We are a radio family. I listen to the radio. That is probably no surprise to you, as I work in radio. So, I (naively) thought when we had a kid, it would be easy not to turn on the television. I mean, we don’t even turn it on for ourselves.
Wrong.
Like most parenting assumptions I made, I was wrong. It’s hard. The temptation to soothe him with the bright glowing lights of a television screen is real. Especially when we had the longest winter ever (that was hyperbole, but really, it was LONG).
So, I’m stealing a phrase and theory from someone else and passing it along to you: “You have to get over ‘the hump’.”
Whether it’s the “I’m bored” hump or the “tech hump”… it’s all the same. That moment when your kids really want you to entertain them. They want you to turn on the TV, give them an iPad or that one toy you told them they can’t have. Most times, there is probably some whining, crying or even a temper tantrum. But, if you are willing to hold on and ride through it with them, it will pass. And, they will find something else to do. Just give them a suggestion and some space. They will figure it out!
Heck, mine is only 2 years old and he can usually figure something out!
Now, my disclaimer: I don’t blame you if sometimes you can’t do it. As my mother would say, “It’s your life, too”. This isn’t a “OMG, I never let my kid watch TV” rant. Nope, he does… almost every morning, I turn on a Disney YouTube video so I can get him dressed. I’m not perfect.
But, I wanted to tell you it’s okay to let them be bored for a few minutes… I’ve tried it and it has worked. And when they get through it and start to entertain themselves, we hope to reap the rewards beyond that moment. Maybe they are learning to cope and adjust … Good life lessons! Maybe we are pushing them to think outside their immediate want and problem solve, thus making them more resilient humans..?
(Hey, we can hope!)
Read other blogs from Amy Iler:
Doctors prefer you give your kid an EMPTY BOX for Christmas
I’m sad this is what life is like when you try to have a job and a family.
(Amy Iler is a talk-show host at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. She can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm during “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ”. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKFGO.)
