggling as I mention the last stop. They all retreat to their rooms, ignoring the fact that summer vacation is nearing an end.

Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her e-mail address is mickibare@earthlink.net.