By Marcia Barnes
Feature Writer
When Karen Scarbrough moved from her native home in Sarasota, Fla. to settle in the mountains six years ago, Scarbrough was unaware she would be living in a community that was a perfect fit. At the time, her husband had a job and their daughters Aubrey and Shelby were young and easily made new friends.
Scarbrough was starting all over again in her work life. She had been employed by two doctors in Sarasota and tasked with being a full-time nanny for two girls. She said both parents were so busy that even after their daughters went off to college they asked her to stay on and her duties changed.
“When my job was being a nanny, there were many responsibilities. I took the girls swimming, grocery shopped, fixed dinner, I even took one for her driver’s license test. I gave her driving lessons and that was sometimes startling.
“I was fortunate. Of course there were expectations, but we flowed and from 2002 until 2017, I had that connection with the family and the relationship grew.
“Now, being a mom is my biggest job,” Scarbrough said. “Them,” she said pointing to daughters, Aubrey and Shelby. “That’s the why, the why you do the other jobs. I am the oldest of six, it comes somewhat naturally.”
The other jobs are varied. Scarbrough’s work life is interesting, her jobs have different assignments, they all carry a lot of responsibility.
When the compass pointed north toward western Carolina, Scarbrough found work at the Hayesville Primary School as a substitute teacher. That became her second biggest job.
“My background is Early Childhood Education and I enjoy working with Pre-K and kindergarten children,” Scarbrough said.
She began substitute teaching in November 2020 and worked through to June 2021. Scarbrough said that she was surprised to see teachers working other jobs, like teachers driving school buses.
Scarbrough fit right in to a community where men and women work multiple jobs. She became the housekeeper for the Mountain Harbour clubhouse. “I’m the only one,” she said. “The restaurant and grill take care of their needs though,” she added.
The large clubhouse shines. Scarbrough keeps it that way from the banquet room where ladies play cards three days a week all the way to the workout area and locker rooms.
Then, there is the job of dog sitting. Scarborough laughed and said, “People will say, ‘Oh, dog sitting, that’s so easy, that’s just so fun.’
“I look at it that it’s their dog, sometimes the equivalent of their child. That’s a big responsibility. I always put them on a leash.”
At home at the end of the day, there’s laundry, cooking, driving the girls to sports, grocery shopping and the list of things needed around the house to keep it all going.
Scarbrough said, “You have your hard days always, but as you learn and grow and the years go by you handle it in a better way when challenges come up.”