“Mom, I’m bored!”
Three tiny words that hold the power to make the most even-tempered parent lose their cool.
My husband usually responds this way, “You’re bored because you’re boring.”
He’s such a cool drink on a hot summer’s day.
This photo was taken last summer when my four were hanging out. I LOVE to take LOTS of photos in the summer. Can’t you just see the joy on their faces?
The truth is, with children plugged in, turned on and tuned out, coming up with things to do that strike their fancy can often times be a struggle.
Guess what? You don’t have to come up with things for them to do. Surprisingly, our kids have the ability to think of LOTS of things to do. We aren’t meant to be their social directors. Creativity happens when they have no other options.
Because I LOVE moms and understand their hesitation with turning off the TV and letting children whine and bemoan their awful, terrible, hot boring summer until THEY come up with something fun to do…I’ve included a few ideas for you.
Here are five-fifteen minute sabbaticals you can take with your kids this summer.
Have a picnic lunch in the backyard. Slow-paced summer days don’t have to be boring. Slap together a PB&J and throw out a blanket and whalla! Lay out on the grass and practice a few minutes of cloud gazing together.
Read a book. Turn off the TV. Put down the iPod. Back away from the XBOX. Slip a hardbound book in your child’s hands and encourage them to read a chapter aloud to YOU. Better yet, have them read aloud to their younger siblings.
Take a walk. We live in a neighborhood filled with children, yet, if you were to walk around our block you’d never know it. Kids are inside being entertained by electronic devices all day long. Get some Vitamin D and bring your children out into the light for a fifteen minute stroll.
Write a letter to an elderly relative. Letter-writing is a lost art. Email has become the bully on the block, but nothing will bring more joy to your grandma, great-aunt Melba, or cousin Jimmy, than a handwritten letter from your child.
Hand your child a broom. Nothing cures the summer blues faster than chores around the house. I am always amazed at how fast their creative juices begin to flow when we give them something to do that includes PineSol, Windex, and some good ol’ elbow grease. Then again, that’s the MEAN MOM in me.
My son is currently reading aloud to me – the first chapter of “The Invisible Man” and my daughter is currently doing a lesson in her math book (they didn’t finish it this year). Yep – we know how to rock a summer over here. They may not be bored, but I’m quickly approaching boredom. Sweet mercy – who wrote this book and what language were they using?
You never cease to bust me up. I actually felt that way the other night when our family watched THE HOBBIT for the 1,354th time. Paul leaned over to me and whispered, “Is this movie getting LONGER?”
I whispered back, “Um, yeah…”
Awwww! Love that you mentioned getting Vitamin D. Remember to leave the sunscreen off and at home.
BTW, that pic was clearly before you removed the “stop-growth brick from Sam’s head. <3