By Community Affairs

Back to School

Aug 29, 2011 | 9:47 AM

So, that’s it.

I have just sent my baby out to go to school every day, all day and I have to admit that as I walk back into a very quiet house, I shed more than a couple tears.

I didn’t think I would. My son has been to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten and I am glad he is going to school. There, he will be entertained, be with his friends and, of course, learn. I am looking forward to being able to focus on my work.

But … still the tears have flowed and my heart is broken. I know I am not the only one.

It is because of what this day really means.

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It means that our children are not babies any more. It means that they won’t be our responsibility alone any more. It means they are one more step closer to being grown up and leaving us all together.

For parents it means we have to figure out what to do now with our own lives.

Of course, many parents work full-time so this aspect of children going to school in the beginning years may not be as life changing. But for parents who work from home, such as myself, this rocks our world.

Liam has been the centre of my universe for six years. During that time I have worked from home reporting, writing, laying out, printing, delivering … my own newspaper. In the last year, I have also been editor for paNOW.com’s Community Group section – a job I have also done primarily from home thanks to the forward thinking Rawlco Radio management (to whom I thank).

And during this time, I have been able to do my work well while rocking a baby, watching him learn to crawl, learn to walk, learn to eat with a spoon. I have been here, working and picking him up when he fell, and cooking his meals. I have intermingled my work with potty training and learning to walk and going outside to play.

AND I have done my work during endless bouts of, “Mommy I’m borrrreeeeeddddd.”

Two hundred thousand times, I have said, “Honey, just give me a second to get this done.”

But now the house is empty and I can hear the clock ticking. There is no one to interrupt me as I write this column, the first thing I am doing with my … freedom.

It’s not like I don’t have things to do.

I can do my work much more easily now. I used to be an artist – a fairly good one and painting was my life. I haven’t painted or even drawn a real picture in years. I can spend more time talking uninterrupted to my contacts in the community groups. I can maybe expand my paper. I can do more writing. I have boards I have joined which I can focus more on now. I am coordinating the Evergreen Artisan Show. I have friends whom I haven’t seen in years. I would like to go to a restaurant that doesn’t include a toy with the meal.

This is good. Change is good. Liam is ecstatic and I AM looking forward to what this next phase of my life has to offer for both of us.

Still, the clock’s ticking is so loud this morning.

Have a good week everyone. Remember that not only school is starting but many of the activities for kids are starting as well. Go through the 267 Community Groups in Community Group News to find something for your children … or if your nest is suddenly empty … to find a new challenge for yourself.