As summer vacation unfolds, many parents—especially those who are working from home or staying home—find themselves bombarded with endless demands. Who needs a snack? Who’s arguing? Who’s up at the crack of dawn asking for pancakes, even though it’s supposed to be a break? And perhaps the most aggravating question of all—who’s feeling bored?
One mother is spreading an important message: it’s not our duty as parents to ensure our kids are entertained every moment of the day. Meredith Johnson, a mom of three and the creator of the popular parenting blog “Life Unfiltered”, recently shared a candid video addressing this very issue. She emphasizes that it is not our responsibility to keep our children entertained throughout the summer—or at any time, really.
In her video, she states, “As a parent, I wear many hats. I’m a housekeeper, I manage grocery shopping, I tackle mountains of laundry, I feed my kids, help them with hygiene, and drive them around since they can’t do it themselves yet. However, I refuse to accept the role of their entertainment coordinator. It’s their job to find ways to amuse themselves.”
And I couldn’t agree more. Right now, my eldest is busy crafting a play that’s essentially a reimagining of “The Lion King,” while my youngest is spinning in circles and belting out tunes from “Frozen.” The best part? They’re doing it without any input from me. While I may not excel in every area of parenting, encouraging my kids to discover their own fun is undoubtedly one of my greatest achievements.
As Johnson points out, not being the constant source of activities for our children doesn’t equate to neglecting them. She clarifies that it’s not about ignoring them altogether; rather, it’s about letting them explore their own interests without our constant supervision. “I don’t have to plan every single activity or monitor their every move,” she says.
When we don’t micromanage their playtime, we give them the opportunity to be creative and learn more about themselves. If we fill every hour with pre-planned activities, when do they get the chance to face challenges and figure out what they genuinely enjoy? Plus, if we’re always acting as their personal entertainers, when can we find time to tackle household chores, read a book, or simply take a moment for ourselves to recharge?
To fellow moms feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to keep their kids engaged, Johnson reassures you, “You don’t have to feel guilty about this! Relax, they will learn to entertain themselves, I promise.”
Absolutely! We all have our own responsibilities, and it’s completely acceptable to set boundaries around our time.
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In summary, let’s free ourselves from the expectation that we must entertain our children continuously. Encouraging independence not only benefits our kids but also allows us to reclaim some much-needed time for ourselves.