It is summer time.
The kids are home and driving the husband crazy.
This is when working at home can suck. You have deadlines to live by but the kids want all of your attention. And a big fight is the best way to get it.
So what do you do as a work-at-home parent when the other parent works out of the house?
We have come up with a three-prong plan.
Image by Sanguglen
First of all, plan a chore list everyday or most days depending on your schedule. Our lists comprise of things that have to be taken care of everyday such as pet care, music practice time and reading. I also throw things on to keep the house picked up. They do jobs around the house as well as keep their rooms cleaned up.
This year I told the kids that if their jobs are not done when I get home from work, there will be consequences. Dad should not have to stand over them every moment of the day to make sure the chores are done. I will take away devices, turn off the tv, and ban friends from the house. They also know I will follow through on this.
No one wants to lose screen time.
Image by Phaewilk
Secondly, we utilize every Vacation Bible School (VBS) program we can find. For one week during the morning or the evening, kids get to learn a little about Jesus while making crafts and singing songs. Many of their friends are there and a good time is had by all.
One of the churches is doing a one day VBS on a Saturday. Yep, the kids are going to that one as well. Luckily, most of the VBS programs at various churches are well spaced out so just when staying at home all of the time gets a little boring, they are off to another church.
My personal jar of boredom buster ideas
Lastly, I have the “I’m Bored” jar. Other people have posted blog entries about their jar. I loved one post that listed 150 different ideas to break the curse of boredom.
Of course, this was from a stay-at-home mom who was trying to come up with ideas for winter/Christmas break. And I applaud her creativity from which I completely stole as I worked on my “I’m Bored” jar. The slips of ideas I put in were more relative to the interests of my kids but I did write out about 150 different ideas.
I have things that involve raspberry picking, going to the Farmer’s Market or writing a letter to Grandma. I ask that they go with whatever hits the hand first but the kids have been known to sift through the slips until they find one they like.
It doesn’t hurt that we have the County Fair near the end of the summer which means there will be things to get ready. And the end of fair always seem to signal the end of summer, especially when band camp starts the next day.
But for now, it is time to enjoy hotter than hot days that end with cool breezes in the evening. There are fruits to be picked, books to read, and water sprinklers to dance under.
Bring it on!!!!
How do you deal with Summer Boredom Syndrome at your house?
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
My mom was pretty inventive during the Summer months when me and my brother were growing up. There was Arts & Crafts Time, Imagination Time, Reading Time, Go Outside and Play until Dinner Time, Chore Time, Down Time (at least an hour in our rooms). In the evenings my family would play cards, board games, play outside. The ONE THING we knew not to say to my mom was that we WERE BORED because then Cleaning Time would come a calling (sometimes this meant mucking stalls because we grew up on a farm – no one wanted that duty). Have a Great Day:)
I told my kids about the horse stalls and they were properly taken aback.
What are some of the things you have in the jar, Karyn? I really like that idea. I work from home on Mon, Wed. and Fri. Rob works from home on Tues and Thur. It is crazy, crazy.
I try to give the boys chores, but honestly – I’m a control freak, so I’d prefer to the the bulk of the work. BUT – when I put them to bed tonight, I made it clear they were to clean their playroom tomorrow.
Please share the ideas for the bored jar. I love it.
They will be in a 2wk camp the 2nd week of July – it will take FOREVER for that camp to arrive. (smile)
I have to let go of my control freak tendancies because lately I have had a lowered amount of energy. The dust left makes me a little crazy but there it is.
Ok, here are some of the things I put in but when you do your own, you can make it fit your kids’ interests.
create a play about pirates
read a book
watch a movie
clean your room
paint a picture
swing in the back yard
bake cookies
give the dog a bath
watch a movie
call grandma
draw a picture for grandma
pull weeds in the garden
find a recipe using a vegetable from the garden
find a recipe using raspberries
Great ideas! This is my first summer as a work at home Mom and wow, is getting anything done near to impossible!
Oh we used the Vacation Bible School route, too. Cheery people and stuff to do. We also had Down Time in room where library books were utilized or coloring – or anything in your room (no TV or such).
No whining or “I’m bored” or no swimming pool! Or the flower beds need weeding (UGH).
So it generally went pretty well.
I really like the jar idea. (Creating plays is the greatest fun!) The jar gives them a little control with a little shove in one direction.
Kids need to learn to entertain themselves and find stuff to do – it helps when they are adults.
Summer was always challenging as my kids got old enough to stay at home while I was at work, but before they were old enough to drive…and you definitely don’t want them watching tv all day every day. Sounds like you have some good ideas. My kids did VBS too, but only at the church we attended. Good luck keeping them busy! I always say, “A busy kid is a good kid!” ~ Sheila