What are we doing today? Do we have any plans? Are we going to Ames? Can we go to Ames? Every. Day. If we don’t have activities on the calendar he tries to fill it. When did it become so hard to just be? To hang out and have family time? Being bored and getting sucked into hours of lego building, coloring, fort building, sword fighting, joking with siblings, house…. When did that become uncommon?
Every time we visit our home town, we see it. The busyness. It’s insane. People running around constantly from one errand or activity to the next. Where is the freedom in that? Where is the family time?
Our kids are the most creative and bond the best in the time that comes after declaring they are bored. I love boredom! Right now the boys are giggling in a fort they built. This bonding and conflict resolution would not be happening if they were both being shuffled to their activities. They’re 6 years apart, yet they have plans to be roommates when they’re adults because they have had the time to form the relationship and truly know and enjoy each other.
Are you fostering a love of play in your home? Do your kids have the opportunity to get that important cognitive development that comes with being creative and problem solving? Do they explore and get dirty and get into questionable situations, then work their way out of it?
Or are you always running? Could your people benefit from the unplanned times? I challenge you to break out of our society’s busy norm! It is SO freeing. Would you try it?