I pride myself on being a fun mom. My kids know that I’m usually game for creative activities like sculpting with Play-Doh, building with Lego, painting, coloring, tackling jigsaw puzzles, or diving into storytime. I’ve crafted countless snowmen and built many sand castles with them. I willingly welcome their help in baking, cleaning, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. If they catch me in a playful mood, I might even join in a game of hopscotch or hide-and-seek. We regularly meet friends at the park and frequent the library, plus I can easily spend hours on the back porch blowing bubbles—until someone inevitably spills the bottle, which usually happens after about 20 minutes.
Yet, despite this whirlwind of laughter and fun we call daily life, there are moments of sheer boredom that creep in. I work from home, and as my brain starts to wind down around 10 p.m., I have to dedicate some of our daylight hours to my computer. There are times when we’re stuck indoors for days due to frigid weather, and sometimes—heaven forbid!—Netflix decides to malfunction.
On those rare occasions, my kids become ridiculously bored. You know the kind: dramatic full-body flails, exaggerated sighs, and that all-too-familiar “plaaay with me” whine that makes my skin crawl. It can feel like I’m the only mom who thinks boredom is a valuable experience, but I know I’m not alone in this.
If my Pinterest feed is any indication, I’m expected to drop everything and create a DIY project out of thin air. Should I fashion a dollhouse from a shoebox, cover the living room in a race car track made of masking tape, or color a 5-pound bag of rice in rainbow hues? Do other moms actually do this? As a first-time mom, I certainly tried to fit that mold.
I “helped” my toddler create somewhat demented owls and bunnies from brown paper bags. I cut numerous shapes of tissue paper for stained glass that failed to cast colorful shadows, no matter where I hung them. One Christmas, we attempted to build a gingerbread house from graham crackers, only to devour the sad pile before the frosting could even set. It was delicious, though.
The irony of these boredom busters is that they can be incredibly tedious for the adult involved. When you’re raising small children, tedium is already in ample supply—think diapers, matching socks, and stirring noodles. Not to mention potty training, poop jokes, and scrubbing messes left behind by little hands. Need I say more?
Now, as a more seasoned mom of two, I’ve decided to stop intentionally boring myself just to spare them from feeling that sensation. When my daughters declare they’re bored after we’ve finished baking or coloring, I often respond with a cheeky comeback like, “I’m sure you’ll think of something fun to do soon; you always do!” or “You’re surrounded by toys and each other! I know you can figure this out!”
Then, I retreat behind my computer to work or sneak off to the bathroom with a book. Occasionally, I head downstairs to tackle laundry, where I find myself contemplating whether I’m a lazy, selfish, or just plain odd mom for letting my kids experience and navigate their own boredom.
Despite the discomfort for everyone involved, the beauty of this hands-off parenting approach is that it’s quick and effective. Usually, within 10 minutes, the whining transforms into excited chatter. Of course, the downside is that their creative solutions can sometimes be messier or more disruptive than the initial whining. I once returned from the bathroom to find my 2-year-old experimenting with stickers on every available surface (spoiler alert: they stick to everything!) and my 5-year-old rummaging through her closet in search of the “ideal outfit” for a “royal vampire wedding” that she graciously invited me to.
But since their growing ability to entertain themselves hasn’t yet led to me vacuuming up a million grains of rainbow rice, I’m sticking with this approach—even if it means I’m the only mom without a “Boredom Busters” board filled with Pinterest pins. If you’re curious about more parenting tips, check out this insightful blog post for additional strategies. And if you’re considering home insemination, Make a Mom is a reputable retailer for at-home insemination kits. For further information about intrauterine insemination, you can also visit Cleveland Clinic.
In summary, while I embrace the role of a fun mom, I also recognize the importance of allowing my kids to experience boredom and develop their own creativity. It’s a balance that, while challenging at times, teaches them valuable lessons about self-entertainment.
Leave a Reply