I always know that moment in time during summer vacation when my children are ready to go back to school. No, they may not admit it but I know that it is there deep inside.
It starts off with hearing the words “I’m bored,” even though they have a hundred things they can do in the house and they have lots of friends to hang out with. Then it turns into bickering. Before you know it, there are constant battles taking place between them.
Yes, the itch for school to start has begun. It is probably being felt to a greater degree within me. It has been nice to be home with them and for the most part they have kept themselves busy. However the need to have routine back in their lives is clearly becoming evident.
I have already started school supply shopping; in fact, I have most of it done. The kids are eager to start picking out new backpacks and clothes. They have even asked what day they go back to school. Yes, the itch is clearly here.
Boredom is an interesting thing with teens. It doesn’t matter what surrounds them or the fact that with just one phone call they could be spending time with a friend, they will make these claims that there is nothing to do. You make suggestions and they have a great reason why your suggestion is dumb.
For a while my daughter was constantly posting as a status on her Facebook that she was bored. After several postings of this, she began to get feedback that was basically telling her to do something about it.
I think teens get bored in the summertime because they don’t have the constant routine of getting up at a certain time, getting ready for the day, keeping busy in school and then afterschool activities.
The lazy days of summer are only good for so long. Since we still have a good month left before school starts and we don’t really have any big plans, I think I am going to sit down with my teens and come up with a summer schedule. With their input I think we can come up with creative ideas on how to beat summer boredom.
I thought of some of these ideas. Babysitting, writing a story, taking a bike trip, volunteering, baking, having a carwash, enjoying a water balloon fight, writing a song, oh the list could go on.
I am even thinking of posting ideas up on the refrigerator. So the next time that I hear “I’m bored,” all I have to do is point to the list and tell them to pick something.
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