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The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Finally, it’s hot and sunny here in northern Indiana . . . praise the Lord for air-conditioning.
I don’t mean to be hard on the good people of The Homeschool Minute™, but I’m getting a little tired of talking about learning in the summer. So I’m going off trail (again). I guess if you squint your eyes and stretch your imagination, my thoughts on summer boredom kind of look like the topic . . . a little.
Actually, I was talking today with my wife at lunch when she said to me, “I don’t know what to do with the kids; they seem bored out of their skulls.”
I was almost ready for the comment, because I was thinking the same thing as I saw them roam around the house. I know I should have said something understanding like, “You’re right; maybe we can brainstorm about things they could do,” but I didn’t. Instead, I jumped right up on the table and said, “That’s okay; just let them figure it out.”
I’ve thought about this quite a bit and stand amazed at the idea that moms feel they should provide constructive things for their kids to do so they won’t be bored. I’m telling you mom, that’s a losing battle and one that never ends.
“Thanks, Mom for the great idea about the Play-doh, but now I’m done . . . and I’m bored.”
My theory is that you let your kids get so bored that they finally do something until they’re not bored. I know I did as a kid. I slinked around the house until I decided I needed to build a tree house, play with GI Joes, or was assigned a chore from my dad (never underestimate the power of summer chores).
My advice on the summer boredom dilemma is to let your children be bored and figure it out for themselves . . . or give them chores. Now go and enjoy doing whatever it is you enjoy doing.
Good day, don’t think about school, and be real,
Todd
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