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Sleeping in kitchoffice evokes sweet dreams Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 By Micki Bare Historically, back to school equated with restoration of routine and nerve-calming order to our household. After a long summer lacking rigid schedules, during which no two weeks resemble each other in regards to where we are or what we're doing, it's nice to know where everyone has to be each day, week after week, for the better part of the next 10 months. But school already began, and we are nowhere close to a normal routine. As a matter of fact, Hubby and I are currently, temporarily bedroom-less. Our dream was to add some new space and renovate some old space to accommodate our family's ever growing needs. The construction began just before school dismissed for summer. We naively expected it all to be done by the end of summer vacation. We are nearing completion, which if you have ever had renovations done, means the forest just got darker, as they say it does before it gets lighter. Don't get me wrong - the guys working on the house are doing a super job, and our contractor is the best. The reason Hubby and I are currently bedroom-less is because we'll have a new master bedroom in the addition. However, the renovations in the existing house are to convert our old master bedroom into a smaller bedroom and hallway. Everything in our old bedroom, with a few minor exceptions that are shoved up against the far wall, has been moved out. My old "office" was located in a corner of our old bedroom. I now work out of the kitchen and living room. I'm not exactly sure how all my office stuff fit in one corner, as it now seems to take up all of the dining area in the kitchen AND about a third of the living room. My dresser was relocated to my oldest son's room. There's nothing like being 16 and having your mother's clothes in the only private space you have on the planet. If this situation doesn't motivate my child to get into a good college, somewhere far away from his parents, I don't know what will. At least he's making good use of the mirror attached to my dresser - even if he doesn't want to admit he likes that part of the arrangement. Hubby's chest of drawers is the new hangout for our cable and wireless routers and the answering machine. It is draped with sheets against the far wall in our old bedroom. At least the boys don't have to see HIM putting his underwear away. Of course, most of his shorts are lightly coated with drywall and saw dust. At least we still have our dressers - the bed had to be disassembled over a week ago. The boys' rooms are packed, the living room and kitchen are crammed, and we have no bed. But we are thrilled at the prospect of the eventual completion of our new addition and renovations. In that light, we happily push whatever we can out of the way at the end of the day. We push aside couches and tables, filing cabinets and desks, boxes and bags, and then set up our portable air mattress. Then we set the alarm for 5:30 a.m. - and by we I mean Hubby - so that the air mattress can be packed up and the clutter rearranged to make room for breakfast. All of our meals are now served buffet style from the counter. Everyone eats in the living room. Of course, when we are in the kitchen preparing food or filling our plates, the dog and cats have to be in the living room. When we are in the living room eating, the dog and cats must relocate to the kitchen. Around 4 p.m., our boys arrive home from school. Homework is completed swiftly so they can head outside until they have to return for dinner. Then they are back out until it's time to get ready for bed. In consideration of our temporary lack of interior space, I am a huge supporter of daylight savings time. At some point, probably in 2008, the construction will be complete. Hubby and I will move into our new bedroom. All of my office stuff will be arranged neatly in my new office. My children will have plenty of personal space in their own rooms. We will be able to open the French doors in the kitchen and step out onto our new deck. These are the thoughts that get me through. When I drift to sleep each night, in the kitchen or living room, I dream of waking up in our new space and getting into a regular routine like regular people during a regular school year. Until then, I will make the most of my kitchoffice, which opens up into our living/study/bedroom suite. I will do my best to appreciate that no one else I know can file paperwork, write a column, make supper, watch the news, check e-mail, supervise homework and snuggle into bed with a good book without having to take more than two steps in any direction. ------- 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@inspiredscribe.com. |
