At times I am inclined to send my kids to Laos or Africa. They have family in the former, which makes it easier for them to slip into that world and recognize the situations present there. I think it is the best idea I can come up with in order to help the kids recognize that the drama they experience on a daily basis amounts to, well, nonsense.
This morning the boys got into an argument about Minecraft. More specifically, they were arguing about who was going to design some obscure section of a world they’d invented on creative mode. For the record, creative mode is the equivalent of a paintbrush. They click a button and have the ability to create whatever–unlike normal mode where they have to gain resources and (in some limited sense) earn their creations. Regardless of mode, the argument was about Minecraft. It joins a litany of arguments about Beyblade, computers, who is sitting where on the couch, etc. These are arguments about things that are extraneous parts of their reality. They are not core to the survival of my children.
The situation in Laos is different. There are chores that last the entire day. Play happens outdoors and not cross-legged in front of a big screen. Hard work is a way of life. I recognize that I can recreate these conditions to a certain extent here, and the trip to Laos would only mean I didn’t have to deal with them while they dealt with their new reality. In other words, it would be easier for me.
Perhaps the key is a middle ground. I need to crack down on these behaviors and the growing sense of entitlement and boredom that plagues the summer months. School will provide a structure that will help me do my part. Unfortunately with me working as well, they might not get all the structure and change and growth I desire.
There’s always Laos.
Some Thoughts:
- I miss my love
- I miss the beach