Boredom Is An Emergency

Last week I heard a high school guy make the statement, "Boredom is an emergency." It was a funny line and meant to be funny. But the more I thought about that, the more I realized how true that sentiment is in our culture. Children really believe that boredom is an emergency and parents or other adults are supposed to be the first responders, the cruise directors who have an unending schedule of activities. In the minds of these kids, it is the job of other people to entertain them, to fill each moment for them. If the ball drops and boredom occurs, they have no idea how to engage themselves unless it involves electronics.

As parents today, we have dropped the ball in other ways. We have helped create this mentality in our children. With the plethora of good activities available to families, we have developed kids who need to be entertained because they do not know how to do it for themselves as we fill their days. Gone is the ability to be creative, to make one's own fun, to use imagination. And I think that puts our kids at a disadvantage.

It's my hope that my kids will be able to create their own fun beyond the age of two. I know it sounds nearly medieval now, but I want to be video game system free in our home as long as possible. I want my kids to be bored sometimes and to be able to figure out how to be entertained on their own. I will choose our activities carefully, so we have unscheduled time as a family. I'm not sure what that will always mean or look like for us, but I know that I don't want my kids saying, "Boredom is an emergency."

That Back to School Time of Year

We mark Mattias' ninth month with us this week. It seems as if the months are just breezing by. My tiny newborn is now a big, smiley infant who is busy all the time crawling around the house, trying new foods and exploring everything he can get his hands on. This little guy is much busier than his big brother was at this age and as he watches that brother climb and run and jump all over, with a big, sweet, grin on his face, I know I'm going to be in trouble in a matter of months. He's already chasing after him with the pitter patter of little hands and knees.

My little Tias is such a gift and when days feel long I remind myself to enjoy the moment (and I usually do). Because even in the midst of that long day, I realize that I have no idea what happened to these last 6 (I mean 9 -- yes I first started this when he was 6) months and I want to cherish every bit of my baby's growing up.

While I have had days when all I wanted to do was get out of the house, as we saw the buses carrying kids back to school today, I am longing for more days before our schedule starts up. I'm not looking forward to having to get everyone ready and out the door at 8:30am, when some days the boys have stayed playing in their jammies until lunch time. I've enjoyed quiet moments with both boys while the other one is sleeping and lunch that we have plenty of time to make and enjoy, instead of having to choke it down to start a nap on time.

I've always loved fall and the whole back to school thing. But this year, the lazy, hazy days of summer were quite a treat. And really, we're only busy two mornings a week and they are things we all love! But that means I'm even less interested in doing things those other days. Yet I feel like there are playdates we never got to, trips to the museum I want to take, going to the zoo before it's cold, fall fun to be had.

But whether we do all those things or we stay home for quiet mornings and days, most of all I want to be able to see my boys grow and change, help them learn and see God at work in my life and theirs' and enjoy these early years before they are gone. I know soon enough, that back to school time of year will mean new backpacks and pictures at school bus stops. But for now, we'll be home in our jammies until lunch time.