Had I realized earlier yesterday that today was going to be a snow day, I would have done a few things differently. I would have showered, for example, and bought more toilet paper. I would have reminded John to bring his snow boots home from school. And I would have hired a live-in nanny.

Sadly, I did none of those things.

Now John and I are here for the day and I have a ton of work to do. John would happily entertain himself by playing on the computer all day, but then I would feel even more guilty about working than I usually do. In an earnest effort to make sure he has a nice day AND I get my proposal written at work, we collaborated on the schedule above. I wrote down everything I could think of that John could do during the day (without too much help from me) and John arranged them on the schedule. It kicks in at 8:30. I hope this works!

P.S. One of the bad things about working from home is that you never get a snow day. Your commute is not going to be treacherous. Drifts aren’t going to pile up in your hallway and block your office doors.

P.P.S. I think by now it goes without saying that I could do without a snowstorm in later March. I know it’s Vermont. I don’t care.