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School can't possibly start soon enough

School is tantalizingly close. It starts five days from now. It’s been a long Summer and the kids are both well into the tail-end boredom phase of it. For full effect, imagine their mouths gaping open like a trophy bass gasping for air while their eyes bulge out of their heads:

Daughter: Dad, can we watch TV now?
Me: No.
[Here. The trophy bass thing.]
Daughter: But there's nothing to do!
Me: There's plenty to do. You can read a book, build a fort, go play outside, turn on the Slip and Slide, ride your bike, go swimming...
Daughter: I don't want to do any of those things.
Me: Sadly, that's not really my problem.
Son: We can't go swimming. We don't have a pool.
Me: I meant in the Slip and Slide. You can play in the water.
Son: But that's not swimming.
Daughter: When can we watch TV?
Me: In an hour. Until then, no computer, no TV.
Daughter: But, Dad!
Me: Look guys, I'm working.
Daughter & Son: But...
Me: You two need to go play someplace else. You need to go right now.
This was my first Summer working from home and today is one of those difficult days. At the moment I'm on the fence, but if you asked me in a couple of hours (after a beer or two) I'm sure I'd say it was worth it. The Lovely and Talented Wife isn't here today (or yesterday) because she's preparing for a tour. Did I mention she'll be away for most of September? Yep, just me and the kids for 25 days. I'll probably write something about that soon.

Comments

  1. s’mee on 2007-08-31 07:44:41 wrote: This is why the SAHM (or SAHD) is the most difficult job on the planet. And the most important. It’s terrific that you did not cave. Caving is the same as putting a bandaid on a sliced artery. It’s good for them to figure out how to entertain themselves when they “think” they are bored. Scholl will be back in session soon and those 25 days will not be as difficult. In the meantime, you might want to give them alternatives, as my mom did and as I did with my kids. It goes a little somethig like this: “You get to choose. (give them the allusion of power, lol) You can either find someplace to play/something to do on your own, or the hall closet needs to be reorganized.” Said in a regular tone, matter of fact, and they will decide that painting the front porch stucco with water is just fine. Or stealing the car to grab an ice cream at 31 is o.k. too. Good luck!

  2. s’mee on 2007-08-31 07:45:35 wrote: geeze! the dyslexia is kicking in today, sorry for all the typos!

  3. guynameddave on 2007-08-31 13:00:02 wrote: I wish I could say something empathetic and wise. But would it help?

  4. Sylvia on 2007-09-01 07:06:26 wrote: You’ll be fine. Every picture you’ve taken of these children says so. And have them give you words to write to Mommy everyday, so they can cut out the text and draw pictures or find pictures and keep a little journal of the days to show her when she returns. “Mister Mom’s Scrapbook” or “Missing Mom” or “What We Did While You Dumped Us on Dad,” HaHa! The L&T wife will love you even more.