Something all parents hear about 2 or 3 days after school is out is the dreaded, "I'm bored." So most parents try to find things to occupy some time. Usually I try to throw out a couple of ideas. Things like, "Why don't you read a book?" Or, "The floors could really use some vacuuming" which usually results in eye rolling, more sighing and and shuffling off with slumped shoulders and hanging head while I reply "I'm sorry but your boredom is not my problem." This usually happens when I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to cram a thousand different things into the next couple of hours! What I would give to be bored!!! I have no sympathy!
The problem with boredom is it usually results in fighting or something getting broken. My children have learned for the most part to not complain more than once or twice that they are bored. But my poor niece and nephew. Poor, poor niece and nephew. Muhahahahahaaw!
This is one of the many activities to cure boredom. Brandon is playing video games. We have many thanks to grandparents and birthday gifts. We also have a couple of TVs and a couple of computers. Please note that my husband works in the computer business so we have a few he's built for the kids to play on. Anyway, electronics can provide temporary relief from boredom. But the kids are only allowed an hour on the computers to alleviate the fighting. I can't stands the fightin'. I try to go to the library once a week to encourage reading material and we also try to get out of the house a day or two depending on the weather and the goings on of the week.
Brandon seems pleased at veggin' out. He actually works, this one. He works hard for a woman who is showing him how to work with horses, paint barns, repair fencing, ride tractors, cut grass and anything else she needs help with. So this is his down time.
By now my poor children know that if they complain about boredom too much, there are plenty of chores that need to be done around the house. Chores that are just waiting to torture, er, I mean provide healthy activity and character to children looking for something to do. Hehe...
Would you just look at my flower beds? I've not had a chance to even play in them yet and now they are overgrown with grass, weeds and vines. Well, my poor nephew complained about being bored yesterday and his cousins immediately began shaking their heads vigorously and throwing out warnings like, "No Dylan!! Don't say it!!!" But it was too late! I grabbed that bored boy and presented him with the overgrown flowerbeds. 
He took one look and begged, I mean BEGGED to mow the grass. So who am I to keep a kid from doing what he really wants in life? 
Muhahahahaaw! So here is my poor nephew mowing the yard.
Mow that yard boy!!! 
Didn't he do a great job???
This is a result from boredom. We have plenty, I mean PLENTY of boxes around here. So Ryan helped my niece build a fort. They have a whole room filled with cut up boxes. Yay! 
She was quite happy and entertained. Have you ever bought your kid a big expensive gift only to have them play with the box for hours? What is it about empty boxes that delight children for hours on end? It was good to see these kids using their imaginations for once instead of zombied out to video games, computers and TV shows. I would LOVE to declare our TV off limits for a month and see what happens but am afraid I would totally get voted off the island! 
And this is what ended my day. Ahhhh.....
Jacob liked boxes but he really liked styrafome. He could entertain himself for hours with styrafome. Downside, all the little white pieces everywhere!
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