Boot camp

Despite feeling like my days are jam-packed with activities and running my rear off to ensure a "fun summer break", I still hear a steady chorus of, "I'm bored" (pronounced "boooo-ored" and said in whiney, nasal tones) or "This is so boring!" dozens of times a day.  And heaven forbid I should tell them we can't go to the pool because it's too hot out for Quinn at our shadeless pool or - even worse - ask them to help with something around the house!  These are immediately met with protests of "NO FAIR!!" (again, pronounced "fay-yeerr" in said whiney voices).  After a fun and treat-filled weekend that went completely unappreciated by both kids and way too many "I'm bored", "No fair" and generally sassy retorts this mama had had enough!  Monday was officially "No fun, no friends, no fair very boring day" in our house.  I figured if they're going to complain of boredom they should know what truly boring tasks really are!  And if they want to cry injustice they should see how unfair it is to work hard for no reward and little appreciation (aka what mommy and daddy do here daily!).  So we spent Monday -
changing sheets
potting plants
pulling weeds
sweeping and mopping floors
vacuuming
dusting
tidying
washing dishes
washing, folding and putting away 4 loads of laundry
cooking dinner
cleaning up the kitchen.

They had to put away other people's things (not just their own), they had to work hard while the other was allowed to sit and watch.  If they complained, fought, sassed or otherwise didn't cooperate another task was added to their list, eventually spilling over to the next morning.  


Mean?  Perhaps.  A frequent recurring activity in our house?  Yep, until they learn to behave a little more respectfully towards us.  By the end of the day we were back to our expected manners of '
"yes mommy" and "yes ma'am" when they were asked to do something, so it started to sink in.  Will it last?  Doubtful.  I'm sure we will need numerous reinforcement days in the future.  I think it was almost more punishment for me having to listen to them - and come up with tasks to keep us all busy - but at least my house was a little cleaner.


And in an effort to permanently squelch the "I'm bored" stuff, I'm creating an "I'm bored bag", inside which will be slips of paper with various productive and useful but decidedly UNfun tasks written on them.  Whenever someone complains of boredom they will pull a slip randomly from the bag and be required to complete that task before they can do anything else.  Hopefully they will quickly learn that they can figure out more enjoyable ways to spend their time than cleaning my shower grout with a toothbrush! LOL  And maybe staying inside playing with Legos won't seem so "boring" afterall??? 

She looks so unhappy, doesn't she?  Of course I had to photograph the misery!