Dear Blake,
My wife works from home, and we are having a disagreement about the home workspace. She says I interrupt her too much and shouldn’t talk to her so often. While I agree with that, I don’t agree with her roaming around the house with her laptop while she’s in meetings. If I turn on the TV, listen to music or talk on the phone, she gets upset.
I have been digging my heels in saying I’m entitled to enjoy my own home and she should either stay in her home office or go to a coffee shop. To me, what she’s doing is like taking your laptop into the work break room and telling people to be quiet because she’s in a meeting. Am I unrealistic to expect her not to make our entire house her office?
Signed, Glenn
From St. Louis, Missouri
* * * * * * * *
Dear Glenn,
In my opinion, what your wife is demanding of you is unreasonable. The only thing I can suggest, is that you do some things in a room that will make her avoid it like the plague. Here are some ideas. As she approaches a room while you’re watching tv, quickly switch over to a dvd to a scene of a horror movie, and blast the part where victims are screaming in terror as they are being brutalized by a maniac with a hatchet. Or, by you eating the “right” food, you can create a major gastronomic issue, that will keep her away from you for hours. And also throw away any Glade she may have sitting around the house that can be used to combat “weapon”. Or this might work. If you have a canine, make him bark uncontrollably, as if an intruder broke in and was stealing his dog dish. And lastly, this idea. Practice a musical instrument, anytime she enters a room you’re in. Try a trombone, since it produces some of the more irritating sounds. If that doesn’t get her attention, practice the cymbals when she’s on an important call, and it’s imperative that you sneak up on her from behind so she won’t be expecting it. I hope this helps.
Blake