It’s day 2 of summer vacation and the kids are going stir crazy. They have no idea what to do with themselves. The rain outside really isn’t helping matters. I probably need to step up my game and come up with some things for them to do. I hate coming up with things for them to do because I think that’s their job. They’re kids, and they need to play with the wild imagination God has given them. The arguing between David and Silje has been so constant. We’ve had so many sit down discussions about loving one another, and considering others interests, and what interests means. We’ve been having lots of talks of bearing one another’s burdens. Helping our neighbor. I’m doing my best not to throw these Scriptures at them, but sit down and talk to them and do some activities to help them understand. I’ve been coming up with riddles for them to solve, going off the example of what Jesus does in the Bible. “This person says this but does this. This person says this but does this. Which one is loving his brother?” The like the riddles, but so far after having these talks with them multiple, MULTIPLE times a day I still find them screaming at each other.
This morning they actually kept busy with puzzles. I’ve separated them to work in different rooms so I don’t have to break up an argument while Solveig naps. David was very happy to finish a 100 piece puzzle, which I’m not sure he’s done on his own before. He wanted me to take a picture.
Silje lost 12 pieces of her 100 piece puzzle, and somehow it’s all Elias’ fault, although I’m pretty sure she was the one who left it out for him.
I really need to get to “the big city” to get a few items for a project we’re working on, but there was such a big storm last night that I think I’ll wait until all the debris is out of the way before I venture out. I don’t like running errands with 4 kids in the rain either. So I guess I’ll have to try being patient too.
I hear them wrestling on the ground in the other room again. I suppose it has been 5 minutes. I better go save them from each other.
Penny says
May 31, 2011 at 5:46 pmBooks! Check out a book of activities that they can do (preferably the kind that doesn’t require constant supervision or a lot of supplies) and let them go at it! I’ve found “365 TV-Free activities you can do with your child” to be a fun one, and most of the activities can be done with two kids, instead of you and the kids. We make a game of it…each kid gets to pick one to do, and if they don’t get along, they lose their turn to choose. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t, but it helps me yell less.
Mom says
May 31, 2011 at 7:13 pmGreat idea, Penny!
Mama Bear says
June 2, 2011 at 2:05 amI am not a fan of summertime, either, especially since I have somehow become the neighborhood child activity planner/hauler-arounder. I guess that’s what happens when you have a big van, a big-ish yard, and a church that has great kids activities! Now that I’m not at home anymore, though, it’s going to be a lot different! Hope my MIL is up for some kid time! But I totally agree with you that the kids really need to come up with their own stuff to do. My grandmother used to always tell us that if we were bored it meant we were stupid (I know, bad word, but she used it!) because it meant that we couldn’t think of anything to do!