A Day at the Office 1

I'm working at home this year. The benefits: the commute is short, the view (photo) worth watching, and there's plentiful hot and cold caffeine. I've replicated favorable conditions, bringing my mouse and keyboard, purchasing the same monitor (2 actually, but the second has been lost in the labyrinth for weeks) and a similar desk and chair.

If I pretended I were still in Waltham, the circumstances would be ideal.  I would have achieved an arrival at work at 3am EST; my colleagues are still asleep. I have quiet hours ahead before they get in. If I stop writing the blog, I can get work done. Then, when they arrive, I can enjoy their company -- sharing of inquiry, satisfactions, laments. But they won't be coming in, not here anyway. I miss them. Fortunately their absence is not complete. I have my weekly call with Dave later today. We have not yet figured out how to share chocolate digitally.

This morning's ruminations are about how to shape Max's behavior without being rigid or controlling, how to do so while strengthening rather than straining the bond between us. He has to eat breakfast, do his homework -- how to accomplish these ends without prolonged struggle?  Reinforce the positive rather than punishing the negative -- what if the refusal is too adamant or the struggles too prolonged to find something positive to reinforce?  And if I have to resort to disincentivizing  -- what's the difference between "warning of consequences" (apparently the favored approach) and making threats (mine)? Between implementing "consequences" and being punitive? How do I make sure I am acting in Max's best interests, and not reenacting?