“Mom, I am bored!” We have all heard those four words probably more often than we would like. A few years ago I started telling my children that I would be happy to find them something to do if they were bored. They quickly learned that Mom’s idea of entertaining them usually included a mop and some cleaning supplies. After that I did not hear that phrase nearly as often.
My children learned to find ways to occupy themselves.
A couple of years ago on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon, my ten-year-old daughter found herself with nothing to do. Her younger siblings were napping, she had read through all of her library books and she has never been very interested in television. She made her way into our craft closet and pulled down a sewing machine that I had purchased a few months earlier. I had planned to learn how to sew, but never got around to it. So, my daughter escaped into her bedroom with the sewing machine and some fabric. A couple of hours later she emerged from her room, beaming with pride and holding a small stuffed doll.
Her afternoon of boredom sparked creativity and she discovered a talent she did not know she had.
In the following weeks she spent hours sewing, perfecting the dolls she affectionately called “Smiley Rileys.” She ultimately set a goal to sew fifty dolls! She wanted to donate them to a charity that provides toys to underprivileged children. Friends and family donated fabric and supplies and ultimately she was able to achieve her goal. There are Smiley Riley dolls in other countries today because of one afternoon of boredom.
The moments that were unscheduled allowed her the time to discover a talent and ultimately do something kind for other children.
As mothers, we are often pressured into filling every moment of our calendars to keep our children busy. We sign them up for all kinds of extra curricular activities. Then you throw in school responsibilities and community events and our lives are overflowing with time commitments. I have been guilty of over-scheduling our lives to where an empty afternoon was a rare occurrence!
I learned an important lesson from my daughter on that rainy Saturday. That experience changed the way I parent. Now I realize the importance of boredom. I recognize the value in a little bit of down time that allows my children to create and explore their own talents. Boredom gives our children the opportunity to think independently. They are encouraged to come up with ways to keep themselves busy. The free time facilitates an environment for children to use their own creativity to try new things. They can gain great self-confidence by dreaming up an idea and then bringing it to life. Whether that dream is building a fort, painting a picture, creating a play, or learning to sew, our children will walk away with a gratifying feeling of great accomplishment.
So, maybe the next time you hear your child say, “Mom, I am bored,” you will just smile and imagine what they can achieve with a little free time.
