Get Out Much?

It was a warm, sunny weekend day. My older two children were bouncing off the walls. The youngest was having a nap, and I would’ve liked one, too, since I’d had a grand total of five hours of sleep the night before. I had a wicked headache.

All I wanted the boys to do was go outside. We’d had enough indoor togetherness to last a very long time, kicked off by the “snow day” two Fridays prior when it rained all day.

And there we were, a couple of weeks later: after a spell of single-digit temps, it was finally in the forties. The boys were rowdy and silly, chock full of pent up energy.

Escorting them out the door had resulted in a ten minute hiatus, before they came stomping back in, tracking mud all over the foyer and kitchen and leaving their boots, coats, and accessories shrugged off in a pile on the floor.

“I need a drink.”

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Okay, why don’t you both get a drink and go to the bathroom.”

“I don’t need...”

“Do it anyway,” I said.

 Five minutes later they were back at the door.

 “I forgot my Gameboy.”

“You are not taking your Gameboy outside. It’s a beautiful day!” I stood at the door, blocking their entry.

“But there’s nothing to do!”

“The point of being outside is to get some exercise – run around the yard. Play catch. Bye bye.” I closed the door.

They trudged back out reluctantly. In no time they were laughing like hyenas and throwing chunks of melting ice at our car and at the house. Before they started throwing it at passing traffic, I stalked out the door and said, “Go. Into the backyard. Where I can see you from the kitchen window.”

“That’s boring. Can we go to the neighbor’s house? She has a trampoline!”

“No. Backyard. Swing set.”

“You’re so mean…!”

“You never let us…!”

I wondered if I should bribe them to stay outside. Food? Money? No, not a good idea. They’d only stay outside as long as it took to eat the snack, and the problem with money is that the stakes would only get higher and higher. Besides, I shouldn’t have to bribe them to do something that energetic and able-bodied children should enjoy doing. They have the swing set in the back yard; they have a whole bin full of outdoor toys including bats and balls; they have each other.

“Look boys, if you can’t think of something constructive to do outside, you can come in and do chores.”

They turned around. Fast.

I went back in and leaned on the door momentarily as I recalled once again my own childhood and sighed. I used to dread the moment when the street lights flickered on because that meant I had to go in.

It was a warm, sunny weekend day – my kids really need to spend more time outside. I’m so mean. Yeah, right!