"I'm bored ..."

School isn't even out for another week and the worst words in the English language (especially to a single parent) have already come spilling from my 14-year-old's mouth.

I seriously don't know what to do, and what's worse he doesn't either. He hates being outside and almost all forms of exercise, so parks are out. He used to love bookstores and the library, but now it's just a different location for him to play with his phone. Most of the time he doesn't want to see anything at the movies. He'd rather be shot than go to a baseball game, zoo or aquarium. He has no real passion other than video games and electronics, but once he burns out on those there is no reliable plan B. It certainly doesn't help that I don't live anywhere near his friends from school or church, and he's a decided introvert and homebody anyway.

Did I mention that whatever I come up with to amuse him (or at least pass the time) also needs to entertain his 5-year-old sister, who has the exact opposite personality? And it probably goes without saying, but Daddy Is Not Made Of Money.

Help.

 

Drop a ferret down his trousers. He won't be bored for long.

 

And now, a word from the Chairman of the Bored.

 

"Oh, you're bored? I have some work for you to do around the house."

That usually gets them finding something to occupy themselves.

 

Maybe get a pretty good jigsaw puzzle going? Around Christmastime (and when on vacation) we get one of those started so there's always something to do.

 

Indeed.
"Here's how you iron clothes."
"Here's how we washed dishes when I was a kid."
"Here's how we mop floors."
etc.

 

Get him an SJ account.

 

Put in a Weezer album. That'll send him out of the house.

 

Musical instrument. Summer class for high school kids at a nearby college.

Seems like a tough situation. I don't want to be an alarmist, but there could be a low level of depression, e.g. loss of interest in books.

 

There's actually a quite high level of bipolar, which is part of the struggle. It's a never ending battle with the meds to get it where he's not lashing out and violent vs being a catatonic zombie (which is where we are closer to currently).

Don't disagree with the chore thing, but there's only so far I want to push that given the above. Plus I usually get them just two weekends a month, so the natural instinct is to not bog either one down with a bunch of chores.

 

Take away his phone, and tell him to find something to do with himself.

(OK, that probably wouldn't be good, but it'd be interesting to see what happens, right?).

Now, here's my real suggestion: Maybe something that marries his interest in electronics with something that might be interesting, fun, and perhaps, useful as an introduction to practical uses of electronics in a future career. I'm thinking maybe Parks and Rec sponsored classes for computer graphics, animation or video gaming?

Personally, I would see what kind of zoological- or aquarium-related or horseback-riding kids' camps or tours or programs there are, even if you, or your son, think he wouldn't be interested. (Admittedly, that's mostly because I know that I would like those ). But sometimes, things are more interesting and fun than kids might think. They just wouldn't know it until they're in the midst of it and suddenly realize that they haven't looked at their phone in three hours.

And if his church has youth groups/camps, and he has friends involved in them (or even if he doesn't), take full advantage of those activities.

 

There are free online coding courses.

https://www.google.com/amp/lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-teach-yourself-to-code-1684250889/amp

Number 6.