By The Way...

Tuesday, December 20, 2005
4:14:00 PM EST
Hearing From Which I Came/A Magic World -- Eels
Boy, oh, boy, does this article peg the life of a stay-at-home worker:

John Higgins's workday is filled with constant interruptions. That's because the packaging-company executive usually works from a home office, where his "co-workers" include his wife, Kelly, his four-year-old son, Jack, and his five-month-old black Labrador, Plato. One recent morning, the pup got hold of a roll of toilet paper and minced it into many, many pieces. Mr. Higgins, who is his own workplace janitorial service, had to clean up the mess.

But that wasn't the last diversion during our 40-minute phone conversation. Mr. Higgins was interrupted a total of four times if you count the time he heard his son's voice coming closer and feared the boy would barge in, as he usually does, with his latest action figure. "Uh-oh, here we go," said Mr. Higgins in a hushed tone. "Here he comes." (False alarm: The boy went into the garage.)

His wife did come in several times, though, first to chat, then to ask who was on the phone, and then again because Mr. Higgins was supposed to be watching Plato, who had subsequently shredded a bag of sheet moss. Ms. Higgins was apparently as unhappy about her husband not supervising the dog as she was the day before when he had to stop stringing Christmas lights because a client phoned.

People think I'm lucky because I work from home. Well, in many ways this is true, of course. The commute in particular is pretty nice. But in many ways it's a lot tougher to get work done at home than at a place of work. Like the fellow in this article, I have constant interruptions, ranging from cats wanting to be petted to Athena demanding attention -- in fact as I was typing those very words, Athena walked into the room and asked, winsomely, "will you play with me now -- pleeeeeeease?" Say what you will about working in an office, you generally don't have your kids standing right there, guilting you out about not being amusing for them.

Would I trade the home office life? Probably not; I've been doing this for coming on eight years now, and I frankly wonder if I would be fit for an office environment anymore. But I don't want every one to think my life consists of lounging about in a bathrobe, eating bon-bons and goofing off all day. I do actually do work around here. If I don't, the house will go away. Stupid morgage holders.


Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this

This entry has 8 comments: (Add your own)

• #8 Comment from ryanagi 
  12/22/05 12:48 PM | Permalink

  My husband telecommutes several days a week, but the spare bedroom is rather like Superman's fortress of solitude. We were told to pretend he isn't here. When he is at work, he is at work (whether here or there). He does leave his fortress a few times during the day, other than for a call of nature. He spends his lunch hour visting with us and takes a couple breaks to play video games with the son. LOL But we respect the "in the office" boundary and leave him alone. Mostly. I have been known to stick my nose in there to ask what he wants for dinner. And my son does go knocking at least once a day to request a hug. Other than that, we leave him alone to get his work done.
• #7 Comment from monponsett 
  12/21/05 2:38 PM | Permalink

  Once you get the pattern down, my house is quite ordered.
• #6 Comment from lurkynat 
  12/21/05 1:52 PM | Permalink

  Dear John,
  (((Athena)))) I think you are so fortunate to have Krissy, your Muse, then Athena, a totally different muse/explorer in tow!!!!! Youare writing so well we are all impressed!hugs, nat
  ps Atleast things at not out of hand like at Smurfettes' house (waves at Mon..) lol
  hugs,nat
• #5 Comment from teeisme57 
  12/20/05 8:46 PM | Permalink

  What I'd like to know is, what you did to get the Witness Protection Program to give you this new life in East Gabip, Ohio as a science fiction writer. It's a really cool cover.
• #4 Comment from coelha 
  12/20/05 6:28 PM | Permalink

  I can only imagine how hard it is.  Sometimes, it feels like going to work is a break from the REAL job I have at home.  I'm sure your family appreciates it though--especially your daughter.  She is a very lucky little girl!  Julie

Show all comments (3 more)