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Stop Whining About Being Bored (Or Face the Consequences)
by Jessica Thompson
Updated: July 8, 2021
Originally Published: July 11, 2017
Summer is often seen as the perfect time for relaxation, pool days, and a break from rigid schedules. When you’re knee-deep in the end-of-year school hustle, the thought of summer feels like a dream come true. But within a week, parents everywhere realize that wishing away the school year may not have been the best idea.
Just three weeks in, I find myself scouring the internet for summer camps that might still have openings for my three kids.
The chaos of summer is filled with complaints, disputes over imaginary games, and far too many hours spent in front of screens. And let’s not forget those three infamous words that echo through every household: “Mom, I’m bored!” (which I seem to hear 85 times a day).
Excuse me while I stifle a laugh. Kids, have you conveniently forgotten that you have a room overflowing with toys, countless books waiting to be read, a trampoline out back, and bikes and scooters at your disposal? If you’re feeling bored, maybe it’s time for a little self-reflection.
Don’t come crying to me about your boredom, because if you do, I’ll make sure you find something to occupy your time—and trust me, you’ll wish you hadn’t uttered those three little words. And if you dare complain about being bored on a 10-minute car ride, let me take you back to 1985 when I traveled cross-country without a single screen to keep me entertained.
Sweet children, you wouldn’t recognize true boredom if it hit you square in the face.
I am not your personal entertainment coordinator. My role isn’t to devote my life to your amusement while juggling dinner preparations and paying bills. My responsibilities already take up enough of my time. I certainly don’t need to be in charge of your entertainment every minute because we all know you’ll likely whine about that fun trip I planned anyway.
I do so much for you, from washing your laundry to taking you to libraries and playdates. But sometimes, this mom just needs to get things done. While I love going to the park or the zoo with you, I also have chores like grocery shopping and laundry that need attention—chores that benefit you too, by the way.
So if you declare “I’m bored,” let me tell you how this is going to go down. You might just find yourself cleaning baseboards or scrubbing toilets if you’re not careful. At the very least, your boredom will lead to some good old-fashioned child labor because this house is not a kid spa where you lounge around doing nothing and then complain about boredom when the tablet dies.
If you’re truly bored, why not pick up the shoes and towels scattered all over the house? Or grab the vacuum to tidy up the trail of snacks you’ve left behind?
If you’re still feeling bored, you can write a letter to your grandparents who spoil you endlessly or sort through your mountain of toys and donate them to kids who would never dream of saying “I’m bored” to their overworked, exhausted mothers.
If boredom still strikes, I can teach you how to pull your underwear out from between the couch cushions instead of tossing them on the floor or how to wipe down the sticky shelves in the fridge properly.
If that doesn’t do the trick, I’d be more than happy to assign you the tasks I never get to, like dusting, organizing the spice cabinet, or clearing out expired food from the fridge. After all, I’m too busy taking you to playdates and museums to handle it myself.
I’m all for creating fun memories, and we will have plenty of exciting experiences this summer. But you have to understand, my dear children, that there will be days when you need to entertain yourselves while I tackle chores or simply enjoy some peace and quiet in the air conditioning. And there will also be days when I help you set up a lemonade stand or help you build an amazing fort.
You might not appreciate it now, but let me tell you: feeling bored is actually a gift I’m giving you. While you might see it as a curse, I can easily find things for you to do. It’s a gift because it encourages you to use your imagination, dive into books, and recognize how privileged you are to experience the luxury of boredom.
So, do me a favor and remove “I’m bored” from your vocabulary. Remember that being bored is one of the best gifts I can provide. It means you’re getting away with not doing the chores I could (and should) have you do to contribute to our household.
And for that, my dear children, you should be thanking me. And if not, here’s a mop. Let’s learn how to use it together.