I have been editing the introductory chapter of the thesis (I’ll put this online with the others soon). This morning, editing was taking place with my son bouncing up and down all around me on the couch, chanting various things, clambering up my back, and generally doing the sorts of things kids do when adults are visibly concentrating on other things. At some point, he plonked down beside me to read the text over my shoulder – out loud. This resulted in an extended period of having the text read out to me just as I typed it in, which… had a bit of a surreal effect on the editing process. At some point, he paused, confused, and asked: “Where is the other person?”
“What other person?” I asked, confused myself.
“Who are you talking to? Is it Jessica?” he wanted to know.
I suddenly realised he thought I was chatting with someone else online, and tried to explain, “No no – I’m not chatting with anyone. I’m writing. There’s no one else there.”
He mulled over this for a while, looking increasingly puzzled, and then, in an uncertain, quavering voice, slowly asked, “So… are you? Are you talking to yourself?”
Hmm… Good question…
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Rough Theory 
I think you should tell him that you are talking to the meanest possible reader of your thesis: “You see, mommy is trying to counter the possible arguments from some not-so-nice people who will ask stupid questions where things are as clear as a sun…”
lol – yes 🙂 (Although I suspect at times that the meanest reader of my thesis is myself…)
[giggle] And also, awww. 😉 Hope being in the midst of distractions is less distracting than… well, than it could be…