Boredom
Why is it that so many otherwise sensible parents feel so obligated to entertain their children?
Why are we so compelled to orchestrate such 'child-friendly' outings, trips, and vacations? Why
don't the kids do some of the things we like to do and fake their enjoyment? I can understand
when the parents are divorced and the one parent not with the children all the time feels the
pressure to come up with things to do which are memorable and fun for the kids. This parent
may feel an acute time crunch and literally not able to stand the emotional pressure of
suggesting something which has not been prepackaged, predigested, and pronounced
"awesome" by the rest of preteen America. My advice to parents everywhere is under no
circumstances should you be afraid to bore your children. Bore them to tears. Stop along the highway, read every single historical marker, visit antique shops, tour museums, and make the kids hike the whole way. It is useful to note that no matter how much we may try to please our
children they still will have their jaded and sullen moments (maybe years). Remember, we are
not cruise directors on the S.S. Childhood.
I told my own kids early on that there was one word they were not to use around me, the 'B' word,
the 'bored' word. Depending upon the age of the child, my responses to this dread word range
from the succinct to rhetorical exercises of notable length. To my youngest, who has whined
about being bored, I tell him, "I'm glad you are, then you'll know when you're excited." To my
older children (who have grown more careful about mentioning their boredom) I have a list of
chores designed to alleviate that painful condition and a lengthy lecture about the necessity of
boredom as a spur to the performing of great deeds. The eye rolling, sarcastic sighing, and
looks of acute pain tell me my strategy is wonderfully effective. I don't think parents should hit
kids, call them names, or do anything else that tears them down emotionally. On the other hand,
a good measure of supervised boredom is fairly benign and I've found, even character-building!
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