By Fredrica Syren:
Summer is here with warm weather, long days that seem to last forever and summer break for kids. Every year, I look forward to spending more time with all my kids at home, not rushing off anywhere and just being us. Yup, it sounds like a dream. And every year, I forget about how quickly my daughter gets bored of being home and utters these little words most moms hate to hear: “I’m bored, Mom.”
Arrggghhh! . . . and, with that comes all the suggestions of what my daughter can do. But of course she will wrinkle her cute little nose and just say “Ehhh” to most of them. So how on earth do you entertain a 7-year-old child? This time, I asked her to give me a list of things she wants to do this summer and, yes, you might think it would include a trip to the moon and a candy eating contest; but, no, she really thought long and hard about what she wished to do. Her list included
- practicing swimming,
- practicing writing and reading,
- learning to cook simple meals,
- learning to weave,
- making a scavenger bag for her nature walks
- playing with her baby brother.
Sweet list, right? So now we have a list she made herself and she can pick from it when the boredom sets in. I really believe in not always being in charge of every decision, but letting kids being part of solutions. I think that makes kids feel empowered and that adults do listen to them. Bella’s list made her really think and use her imagination to come up with activities that sound fun to her. And they are simple, so she can get them done. Most of all, they really came from her heart.
Happy Summer Break to you all wonderful parents out there.