Me: (from upstairs) I'm working.
Her: DADDY!
Me: I'm busy.
Her: DADDDEEE!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Me: (coming downstairs) What what what what what what? Good Lord, child. Is there an emergency? Is your arm broken? Did you drink poison?
Her: I'm bored.
Me: (blinking back incredulity) That's impossible.
Her: No it's not.
Me: Sweetheart Head, you've been out of school less than 24 hours. The other day you were saying you couldn't wait for school to be over so you could "finally relax."
Her: I know.
Me: When I asked you to describe third grade in one word, you said "exhausting."
Her: It was very tiring.
Me: So how can you already be bored? We've been to the pool this morning. You just finished lunch. You have a roomful of toys and books. Come on, Kid. You can find something to do for an hour. Ok? One hour?
Her: An hour is like eternity.
Me: You can't say that until you've worked in Sales.
Her: What?
Me: Nothing. Listen. Boredom is good for you. Use your imagination and come up with something fun to do. You have a brain, right? How about a craft?
Her: No.
Me: How about read one of the books in your room you haven't read?
Her: Read them all.
Me: Let's make a deal. If you can occupy yourself for an hour, then we can do something together after that. Ok?
Her: (big sigh) Ok, Daddy.
Me: Ok. (Heading back upstairs to continue working.)
(Five minutes later)
Her: Daddy?
Me: Yes?
Her: I'm BOOOOOOOOORRRED.
Me: Get a job.
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A-ha ha ha! That sounds just like me. I mean, when I was in third grade. I don't do that now. No self-respecting 30-yr old would whine about being bored like that. I can sympathize with your daughter. I remember summer vacation as being VERY boring. But the second day? Gee, it's gonna be a long summer, huh?
ReplyDeleteHave you tried giving her a little wooden block or a clothespin? It works every time with my one-year-olds.
ReplyDeleteTell her to clean her room every time she gets bored.
ReplyDeleteOh man. It's going to be a loooooong summer.
ReplyDeleteSweetheart Head? hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteLong summer indeed. I've decided: my daughter will remember this as the Summer of Chores. And if I get any attitude, it'll be The Summer We Found A Nice Work Camp.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids but I would imagine they are pretty cute playing in the summer. Meanwhile, us childless folk are drunk.
ReplyDeletePage 17 of the dad handbook suggests "make work activities" as the cure for boredom.
ReplyDeleteHave her reorganize the tupperware cupboard, or wash all the silverware and then clean out all the crud from the drawers, or sort her books alphabetically by author's last name, or by theme or title.
DAMMIT! YOU MADE ME SNORT AGAIN!!! Have you considered making her mop the kitchen floor or wipe down all the window sills? If I offer a job to Jay, he always seems to find a way to weasel out of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm still working through the logistics of the Summer Where The Kids Learn To Do My Job For Me So I Can Sleep More. It's a work in progress, but I'm pretty sure that once I get it all figured out it'll be a life-changing educational experience for the wee ones.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't we all love the chance to be bored? Just to sit around and not feel guilty for not doing something. So, I say, send the wee one up here and I can be bored while I have her check things off my list of Things You Have to do When You're an Adult.
ReplyDeleteDude. Have her dig a trench with a spoon. Then she'll REALLY know boredom.
ReplyDeleteGet a job. Hahahahahah! Love it.
ReplyDeleteI always found summer vacation to be boring because I LOVED school an ungodly amount (still do). It's like all that learning to keep you interested. It is and always will be the most fun thing to do. I am a nerd, I accept it.
ReplyDeleteI do miss summer vacation though--wouldn't it be nice to just have NOTHING to do?!
Love the "get a job" comment!
It'd be awesome if you could stop my blog sometime, withmonsters.blogspot.com!
Nice.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter learned that lesson the hard way. "Oh, you're bored? There's a playroom that needs cleaning, towels that need folding, and wouldn't you know it...I'll bet you could use a nap right about now!"
Problem solved.