The Afternoon I Stopped Rescuing My Kids From Boredom
I drove eight hours alone with two kids under five and two dogs. Here's what broke.
I want to tell you a story about the day I became a hypocrite.
Atlanta to St. Louis. Just me, both kids, both dogs, and an SUV packed with everything we needed and several things we didn't. My first time making this drive alone with both of them. I'd planned ahead, broken it into two days, mapped out the stops. I thought I was ready.
What is Productive Boredom? A Parent's Guide
The moment your child says "I'm bored," something important is about to happen.
Most of us reach for a solution. A screen. A snack. A suggestion. We treat boredom like a problem to fix, a gap to fill, a failure on our part to keep them entertained.
But here's what the research tells us: boredom is a doorway.