If they don't like dealing with their children, then perhaps they shouldn't have reproduced in the first place.

Parents have been complaining that the Christmas break is too long for generations. Nothing to see here. Move along.

TFA: Most parents know too well the pressure to keep kids entertained throughout a school vacation.


Oh shut up.

Winter's the perfect time to get your kids to tape the windows when you're going to paint the living room. Give them a *chore* and they'll find enjoyment in that.

"Entertainment" is a mirage, created by parents who think their kids have to feel as excited as Christmas morning every day.

All this does is set children up for a lifetime of disappointment, if parents are trying to create the illusion that someone else is responsible for someone's own happy state of mind.

As someone who doesn't have kids, let me just say that all parents are doing it wrong and I wish they were as smart as me when it comes to raising children.

angrymacface: If they don't like dealing with their children, then perhaps they shouldn't have reproduced in the first place.

Common sense has no place in a greenlit thread.

Jaci? What the hell is a Jaci?

Reminds me of a story I once read....(NSFW language in printed form)

eddyatwork: Common sense has no place in a greenlit thread.

Be quiet you, or I'll flash my boobies.

Shiat...the filter got the url...Try this instead. Same work rules etc...

Interesting. Most of the article spoke of parents happy to do things with their children, with one person, mentioned at the end, who can't wait to get back to school. The only thing that sucks is that it's winter and the weather can be bad. It can be hell if you're stuck in the house for a few days and no way to burn off the kids' energy. But the weather was generally moderate this week here in the northeast (well, south of NYC anyway) so that woman shouldn't have had an excuse.

I took my 8 year old son into Manhattan on one of the really nice days this week and the bus was packed with kids (helped that they rode free the entire vacation). Some went to museums or shows (we ran into some friends), we went to the zoo and then the rest of Central Park so my son could climb the rocks (and a nice, cheap $2 lunch at the hot dog cart). Most of the vacation was spent at home, relaxing. It wasn't a strain to find things to do with my son -- amazing how playing a game or three can keep you busy.

Damn!

Cut and paste maybe?

http://tinyurl.com/3padba

D_I_A is havin' a bad day! Times 3.

Stop biatching, dumbass. That's why they're called 'children' and not 'pets'.

Fear_and_Loathing: D_I_A is havin' a bad day! Times 3.

Thats no shiat. Didn't think the filter would hit URLs and even tiny URLs...

damageddude: The only thing that sucks is that it's winter and the weather can be bad. It can be hell if you're stuck in the house for a few days and no way to burn off the kids' energy.

My parents gave us shovels. We burned off plenty of energy, a lot more than we wanted to.

Dancin_In_Anson: Damn!

Cut and paste maybe?

Are you trying to post a Penthouse forum, perhaps?

what_now: Are you trying to post a Penthouse forum, perhaps?

Nah...that's been boring since I was about 17.

I never considered my parents to be responsible for me having something to do. Generally, they pretty much just opened the front door and I went out to play with the other neighborhood kids for 12 hours.

Kids are supposed to find ways to entertain THEMSELVES. It's called learning about the world and being creative. If you spoonfeed your child every single experience they have, they'll grow up to be whiney-ass losers.

Dancin_In_Anson: Jaci? What the hell is a Jaci?

I believe he is a famous rapper.
That or it's Jesus' nickname

Trust me, after 2 weeks of my kid out of school, I am ready for her to go back, only I live in California so she has another week left. It isn't so much about finding something for them to do or entertaining them but that, at least with younger children the upheaval in the schedule makes them act like freaks.

Just because you choose to have kids doesn't mean that you are granted a super human amount of patience, it still gets old having them up your butt 24-7

I've got a gaggle of kids, and they're all home for the holiday. They've learned that if they complain about nothing to do, I have LOTS of things that I could use their help with around the house.

Our garage has never been more organized, and all the kids' bikes are properly maintained and ready for school to start up. Not to mention that unsightly discoloration in the back of the freezer is gone for good.

Stop treating children like delicate flowers, and start RAISING them to be dependable, mature adults.

damageddude: Interesting. Most of the article spoke of parents happy to do things with their children, with one person, mentioned at the end, who can't wait to get back to school. The only thing that sucks is that it's winter and the weather can be bad. It can be hell if you're stuck in the house for a few days and no way to burn off the kids' energy. But the weather was generally moderate this week here in the northeast (well, south of NYC anyway) so that woman shouldn't have had an excuse.

I took my 8 year old son into Manhattan on one of the really nice days this week and the bus was packed with kids (helped that they rode free the entire vacation). Some went to museums or shows (we ran into some friends), we went to the zoo and then the rest of Central Park so my son could climb the rocks (and a nice, cheap $2 lunch at the hot dog cart). Most of the vacation was spent at home, relaxing. It wasn't a strain to find things to do with my son -- amazing how playing a game or three can keep you busy.

I went to grade school in Northern ME. Unless it was less than 30 below, we were outside during the winter every single day, coming in only when you lost feeling in your feet. No reason kids need to be babysat, send em outside with a snowsuit and decent boots, a shovel, one of those little snow block makers, a snowmobile, etc.

What kind of a weird kid wants to hang out with their parents anyway?

Thunderpipes: I went to grade school in Northern ME. Unless it was less than 30 below, we were outside during the winter every single day, coming in only when you lost feeling in your feet.

Well, my brother won't let my 7 year old niece out in the snow because she's "delicate". The child stays indoors basically from October to April, and they wonder why she's fussy.

Sad.

Attention white parents: please stop giving your kids names like Jaci, Jacey, Jacee, McKenna, McKenzie, Katelyn, Kaitlyn, and Kaitlin!

I remember when moms used to love their kids because they were their kids.

Not accessories.

Wow, my mother would kick us out of the house in the morning and she would biatch at us if we came back in. If we told her we were bored she would offer some chores for us to do. Things were a lot less structured for kids then so we had a lot of free time to play games and go exploring in the neighborhood.

I'm really glad parents were much more hands off when I was growing up. I am friends with my parents now, but I think one thing I really appreciate is that I had parents when I was growing up, not entertainers or buddies, but people who treated us with the disdain and contempt that all small children deserve.

I don't mind the 2 week Christmas vacation, we had a great time. Grandparents came to visit, the kids got to go to sleepovers and had sleepovers. But someone explain how the 5th is a teacher workday. They have 1/3 the year off, they should be working over break if they needed to get something done.

what_now: Thunderpipes: I went to grade school in Northern ME. Unless it was less than 30 below, we were outside during the winter every single day, coming in only when you lost feeling in your feet.

Well, my brother won't let my 7 year old niece out in the snow because she's "delicate". The child stays indoors basically from October to April, and they wonder why she's fussy.

Sad.

That is sad. I remember in the winter, my feet would get horribly dry and crack, literally bleed. I spent winters putting vaseline on my feet at night with socks over it. Was out the next day playing, every single day. It was a winter wonderland, many a snow fort was build and there was much sliding. We played basketball all winter, outside, at the neighbor's house, an old couple who were kind enough to have an outdoor light and a hoop on their garage door. The Violet's, that was awesome. Kids today are coddled pussies.

I don't get it. Are they actually trying to make the break shorter or is this reporter just making a story about lazy parents biatching and moaning?

Is this really a NEWS story that is just about complaining?

THIS JUST IN! WAAAAAAAHH

here is a farking idea... Its vacation, go outside and play with your friends. None of this sitting inside on the computer or watching video's bullshiat.

There are plenty of things to do in the outside world. When I was a kid we'd go skating in the winter, build forts, go sledding, skiing, and stuff like that. 30 below zero or not.

In the summer, we'd go build forts, play football, or baseball, go fishing, go cycling, go to the park, to the outdoor pools.

What the hell is with parents now a-days thinking that letting their fat ass kids watch tv and play on a computer is considered quality entertainment.

If parents forced their kids outside to do something physical, then they wouldnt have to entertain them.

/i am 24
//had a computer and video games as a kid
///still went outside

I see my suggestion of "Snowclothes, door, out." has been well suggested. Thanks, Fark!

/One elementary school I taught at had snowshovels as toys. The kids loved pushing snow around before school and at recess and it made life so much easier for the classes out in the portables if the custodians couldn't make it out there before 8.

Thunderpipes: It was a winter wonderland, many a snow fort was build and there was much sliding.

When we were growing up, we lived near an old sand pit. Kids would come from all over for the very excellent sledding. The most challenging hill had rocks and shrubs which you could barely see under the snow. We'd get bruised and bloodied, and one kid even broke an arm, but we would NEVER have stopped doing it- it was too much fun.

I tried reminding my brother about that, and he said, "Well, were more vigilant parents than Mom and Dad were". I don't know what that means, but I do know that when we got too tired mom had hot chocolate for as many kids as we dragged home.

ironicsky: here is a farking idea... Its vacation, go outside and play with your friends. None of this sitting inside on the computer or watching video's bullshiat.

There are plenty of things to do in the outside world. When I was a kid we'd go skating in the winter, build forts, go sledding, skiing, and stuff like that. 30 below zero or not.

In the summer, we'd go build forts, play football, or baseball, go fishing, go cycling, go to the park, to the outdoor pools.

What the hell is with parents now a-days thinking that letting their fat ass kids watch tv and play on a computer is considered quality entertainment.

If parents forced their kids outside to do something physical, then they wouldnt have to entertain them.

/i am 24
//had a computer and video games as a kid
///still went outside

Parents today think that they cannot take their eyes off of their kids or they will be kidnapped and raped within seconds. Apparently only recently are kids vunerable.

SordidEuphemism - I've got a gaggle of kids, and they're all home for the holiday. They've learned that if they complain about nothing to do, I have LOTS of things that I could use their help with around the house.

Our garage has never been more organized, and all the kids' bikes are properly maintained and ready for school to start up. Not to mention that unsightly discoloration in the back of the freezer is gone for good.

Mom?
[checks profile]
*probably not*

The last thing you'd want to say around my mother was, "I'm bored." Now, even at 45 yrs old, when she and I talk, I can't bring myself to use the that word.

Frank Flopsmack 2009-01-03 11:08:13 AM
Attention white parents: please stop giving your kids names like Jaci, Jacey, Jacee, McKenna, McKenzie, Katelyn, Kaitlyn, and Kaitlin!
---------------------------------------

www.youtube.com/watch?v=irykjLjuKo8

This parent at least knows how to teach his child something useful..AND she's named Mackenzie

Problems entertaining kids? Pedobear thread?

oldsbone: /One elementary school I taught at had snowshovels as toys. The kids loved pushing snow around before school and at recess and it made life so much easier for the classes out in the portables if the custodians couldn't make it out there before 8.

LOL. In the spring, did they have little pots of whitewash, too?

what_now: damageddude: The only thing that sucks is that it's winter and the weather can be bad. It can be hell if you're stuck in the house for a few days and no way to burn off the kids' energy.

My parents gave us shovels. We burned off plenty of energy, a lot more than we wanted to.

Yep. We learned really young to never tell our parents that we were "bored." They always had things for us to do.

But seriously, don't these people have yards? My brother and I burned off all our energy playing outside in the snow, only coming in if our mittens were soaked or body parts started going numb. We had a blast.

Whatever happened to kids entertaining themselves? Why do they suddenly have to be entertained by something (usually electronic)?

SordidEuphemism: I've got a gaggle of kids, and they're all home for the holiday. They've learned that if they complain about nothing to do, I have LOTS of things that I could use their help with around the house.

Our garage has never been more organized, and all the kids' bikes are properly maintained and ready for school to start up. Not to mention that unsightly discoloration in the back of the freezer is gone for good.

Stop treating children like delicate flowers, and start RAISING them to be dependable, mature adults.

I'm glad to see that there's still a few parents that actually act like parents.

Bitter Barn: Wow, my mother would kick us out of the house in the morning and she would biatch at us if we came back in. If we told her we were bored she would offer some chores for us to do. Things were a lot less structured for kids then so we had a lot of free time to play games and go exploring in the neighborhood.

I'm really glad parents were much more hands off when I was growing up. I am friends with my parents now, but I think one thing I really appreciate is that I had parents when I was growing up, not entertainers or buddies, but people who treated us with the disdain and contempt that all small children deserve.

This is exactly what I was thinking (minus the disdain and contempt line). My parents didn't feel the need to entertain us, we entertained ourselves by playing outdoors with friends, reading, playing games, etc. They were my parents, not my friends, and if I complained about being bored, then they would find me a chore to do. I quickly learned to entertain myself.

First of, DRTFA.
Second, I totally agree with thunderpipes and a few of the others. There was a multitude of things to do outside in the winter(in central Maine, Belgrade lakes)As kids we were never bored, never got arrested, only once in a while got injured(severely)and today, most of my friends from that area are successful, happy and know how to be a parent.

Children can, and will, sit down for hours with a book.

Children can, and will, go outside to play for hours on end.

If you can't amuse your kid, maybe you shouldn't have shown him your Nintendo DS, how to change a DVD by himself or bought him every new piece of toys that come out.

Came for the Miley pics. Disappointed.

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I realize when reading all these articles now about snowflake kids that most of their parents are probably my age.

It was one thing to laugh at the helicopter parents hovering over the millennials as they got their first grown-up jobs - they were baby-boomers and therefore idiotic narcissists so it was expected. Buy my generation is supposed to know better! They should follow the example of SordidEuphemism and well, my parents, and start teaching kids how to relieve boredom themselves.

theorellior
LOL. In the spring, did they have little pots of whitewash, too?

That would be ink. Think about it for a second... Chalk, not whitewash was used for the slates.

theorellior
LOL. In the spring, did they have little pots of whitewash, too?

Unless you're referring to them painting the fences. The 'little pots' threw me off and the caffeine hasn't quite kicked in yet.

You can tell alot about a kid's childhood by the number of stitches and broken bones. I think I had stitches maybe 5 times on the head alone, and a compound wrist fracture, busted hand. I don't think I have brain damage, but I have a big dent in the top of my head.

My dad got pissed at us because we had 3 ER visits in one week, all stitches. Iceball to the head (me), head to the coffee table, power disk sander accident, and after biatching Dad almost cut his finger off in the garage with a box cutter, and had to get stitches. We didn't dare point anything out to him.

Good times. What do kids do now anyway? Myspace? PS3?

It will be ugly Monday morning for my girls aged 7 and 12.

Of course Mommy doesn't go back to work until the 23rd of January, so that will help.

Broktun

Two weeks with your kid should never be considered too much. I have a five-year-old boy, and trust me, I know what a high energy kid is. Aside from the 8 hours a night he sleeps, he's all run jump play go go go. And we still have a great time on his breaks, and it's always a little sad when he goes back to school. Between going for walks, playing games, running errands, having him help me clean up his room or make lunch, jumping on the bed, and the occasional video game (we play together), he's got plenty to do. If, at the end of the day, I'm really tired or need to get something done he can't help with, then he can watch a movie on tv, and he's happy to do it since he doesn't get tv all day. We don't even have relatives close by, so I can't understand why folks who do have any reason to complain that their kids are bored.

The problem seems mainly to be lazy ass parents who see child-raising as a series getting other people/things to watch their kid for them: tv, school, babysitters, relatives, etc. When forced to finally deal with their kids as little children who want Mommy's attention, they get sullen and whiny instead of appreciating that the child actually wants to spend time with them.

jmr61: Came for the Miley pics. Disappointed.

">

DarthBrooks: TFA: Most parents know too well the pressure to keep kids entertained throughout a school vacation.


Oh shut up.

Winter's the perfect time to get your kids to tape the windows when you're going to paint the living room. Give them a *chore* and they'll find enjoyment in that.

"Entertainment" is a mirage, created by parents who think their kids have to feel as excited as Christmas morning every day.

All this does is set children up for a lifetime of disappointment, if parents are trying to create the illusion that someone else is responsible for someone's own happy state of mind.

I so farking hate you. I had parents like that. It feels as if my childhood was robbed from me. Fark you.

My parents never entertained us.

me: Mom, I'm bored.
Mom: Go play with your toys.
me: I already did that. I don't have anything else to do.
Mom: Use your imagination.