For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 17, 2010

Well, he’s got a point, Elly.

He sure does.

And your allowance just got cut in half…..wanna go for the other half, too?

The amount he has left all depends upon how often he used that couch trampoline, and smart-mouths his mother about her lectures.

Touche

“We none of us know how much time we have left - he could be run over by a bus tomorrow, then he’d feel stupid!”

he could always help his mother do house chores, or even clean up his room

hands Elly a slipper and promises to look the other way…

Ouch. Michael, your time on this earth just got a little shorter.

That’s right, tim_1975. Anytime my kids are “bored” and I have chores coming out the ears, I give them something to do. Now, if I have a moment, I do sit down with them and play something.

I just read a story that boredom is very important to mental well-being, attention span, and cognitive organization. Apparently, if we spend all our time listening to music, playing games, checking facebook, our brains don’t have time to sort through stuff during that “down time” (and there was tons of that for everyone- while cooking for hours, walking places with no music/phones, etc.)

Wonder if my 5 year old will buy that? I do like the chore alternative though. I will play with them sometimes, but most of the time when they say they are bored, I just suggest or have them come up with ideas.

I can’t remember being bored for years and years, it’s a great skill, being able to entertain yourself.

Re: @masnadies When my 9 year old granddaughter is over and says she is bored, I tell her it is good for her. She usually finds something to do. I can’t remember the last time I have been bored; there is always something to do or to think about.

My kids learned not to say this.They knew what ever I came up with they wouldnt like. LOL

@hitmouse - No he won’t, ‘cause he’ll be dead. :P

Still … I laughed.

That’s how my mom always got me out of the house–she say, “Well, you can always help me with the housework.”

LOL. Out of the mouths of 6 year olds!

Send him out in the yard with Farley and a ball.

My parents MADE me clean my room when I spouted a line like that. It’s amazing how quickly you learn to amuse YOURSELF under those circumstances.

I remember asking my mom about something to do with World War I. She asked me: “Why are you asking me? I learned about it in history class just like you did.” I replied “But Mom, the history was newer then.” I think my brother laughed about that one for days…..

Hitmouse, how can a dead person feel stupid?

my parents would find something for me to do… and you really didn’t want that.

From the mouths of babes…

Pretty insightful for a 6 or 7 year old!!! No wonder he grows up to be a published writer! That was certainly something I didn’t know when I was that age!

Meanwhile, I’ve got so much to do everyday, all day long, that I’d give just about anything in the world to have even five minutes of utter boredom!!!!!

When his tombstone says “Hold my beer and watch this” Ricer!

lol, when I was his age I never said the word bored, because any adult within ear shot would immediately tell me bored=nap time.

Hit by a bus… ???

Hm… I’d say he’d feel kinda flat…

And something tells me that he has plenty of toys to play with…