Bored or Lonely?
WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING.
TEACH WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN.
Affirmations:
- I teach everyone by the choices I make.
- I am responsible for how people treat me.
- I treat others with respect and kindness.
- I use my time wisely for good interactions and activities.
Bored and Lonely?
Have you ever considered the youth of today? What are their needs? What are we teaching them? What did you do when you were their age?
What do you do for entertainment? Are you ever bored? How do you fill your time, when you are not inspired? Do you have things to do that inspire you?
Perhaps youth today are in the same position as adults. We seem to live in a attraction/avoidance society. Short term gratification or escape seem to be the predominant choices. Our youth are following their elders and the culture in which they live.
What do you do, when you are hurting, physically or emotionally? Take something to numb the pain? Does anyone address what is causing the pain? Is anyone solving the pain-causing issues?
Drugs and distraction seem to be the customary ways to deal with problems and pain. We show our kids what works for us. They have not been shown a better way to deal with life’s issues. They learn to avoid what is needed or to block it with something.
Kids are bored. The old-fashioned ways of staying inspired and involved are often unknown. Playing outside or at the home of friends seems unusual because of societal fears. Youth may have no nearby playmates and home and school activities may be limited.
Kids are lonely. The “playdates” with school friends or neighbors are not usual because of transportation limitations. Parents are working or busy with their own distractions. Kids may be expected to come home and take care of themselves.
Homes are often filled with fighting or boring places where you have to do chores. It feels like adults are stressed and so pass the distress on to their kids. It seems like we have forgotten the underlying purpose of families is to raise our children well. Common “Baby-sitters” are often TV, iPad, computer, video games and music on IPod.
What can we do? (for adults and kids) Turn off the TV and set down our cell phones when families are together. Learn to communicate about dreams, projects, weekend fund activities.Work together getting things done for one another with cooperation.Develop one night a week for family game time.Discuss current news around the dinner table.Make birthdays and holidays special events where everyone participates in preparation.Brainstorm the top five goals the family can agree on. (Post and be accountable.)For example: (for adults and kids) No yelling or fighting. Respectful communication.No rough housing in the house. Respectful care of home and things. Respect adult requests. Respectful responses to elders.Everyone needs to decide on universal consequences for non-compliance. Sometimes self-imposed time outs are effective or apologize and do something helpful.
Rewards are the best motivation. Observe what rewards are available in your home. If everything that is demanded is given, there will be no rewards left. It is important to learn to do and give what is beneficial to everyone in the family.
If adults are happy and at peace, we will show children how to be happy and at peace. If adults are lonely and bored, they will seek solutions which will be their teachings for children. If we all return to connect with one another, we will not feel lonely. If we all are motivated to create, serve, learn and accomplish, no one will be bored.
Let us consider what we can do. Helpful for youth and their families.
Loving you, Betty Lue
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