@Tory – we’ve thought about trying the au pair solution in the future. I know a number of people have found it’s very helpful, particularly with shifting school schedules and days off and the like.

Our plan? We are hiring an au pair! She’ll care for the baby routinely, and be in charge of all three kids on the snow days and other random school closing. If it works, it should be a major load off my shoulders (and my husband’s.) Of course there is still plenty to worry about, so many things that can go wrong in an au pair situation. We’ll just have to see!

@Julie – the bloggers are one thing. I’m kind of most fascinated by the people who have *normal* jobs. There are 168 hours in a week, and in theory it should be possible to, say, work 35 and school for 25 and have plenty left over. Work and school happen at the same time for many people, but they certainly don’t have to. And while many people use school as childcare (to a degree), one could separate out those functions as well.

@Devon – triaging the day is key. I make a plan for nap hours for anything that requires intense concentration. Big kids watch TV during that time. I think it’s also wise to take the kids out in the snow first. It tires them out and then they’re OK with watching videos while you work. And yes, a sister across the street is great. A snow day co-op would be an amazing thing to have.

This is also when I pull out the good bribery for perfect behavior. 😉

My sister lives across the street so we trade off too – but 4 cannot be left alone for brief periods like 2 can.

Last year (11+ snow days?) my kids were 4 and 8!

@Tami- I agree. Sometimes you have to give up on trying to get the work done and just accept the day for what it is. Usually it can be made up. Of course, family peace requires that these just-give-it-up days be somewhat reasonably split. If not, that’s a different issue.

Oh, and one other thought: when I do give up to the universe and accept that work won’t happen, I try to embrace that and enjoy. One of the things I’ve valued most about your writing is home it has made me reframe situations. Sometimes stuff just happens and there is no “solution.” I can either spend the day not getting work done but having a ton of fun with my kids, or I can spend the day not getting work done and being miserable, stressed out and yelling at them for having the temerity to be home for they day. Since the work isn’t getting done either way, the first one seems like a better psychological deal, right?