“Sweetie!”
“Yes?”
“Free Coldplay CD today.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks, hun. I’ll check it out.”
Twenty minutes later.
“CHARLOTTE??”
“Yes, Bryan.” (!!!)
“Tea is whistling!”
This is the true story (TRUE STOR-EEE!) of two highly frazzled people stuck at home on a snow day. It’s kind of like The Real World (but without the free pizza, limitless booze, and lavish apartment dwellings).
In an advanced study conducted by one of my three coworkers, 3 in 3 women can not get shit done when their significant others are around.*
If you find yourself stuck at home with your partner on a snowy day, here are some ways you can avoid killing each other (as told by a couple of 30-something-year-olds who have succeeded in not killing each other).
- Reach out to your support system. I’m eternally grateful to have wonderful friends who understand and can sympathize with the fact that there is a direct correlation between feeling held captive and wanting to rip your hair out piece by piece. Do not take things out on your roommate—go to your bubbly friends instead.
- Close the damn door. This morning Bryan alternated between listening to the weather report and a car auction. I’ll take the news any day. Have you ever listened to the sounds of people trying to sell a car? It’s like a thousand nails on a chalkboard. It is too early for a cocktail?
- Do your work. I know this is easier said than done, but I find that sometimes I just have to retreat into my cave and focus on the tasks for the day. Plus, I feel a certain sense of accomplishment when I can cross items off my list.
- Respect each other’s privacy. This one is incredibly important. If your spouse likes to watch TV, let him (or her) and move yourself to an area of your home where this won’t disturb you. If you are on a deadline, let your partner know and don’t bark when they come in to ask questions. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
When in doubt, find an adorable tiger cub to play with.
And that’s all she wrote. I’m sure there are other ways to not kill each other but I’ll let you figure that out on your own. I’m just trying to get over the fact that more snow is directly proportional to my growing waistline, my growing inability to go to the gym, and my growing laziness in general.
Dear Winter, please end. Love, me
*Thank you, Erica, for always making me laugh. You are the sunshine and unicorns and puppies in a basket on a day filled with suck.
Charlotte, I absolutely LOVE this article and can relate to it like you would not believe lol. Absolutely nothing gets done when we are both home, but it’s even worse when there’s no school that day either- I’ve resigned to SVU marathons and playing in the snow 😉
Ha! Now where can I find an adorable tiger cub?
I do have my own office but I shut myself up here a lot and I know he doesn’t always appreciate it. During a weekday if he’s home for snow or sickness, it’s very hard for me to do my work! I use headphones!
The first few years of my marriage, we lived in a small studio and whenever I worked from home, the wife gave me space enough for me to concentrate and have conference calls. Whenever I wanted her to not feel like she as being a bother, I’d simply put on ear phones and listen to music and let her go about her day normally. The problem was trying to keep hands off each other when working from home. 🙂
Hugs.
HAHAH!!! Shawn got laid off for half a year so he stayed home with our son. I was only working part time then so I was home part time with him. Sweet lord was that ever something else…retirement should be interesting.
Ah, yes, the doors are often shut at home, but it’s really the only way to get anything done 🙂
LOL! My boyfriend and I are pretty peaceful, I think we do distract each other – especially me to him, since I turn the TV on and start whistling around the kitchen. However, I make him coffee and breakfast so he has no choice but to tolerate my shenanigans. Also, headphones help! 🙂 I only worked from home most of this week and work from home tomorrow since it’s my scheduled day so I’m in uber happiness. Although, my productivity tends to go down since I”m easily distracted but I’ll make do. 🙂 Have a great one Charlotte! -Iva
Ha! I love this, Charlotte. We both work at home quite a bit. Sometimes it get on my nerves. My desk is out in the open while he has an office. He can close the door, but I can’t therefore, headphones or ear buds work well. Plus, when he goes in the kitchen he makes a big mess. He can’t cook at all so when he tries, I know something is going to break. It’s a good thing he’s cute. Hope your snow melts real soon!!
I think Izzy and I would kill each other if we both worked from home!