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It’s Summertime! Enough Complaining!
by Miranda J. Carter
Updated: July 20, 2021
Originally Published: June 23, 2016
Dear pampered youth of America:
I have a straightforward request for you, alright? Stop your complaining.
Now, I understand that it might seem harsh to tell a child to stop complaining. Perhaps you would rather express it in a softer, more nurturing manner.
- “Sweet little Max, could you please halt your whining?”
- “Dear Bella, might you consider quieting your discontent?”
- “Precious little Ava-Sophie-Maddox-James, please hold back your displeasure.”
But let’s be honest here. It’s complaining, and you know it.
Summer has arrived, kids, and it should be a delightfully joyous time for everyone. There’s no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to toast a Toaster Strudel. You don’t have to bundle up in layers of fleece while stuffing tissues into your pockets to wipe that green gooey stuff dripping from your nose. There’s no homework, no tests, and no cafeteria spaghetti paired with chocolate milk because your parent forgot to pack your lunch.
It’s summertime! Why the need to complain?
You say you’re bored? Oh, I see. Bored.
You’ve been spoiled silly with ice cream cones, inexpensive toys, and endless rounds of pool games. Isn’t that enough? Can’t that entertain you for at least a few moments? Why must today’s youth require constant entertainment? Let me summarize my summer vacations for you: one week in Florida, and the rest of the time, nothing.
That’s right. Nothing. No camps, no crafts, no clubs. Just nothing.
Yet, I was never bored. I swam, rode my bike, caught bugs in jars, and made up games with sticks and grass clippings. I enjoyed slumber parties and watched TV until I dozed off. I drank Slush Puppies like they were water and played Tetris while chatting on the phone about boys and the latest “Ernest” movie with Jim Varney. That wasn’t boredom; that was living.
Summer is meant to be easy. That’s right. Easy. The opposite of hard.
Nowadays, kids can’t simply enjoy a swim in the pool and practice their handstands. No, they need to gather at least 14 friends and spend a fortune at the store for pool noodles. They can’t play baseball in the backyard without a pricey camp to teach them how to throw a curveball that might shatter a neighbor’s window. They can’t just have one slumber party; they need to invite multiple friends every night of the week or face calamities like lightning bolts and toads raining from the sky.
Crafting isn’t about making something from sticks and dandelions anymore. No, they require a $25 craft kit and 14 boxes of macaroni, along with your help to assemble it all for hours.
They can’t just relax and enjoy their summer break. They have to be stimulated constantly by peers—siblings don’t count.
Let’s plan a beach vacation for a week, thinking it will provide some fun and create lasting memories. It will silence their complaints for a few days. Fast forward three days, and they’re still complaining about not getting that $23 dolphin snow globe or the corn dog they wanted when all they have are shrimp poppers. They’ll complain that it’s too hot, the beach is too sandy, or that the car ride is unbearable.
They stand on a balcony overlooking the ocean, souvenirs in hand—an inflatable palm tree and colorful jewelry—and they’re still complaining.
Children of America, listen up! No generation has been as spoiled as you with your gadgets and gizmos. With your iPods, tablets, and whatever new device you’ve demanded, please, I urge you, stop your complaining!
At least until August.