Summer time blues

It's started. The kids have been home all of a few days, and today they plaintively wailed, "I'm bored!"

My retort was, "Who can change that?"

Perhaps it wasn't the most sympathetic answer, but I do believe my kids need to take more responsibility for their time and actions. I know they can't drive themselves to the pool, but they can play with one of the gagillion toys they HAD to have. Or they can read a book, play in the sand box, on the play structure, draw, color, make a collage...you get my point. There's always something they could be doing; they just expect me to make it more entertaining.

But I was on deadline. I literally had to finish my project. It's a combustible combination. I get stressed, they get annoyed, and all hell breaks loose. But it doesn't have to be that way. Which is why I sent them outside to play. The connection with nature is imperative to both their mental and physical health. Of course it'll only last about another 15 minutes, but that's more than enough time to finish this blog post.

Now if I could just get to the vacuuming....

Idle little hands

My baby's reached the age when she considers a pause for a diaper change a huge affront. She rolls, complains, and tries to scamper away, bare bottomed. It's almost cute ... almost.

My latest trick: books. I used to hand her a small stuffed cat to hold while I changed her business end. But her busy little fingers weren't satisfied. A book gives her pages to turn and something to look at.

My son, who is three years older, also lacks a full stack of patience. He's a little harder to entertain, but during car rides or waits in the grocery store line, a book or even a game—I use a preschool adventure match game on my iPod—usually does the trick. Best part: Fewer battles over the little stuff.