I may be alone here, but I can’t stand it when I hear kids complaining that they are bored.  To me, boredom is a luxury for the privileged.  When you are worried about where your next meal will come from or where you are going to sleep that night, boredom isn’t an option.  It’s a spoiled kid’s disease in my book.

At my house, the words “I’m bored” are almost never uttered and there’s a good reason.  My kids are resourceful–they like to read books, they like to play games, they like to play outside.  However, in those rare cases where the “b” word has been uttered, I have a cure. I call it cleaning.  

Sure, my kids help out regularly, but I have enough laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, decluttering, cooking, sock pairing and household chores to keep anyone busy for days.  Then of course, there’s also my car which could always use a good wash inside and out.  In the event that my kids can’t find enough fun stuff to do on their own, I have spray bottles and rags with their names on them at the ready.  Needless to say, they somehow find a way to keep themselves occupied. 

Every once in a while, a friend of theirs will come to my house and complain that he or she is bored.  I’m an equal opportunity employer and I’m not ashamed to tell you that I put their friends to work too.  Once they’ve cleaned my kitchen table or counter, those friends magically find some fascinating board game when I tell them they have the option to keep going or play in the basement.  Toys never looked so fun!   

So, if you have kids who complain, I suggest you try my cure for boredom yourself.  Your house will be clean in no time and you’ll have far less complaining in the future.  

Or better yet, send them over to mine.  I have a rag with their name on it waiting.