Momfidence! - Read the Blog : Summer Boredom Busters

About this Blog

Momfidence! cheers on commonsense parenting and sighs at the rest. How to worry less, wing it more. A.k.a. parenting by the seat of my mid-rise mom jeans.

About Paula Spencer

I'm the author of Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and a mom of four in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where you can't even buy Oreos at the two wholesome groceries nearest to my home).

A rare foto in which all six Spencers face the camera! by Charles Harris

Some Kindred Blogs

Parentopia On mommy guilt
The Mother of All Blogs My fave fellow mom of four
MommaBlog in FotosLooks like my house
Parent Talk Today Kindred writer
Momformation ParentCenter
FreeRangeKidsSet them free!
Jane Austen Addict For diversion
Diet Naked For inspiration
Dr. Helen For conversation
American Poetry Alliance For mind expansion
BlythTimes For smart insights
LifeCoachBlog for positive reminders
Plan B for thinkin' past motherhood
Caring Currents Caregiver blog to which I contribute

Summer Boredom Busters

June 29, 2009

Ok, I admit it, hopelessly overscheduled and functioning on with all the vim and stupor of summertime mode. So let me tell you about other places I'm writing:

Starting today I'm 3x/week in The Daily WD over at womansday.com (where you can also get recipes and save money -- not from me, from the clever and on-top-of-such-things WD editors -- instantly multiplying your incentives to read me over there!)

Direct quote:

So today kicks off my new 3x/week posts here, where I'll answer reader questions about, oh, whatever mom, dad, kid, or family thing is on your mind. Ask away at momfidence@gmail.com. Here's a timely starter (timely because I just heard the same thing today around my house!):

What do you say when your kids say, "I'm bored!" in the summer? I feel like I run out of ideas before the Fourth of July and it exhausts me! --kate

If I'm in a cranky mood I tell them what my grandmother used to tell me: "Go play spit and catch." My godmother would then chime in that we try to kiss our elbows or our noses. Translation: Make up your own fun; I'm sure you'll think of something.

I never run out of ideas for summer entertainment because Chief Entertainment Officer is one job I refuse to assume. Certainly preschoolers have to be entertained, but by the school years, kids who own a decent number of toys and books, have a few friends, and are in full possession of a brain and an imagination (backyard optional, but useful) are capable of thinkin' up their own amusements.

I'm not above organizing the occasional outing: Taking a walk, the library or bookstore, a museum, Costco or Sam's Club, the grocery or bakery. Notice how none of those places takes me too far off my usual paths. (Amusement parks and the like are great, too, but then we're talking vacation.) You’d be surprised how exciting an ordinary picnic can be to a child, especially when he or she is involved in the planning and preparing.

But for the most part, I try to stay out of it. You'd be amazed what they come up with – or how much time they can kill trying to kiss their elbows.

stay tuned...Weds I'll dish on First Momshells.

Comments

Denise says...

offering chores that need to be done in and around the house will fix that problem very quickly. They will find something fun to do real quick. Happens all the time for me.

Paula says...

I like that one!

Carol Elise says...

My Grandma would always tell my sister and I to "Go Spit and Catch" when we would complain of being bored. Thanks for the memory