I just started re-reading the amazing book by Wendy Mogel titled, Blessing of a Skinned Knee. If you haven't read this amazing book yet, then I suggest you go out now, yes, I mean right now, close down your iMac and run, okay fine you do live in suburbia after all, go out and drive to your local bookstore and buy one.

There are so many amazing life lessons to be taken from this book. However, for this article I want to reflect on the issue of Boredom. In my house we have been talking quite a bit about ways in which we can all chip in to save money. Playing at home more, eating at home more and taking better care of our home are all ways we can help. As my three year old likes to ask, "Can we go there mommy or are we still recessioning?" So this is what Wendy Mogel suggests that we do ...

Make sure your kids feel BORED.

She shares how important it is for children to build up their boredom tolerance and to dawdle in daydreaming and unstructured play.

The reasoning? Well because life at times is boring. People, at times are boring. Teachers, Co-workers, Friends: boring. So why not prepare your children early for this reality.

Even babies need to feel bored. They need to experience time alone; to feel cold, wet, hungry and to explore their own bodies and environment. To find their fingers, toes and soft blankie. Their innate curiousity kicks in and fuels them to bring forth their own excitment.

Martha Beck likes to give back control to the individual for their own happiness. She states that only boring people feel bored. That each person is in fact responsible for creating their own excitement. She suggests that we can't rely on other people or outside stimuli to keep our spirits up. Rather, we must feel comfortable in this state of mind and have access to our own internal barometer to spark some excitement.

So there you have it ... the antidote to recession - ing -- feeling bored.

Enjoy!

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